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'BERT '09
3rd Place'BERT '09
tfarrell23


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Trains & Railroads II (Basic Editing)
Collection: 2009
Camera: Sony DSC-F828
Location: Home
Date: Apr 14, 2009
Aperture: f/3.2
ISO: 64
Shutter: 1/160 sec
Galleries: Rural, Transportation
Date Uploaded: Apr 14, 2009

Walked a few feet over to the railroad tracks right next to my home...waited approx.45 minutes for the train..hopefully I will get a half decent score..I need something...lol..as living near a train has been an experience..

Post Challenge:
Thanks everyone...It's nice to get another ribbon...didn't think this had one in it..so it was a nice surprise...

Processing:
Opened picture in PSP8
Rotated 8' CW
Cropped Photo to my liking
Applied "Clarify" Tool to Photo (entire image)..PSP8 allows increments of 1-5... I did it a few times at 5 or so..
Moved Photo to PS CS2 (Saved as in PSP8)
Applied Curves...
and USM at 30%/100/4.. or so
Saturated at a +20... or so
Resized to Challenge Specs..
Neat Image to clean a little
Sharpened/Faded
Bordered
These are the steps I took to get to what you see..the numbers might be slightly different..all the adjustments were over the entire image as per Basic Rules...no selection tools...I have learned that USM used properly is a fantastic aid in Digital Photography..and the Clarify is a nice tool that brings out texture and tones, it also brings out noise so be careful (as with all processing)..and not over do it...depending on the Picture it works..and sometimes it doesn't...and when it doesn't you start over with a different idea... lol

Picture went through the Validation Process all week...of course it passed. I really didn't expect a ribbon..and I certainly didn't expect the reaction I got from a few commenters...I do this for fun...I want it to stay that way.


Resized Original

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 168
Avg (all users): 6.6745
Avg (commenters): 7.1429
Avg (participants): 6.1029
Avg (non-participants): 6.9444
Views since voting: 6082
Views during voting: 477
Votes: 212
Comments: 40
Favorites: 3 (view)


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AuthorThread
04/25/2009 08:51:42 PM
Would you like to sell a copy of this print?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/24/2009 10:38:08 PM
Congratulations on the ribbon. Wonderful image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/24/2009 02:32:57 PM
Whoo Hoo!!! Congrats Tom!!!! Very much deserved!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/23/2009 06:31:44 PM
Hey- I am glad you are getting criticized. maybe it'll help to have you step aside and let another Buzzard in to grab a ribbon!! I'm kidding everyone- I'm allowed to insult the man that would kick my but week after week!!lol... I think.

Incredible photos you are producing Tom. I can't begin to tell you how much you have improved and how much I am learning from your style. You truly deserve the best and keep up the creative talent you have managed to put you claws around!!

GREAT PHOTO!!!!!CONGRATS!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/23/2009 01:31:41 PM
Verrrry nice! Now you got me curious tho about the reaction from a few commenters. . .better go check it out:

Oyyyyyy. .. some people spend way too much time looking for things to get their tail feathers in a ruffle about instead of just enjoying great photography!

WAY TO GO on capturing an amazing photo -- processed to perfection -- and on getting the last word!!!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/23/2009 12:55:58 PM
Originally posted by rugman1969:

Basic editing rules:

You may not:

spot-edit your entry, except to remove sensor dust or hot pixels

use any selection tool, including but not limited to the marquee, lasso, layer masks, quick masks, or any similar tool to select a portion of your image for any reason other than cropping or creating a border.

use ANY editing tool to create new image area, objects or features (such as VIGNETTES, lens flare or motion) that didn’t already exist in your original capture.

An entry will be disqualified when a majority of the Site Council finds that ANY of the rules above were not followed.

The above penalties will be assessed only after review by the Site Council. In exceptional circumstances, the Site Council may elect not to apply a penalty. If a user is found to have intentionally violated the Challenge Rules, the above penalties will be in addition to any assessed for the violation itself.


The key wording is if, Tom mentioned the shot has been validated so the if portion is no longer a question. Just because you can not accomplish this effect does not make it illegal. Why is it so hard to congratulate someone and trust they were within the rules until SC makes the call!

Again great job Tom!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 09:03:59 PM
Some dude named Joey L. actually made a lot of dough explaining his process....and I think the process you developed in "basic" rivals his in "advanced".

Originally posted by LydiaToo:

No fun??! Consider again please, Tom.

It was a Basic Editing challenge and you have so many people questioning your talent even AFTER you've passed validation?

Consider this a compliment of the highest regard!

I personally congratulate you on your ribbon and encourage you to take all 'questions' as compliments and as opportunities to help others grow in the photography course as you have. Tell all. Then, you'll be a hero. *smile*

Congrats again.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 08:27:51 PM
I did this in basic editing and still did not post my process! Many people asked me how I did it. It involved too many steps to post.



04/22/2009 08:25:55 PM
Originally posted by tfarrell23:

I have never been so disrespected by some of the commenters at DPC like I have at this moment...I did not do anything Illegal...the shot passed validation...I have been at DPC for over 6 years always doing it for fun.
This is no fun.

Tom... pay no attention to these doubting Thomas'. Your shot rocked, and it passed validation. End of story. A ribbon fully earned and deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 08:22:09 PM
No fun??! Consider again please, Tom.

It was a Basic Editing challenge and you have so many people questioning your talent even AFTER you've passed validation?

Consider this a compliment of the highest regard!

I personally congratulate you on your ribbon and encourage you to take all 'questions' as compliments and as opportunities to help others grow in the photography course as you have. Tell all. Then, you'll be a hero. *smile*

Congrats again.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 06:48:29 PM
Basic editing rules:

You may not:

spot-edit your entry, except to remove sensor dust or hot pixels

use any selection tool, including but not limited to the marquee, lasso, layer masks, quick masks, or any similar tool to select a portion of your image for any reason other than cropping or creating a border.

use ANY editing tool to create new image area, objects or features (such as VIGNETTES, lens flare or motion) that didn’t already exist in your original capture.

An entry will be disqualified when a majority of the Site Council finds that ANY of the rules above were not followed.

The above penalties will be assessed only after review by the Site Council. In exceptional circumstances, the Site Council may elect not to apply a penalty. If a user is found to have intentionally violated the Challenge Rules, the above penalties will be in addition to any assessed for the violation itself.

04/22/2009 05:24:28 PM
Looks like some dodge and burn to certain parts of the pic. Is that legal in basic? Also, the halo effect leads me to believe this is an HDR image. How did you get the halo around the train and not the trees? I think that is not allowed also. I think a little of this and a little of that is kind of questionable. To pull a photo out like this, I would have these steps saved and memorized so I could use it on future photos. Assuming it is a legal shot, congrats on the ribbon. I hope for your rep it is legal, as I will try to duplicate this with " alittle of this and a little of that", but I don't feel confident about it.

Message edited by author 2009-04-22 18:30:39.
04/22/2009 05:23:29 PM
LOL...I would need to know more about "a little of this...a little of that" before I could tackle something like this....but I'll try.
04/22/2009 04:02:03 PM
Congrats. Great final image for "Basic Processing", thanks for sharing original and PP steps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 12:30:59 PM
I am still interested In knowig how this was done. As per your pre challenge comments this looks like an HDR. Especially with the halo effect that was created.

Message edited by author 2009-04-22 17:23:09.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 11:07:40 AM
Very nice. The only way I could see this being done in Basic is with the use of the "highlights/shadows" tool. However, I could never get this nice effect throughout the photo with H/S only. I have to use the burn/dodge brush. I get sections of altered highlights and sections of altered shadows...it usually looks bad.

Clarify in PS Pro is also mentioned. Did you use PSP exclusivly for this shot?

If you don't mind, can you post your steps on this shot in DP or do a Youtube tutorial?

Message edited by author 2009-04-22 11:08:44.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 08:54:02 AM
Bravo Tom!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 08:48:21 AM
I like the Bert 'O9 scrawled in the soot and the classic train composition. I also like the halo in this image, it's an artifact that created a vignette! Looks decent to me. I do agree with teafran's comment below about the sharpening artifacts throughout the image. Congrats on your ribbon, it matches the engine!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 06:49:56 AM
Congrats on your ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 06:46:37 AM
Congrats on the yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 06:29:34 AM
Congrats on the yellow, Tom. Super image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 06:00:49 AM
Lovely colours and clarity. The HDR halo however is unfortunately very very prominent. I'm surprised how many people overlooked it. Congrats on the ribbon though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 05:00:20 AM
Many congrats great POV
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 04:48:47 AM
Congratz on the third place. Lovely and deserving image. Care to explain now how you managed to get this effect under basic or is that to remain your secret exclusively?

Message edited by author 2009-04-22 04:49:14.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 04:05:53 AM
congratz on the yellow, that's a very nice image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 01:58:51 AM
Congrats on the ribbon !! great job on this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 01:07:59 AM
Congratulations on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 01:07:57 AM
Very nice, now all you need is a blue for the entire set!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 12:54:53 AM
Well worth the wait, beautiful picture and well deserved ribbon. Congratulations!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2009 12:54:31 AM
Nice tilt and processing, congrats on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
04/21/2009 08:03:40 PM
I am not voting in this challenge but would love to know your technique for getting this effect in a basic challenge. Very colorful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/19/2009 06:24:47 PM
An artistic success, the very slight oversharpening detracts from the images's overall impact and effectiveness. It might have been better to leave the image alone in that respect and let it speak for itself. A unique angle and perspective. A good solid entry into the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/19/2009 04:52:33 PM
lovely diagonal composition an the colours work well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/19/2009 07:48:44 AM
Nice shot, but maybe croping the left side and the bottom of the photo a little bit. JMO!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/17/2009 01:58:26 PM
Very nice photo.. I like the colour and the tone of this photo. The yellow and the red colour of the train contrasts well with the grey sky
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/16/2009 09:46:30 AM
BEST of the challenge. Very nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/16/2009 09:08:33 AM
Nice shot, the train does seem to be glowing a little bit, especially near the 9575 (perhaps the sun is right behind that corner or perhaps it's an editing halo) but in combination with the dark sky it almost gives it a ghostly feel that I like.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/15/2009 10:01:10 AM
HDR???....
Wasn't this basic editing???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/15/2009 09:01:23 AM
was this spot enhanced with a burn or dodge tool?
04/15/2009 08:57:56 AM
This is nice and good. Is this HDRI?
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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