ice shanty

[Dennis Bishop]

Contrary to how it may seem, I've neither fallen off the edge of the planet nor returned to the days of shooting slides. Actually, digitizing all my slides could explain why I haven't been active, here, since probably some time in May, but -- except for a few brief intervals -- I've mostly been on the road. This image is one I started before leaving and just completed. It's of an ice shanty that was formerly used off the Marblehead Peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Erie.

Nikon D3S
17mm, f/22, ISO 200, 5-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals

processing

• I shot this across the short dimension of the shanty (cramped quarters), and there was lots of distortion, so the verticals had to be straightened.
• In addition, the shot was taken in July of last year, so there was a lot of vegetation under the trap door. The skid, ice, and hole were added with three Flypaper textures.
• Topaz Simplify -- Watercolor II preset partially masked and reduced opacity
• Topaz Simplify -- b&w edges, Multiply blend mode
• Fractalius -- two b&w layers of presets based on the old Sketch preset, Multiply blend mode, reduced opacities
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- modified Stylize Line Art b&w layer, Multiply blend mode, reduced opacity
• gradient vignette

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Dennis, I was beginning to wonder and worry I've been trying to get ready for a 12 day trip to New Mexico and haven't had time to post comments or images lately but thought I'd stop in before I left. Great to see you back with us! Two very minor points that caught my eye - the black spot on the floor in the bottom right corner and the spot on the towel bothers me although I'm sure it is authentic. Great use of filters as always - I especially like the Fractalius contribution. Hope we'll see more of your creations.
Take care,
Cheryl

[Hazel Grant]

yes, welcome back. like this, too. it's not too much frac, which is fine with me. agree about the spot on the towel. The watercolor treatment warms up the ice shanty well.

[gary ellwein]

Good to see you back Dennis. I particularly like the way you dealt with the ice. Great attention to detail. Ice houses bring back fond childhood memories of time spent with my maternal grandfather in Minnesota.

[Anita Bower]

I'm so glad to have you back. I've missed your outstanding photos and editing work, as well as your constructive comments. I trust you have been enjoying yourself.

As always, lovely work! The editing is great--love the look. I agree about the towel spot, but it isn't major. I can't find "b & w edges" in Simplify 4. Can you help me?

[Dennis Bishop]

I agree about the towel spot, but it isn't major. I can't find "b & w edges" in Simplify 4. Can you help me?

Thanks for all your comments, Anita. I've had to chuckle at myself a couple times since Cheryl pointed out the spot on the towel. I'd noticed it, too, and thought of getting rid of it because it's a bit of a distraction. However, because it was really there, I didn't. It's strange that I spend so much time and effort changing reality but didn't get rid of the spot.

Edges in Simplify . . .
In the right column of the Simplify screen are three adjustment categories. When you expand the first, Global Adjustments, you'll find three modes. Depending on the preset, the radio button for one of them will be selected.

If you choose Combined, you'll get edges superimposed on whatever else the preset is doing. (Until very recently, I'd been using just the Base selection because the preview of the edges is terrible, at least on my machine. However, I wanted to get some additional outlining, so I've been playing around with doing the edges, by themselves, on a separate layer.) To get just edges, choose that radio button.

At that point, I deselect Simplfy, Adjust, and Curve Tool, leaving only the Edges sliders category, where there are oodles of choices. Any of the Mono XXXXX choices in the Edge Type menu box will give black lines on a white background.

If that doesn't get you there or if you figure out how to get a good preview, let me know.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Dennis,

Greetings. I like this for the combination of simplicity and detail, but most of all for the color palette & design. The color contrast is great along with the placement of the elements in the image. There is something just a little off for me in, perhaps the distortion, of the stove and the upper right corner of the image. Maybe a little to the left for the bottom of the stove and similarly a slight shift left for the top right corner? Tricky.

These are minor though in the overall impact of the image. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Diane Miller]

Welcome back -- a great image to show you are still out there! I love the simple subject (even before you simplified it!) and soft palette, and just have to do a "What they said!"

[Judy Howle]

I'm glad to see you posting again Dennis, your images are always well done as is this one. Hey, I don't mind the spot on the towel! Great subject and execution with excellent fract application. And I agree about the nice color palette.

[Nancy Bell]

Good to have you back with us! I really like the use of all your filters, blended so well together. Simplify takes out some of the grungy details and fractalius returns some details with interesting lines. The red container and blue ice add wonderful bits of color.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Dennis! Good to see you back with us. I had actually asked Cheryl recently if she knew where you went! Glad to hear it was because you were traveling. I love the simplicity of the colors and the enhanced edges that add to the natural aging of the objects. Looking forward to seeing your images again.