Photos of the Week - Week 28

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 28, Year Word Revisited

Photo by Rocky Wells

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Rocky says: 

On the Fence circa 1956
I was about 8 when my dad brought home a Polaroid Land camera model 95. He was a marshal in a small town in north eastern Colorado he needed the latest technology in crime scene documentation. All Polaroid pictures were black and white until 1963. The photography developing process, invented by Polaroid founder Edwin Land, employs diffusion transfer to move the dyes from the negative to the positive via a reagent. A negative sheet was exposed inside the camera, then lined up with a positive sheet and squeezed through a set of rollers which spread a reagent between the two layers, creating a developing film "sandwich". The negative developed quickly, after which some of the unexposed silver halide grains (and the latent image it contained) were solubilized by the reagent and transferred by diffusion from the negative to the positive. After a minute, the back of the camera was opened and the negative peeled away to reveal the print. Every pack of film came with a small black tube of fixative that had to be wiped on the positive before the image stated to fade. The fixer had a vinegar odor that was unmistakable. I kept the black tubes for many years and occasionally run across one in box of junk.
It’s easy in this day and age to take a perfectly sharp and well-focused color image and turn it into a vintage looking relic from a time when the world was a much better place. At this year’s July 4th parade, this little girl was eagerly anticipating the start of the procession. We were only about a half a block from the staging area and it was easy to see the horses and floats preparing to delight the crowd. She was across the street and her parents were just to her left. I removed some background distractions and a tree she was standing under. Happy 247th America!

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 28 - Distort/Liquify

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 28, Distort/Liquify

Photo by Kim Upshaw

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Kim  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 28 - Year Word Revisited

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 28, Year Word Revisited

Photo by Sarah Carpenter

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Sarah says: 

Critique Group Challenge:

Week 28, Year Word Revisited

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2023 Critique Group

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Ricky says: 

My year word is a point of view. The first week I was looking up. Here I’m shooting down. My goal has been to listen before speaking and hear what views others have. To open my mind and learn how to appreciate viewpoints that differ from mine. The image may not be a winner, but it’s not a view I see often.

Photos of the Week - Week 27

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 27, On The Fence

Photo by Bruce Hinde

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Bruce says: 

On the Fence circa 1956
I was about 8 when my dad brought home a Polaroid Land camera model 95. He was a marshal in a small town in north eastern Colorado he needed the latest technology in crime scene documentation. All Polaroid pictures were black and white until 1963. The photography developing process, invented by Polaroid founder Edwin Land, employs diffusion transfer to move the dyes from the negative to the positive via a reagent. A negative sheet was exposed inside the camera, then lined up with a positive sheet and squeezed through a set of rollers which spread a reagent between the two layers, creating a developing film "sandwich". The negative developed quickly, after which some of the unexposed silver halide grains (and the latent image it contained) were solubilized by the reagent and transferred by diffusion from the negative to the positive. After a minute, the back of the camera was opened and the negative peeled away to reveal the print. Every pack of film came with a small black tube of fixative that had to be wiped on the positive before the image stated to fade. The fixer had a vinegar odor that was unmistakable. I kept the black tubes for many years and occasionally run across one in box of junk.
It’s easy in this day and age to take a perfectly sharp and well-focused color image and turn it into a vintage looking relic from a time when the world was a much better place. At this year’s July 4th parade, this little girl was eagerly anticipating the start of the procession. We were only about a half a block from the staging area and it was easy to see the horses and floats preparing to delight the crowd. She was across the street and her parents were just to her left. I removed some background distractions and a tree she was standing under. Happy 247th America!

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 27- Portrait Editing

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 27, Portrait Editing

Photo by Tammy Baumel

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Tammy  says:  

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 27 - Reflection 

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 27, Reflection

Photo by Susy Boyer

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Susy says: 

Cropping only. My granddaughter Georgia. Something about this photo was mesmerizing to me. The calmness and how she is under the glistening water but still looking at me.

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 27, Reflection

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

We are re-doing our fish pond and today while filling with just the liner only, the light was dancing creating these amazing reflections. Prisma added a bit of excitment, but I reduced the effect so it wasn't overkill.

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Critique Group Challenge:

Week 27, On The Fence

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2023 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

I had to find a way to 'make-do' with a Fence this week - at least one that had something on it. I didn't want to go sideways with 'indecision'. So this is my "fence" made from a shipping pallet and some wire. My attempt at growing Sweet Peas on the mountain. I made the fence for them to climb last summer but planted seeds far too late. This year I started them inside (March) and I'm having some mearsure of success getting them to climb. The big question is...will they bloom before frost? A colorful little fence in my garden.

Photos of the Week - Week 26

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 26, Water

Photo by Sue Hecker

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Sue says: 

I love taking water-drop shots, especially since I moved it out to the birdbath instead of making a mess in my kitchen. Tripod, baggie with a pin hole for dripping. Very low tech. There was quite a bit of water in the birdbath, which changes the kind of shapes you get. Here is a drop coming right into a previous drop that has splashed up in a pillar shape. This was so much fun...makes you feel like a child again. With a good camera. High ISO to compensate for the DOF & speed required, and added a stroke. Posting early, hoping to inspire some others to give it a shot!!!

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 26 - Celebration

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 26, Celebration

Photo by Debra Russp

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Debra  says:  

I am beyond frustrated because nothing I tried was able to erase that fencing without distorting something else. Other than that, this picture thrills me. We watched our grandson Eli play in the State 50/70 Little League Championship this weekend. Here his team is celebrating because Eli hit a grand slam home run. They won 2 games, but lost the third and didn't with the State title, but they played well and had fun. Eli said it was the best weekend of his life. He's all about baseball and was excited that he played well.

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 26 - Shoes

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 26, Shoes

Photo by Mary Lynn

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Mary says: 

Edited in Prisma app with Thota Vaikuntam 

Critique Group Challenge:

Week 26, Water

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2023 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

I found many opportunities and took a variety of image using water this week. Not only has our pond Iris bloomed (a first for me) but we had a little rain shower. This was my pic for the week. Minor basic edits.

Photos of the Week - Week 25

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 25, Dark And Stormy Night

Photo by Lois Bennett

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Lois says: 

It was a dark and stormy night... when suddenly, to everyone's surprise, a sky full of umbrellas appeared! Where did they come from? Only The Shadow knows... LOL

Here in Illinois we are in the middle of a severe drought. It has not rained here in almost a month and we certainly haven't had any storms. So, what to do for this challenge...
While I was thinking about this week's assignment, I visited the Umbrella Sky exhibit in Elmhurst, IL and took some photos. At this exhibit there are beautiful, colorful umbrellas hung over an entire street. It was fun to see. I really didn't intend to use one of those photos for this week's challenge, but then I started playing around in PS and ended up with this photo. I did some LR edits, added the Topaz Midnight Lake filter, added some rain in PS and probably some other things that I don't remember now.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 25- Embrace Presented

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 25, Embrace Presented

Photo by Debbie Huewe

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Debbie  says:  

I was hoping to take two photos and combine them to show my husband's before and after losing his hair and beard. His beard started falling out and his hair came out rather suddenly on Monday so he shaved his beard and got his head shaved the same day. This is his new look.

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 25 - Use a Mirror

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 25, Use a Mirror

Photo by Margie Clark

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Margie says: 

The underside of an ornamental grass plant plus the sky reflected in a mirror.
Edited in Prisma app with Watercolor.

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 25, Use a Mirror

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

Thanks goodness for the hotel room dressing mirror. At first I thought it was a cop out - but working with the image, I ended up liking it.

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Critique Group Challenge:

Week 25, Dark And Stormy Night

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2023 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

It was a dark and stormy night. Brandon and Hank decided to linger at the bar a bit longer and ride out the storm. It made for a good excuse to down a few more cold ones.

This image took a lot of fancy footwork. I shot the pair of guys with my iPhone at the Chris Stapleton concert - street photography at its best because nobody is paying attention to a stealthy iPhone. I located a photo of an old bar from a while back and then had to turn light and color into a more sinister and ominous mood. That was done with layers - gradients - and blending modes. My goal was to make the image seamless. Even the original photo of the bar was in daylight with bright windows.

The original photo from the concert can be seen here; https://rickytims.smugmug.com/Challenges-Extra-Photos/n-RPZVSn/

Photos of the Week - Week 24

Critique Group Challenge: 

Week 24, Lazy Crazy Days

Photo by Barbara Larsen

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Barbara says: 

I live in Florida, which has the highest number of residential swimming pools in the US - 1,590 Million as per the latest (2022) estimate. Summer for me is jumping in the pool in my backyard!

Virtually straight out of camera. We had a strong summer storm this morning that drenched us with torrential rain, but then it passed and the sun came out once again and bounced off the pool waters.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 24- Trash To Treasure

Week 52 Photo Challenge:

Week 24, Trash To Treasure

Photo by Betty Franklin

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Betty  says:  

In exploring a local antique store, this vintage boat propeller seemed artistic. I used a 50mm prime lens with manual focus & hand held since I was in a shop (with the shopkeeper's permission) and with very little room to maneuver around. I used basic LR and PS tools with minimal cropping.

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 24 - Smoke

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 24, Smoke

Photo by Patricia Honeycutt

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Patricia says: 

Long exposure of smoke from a wood-fired grill wafting over apple trees on a windy afternoon. Edited in camera app.

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 24, Smoke

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

I used an LED flashlight in a dark room with the smudge stick. Basic edits in iPhone

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Critique Group Challenge:

Week 24, Lazy Crazy Days

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2023 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

I futzed with pretzels, but then went out to the garden for our twirly-sun ornament. Getting the speed so it didn't just look out of focus - and not so fast it was a total blur was the trick. The image then went through various processing starting in lightroom and adding a white vignette. Generally, when I move to Topaz, I will find a filter that I like - apply it - and then work to blend the two similar to how we do dreamscape. In this case I did blur the topaz filter a bit and I think I used Soft Light for the blending.