Theme: Skimming along
(can't stop humming that song ;-)... side by side...
Topaz Simplify - BuzSim, some toning/masking, Topaz Simplify again, masking previous layer, Nik SEP, luminosity blend back color, Topaz Impression charcoal, Topaz Adjust
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
-Michael-
Yep, they're "Just travelin' along . . ." One of the striking -- and good -- things is that their travel is pretty much parallel to some of the darker lines in the water. The range of both color and tones in the water is very effective.
Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate your comment.
I just realized I'm not going to be around to reply for a bit. But will be interested in comments even as I can't reply right away.
Cheers,
-Michael-
Hi, Michael, I like the image - I'd be inclined to either crop a little off of the top or a little off of the bottom (how's that for ambivalent?)
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly" - The Little Prince
http://tuscawillaphotographycherylslechta.zenfolio.com/
Michael, the color and texture of the water is the image's highlight for me. If mine, I would taking something off the bottom.
Until seeing Cheryl and Gary's comments, I hadn't thought about cropping. The idea seemed to have merit, though, because it might emphasize their flight if the the image were cropped from the top, bottom, or both. One of the good things about comments is that we consider things we hadn't and learn from trying something different. I tried all three approaches, and -- to my amazement -- liked removing some from the bottom the best of the three crop alternatives. With the skimmers angled toward the bottom, I didn't expect that would work, but lo and behold . . . I think that the benefit of cropping from the bottom is that the background is lighter, there, and cropping it -- in addition to lowering the skimmers without putting them too close to the edge -- makes the bottom darker, thereby helping to ground the image.
My conclusion after trying all that is that I don't have a strong preference one way or the other. It looks good the way it is and after cropping in any of several ways.
Very nice painterly effect with fabulous water colors. The skimmers are a great focal point. I like that the skimmers are somewhat synchronized and no parts overlap.
Love the close formation of this pair of skimmers. I like especially the soft colors and tonality of the water.
Lovely action and I really like the colour of the water. Maybe a touch off the top.
Nice. This image has a light feeling created by the gorgeous water, the skimming birds, the simplification. Very nicely done. The birds stand out from the lovely water.
Cheryl, Gary, Dennis, Nancy, Mitch, Jackie, Anita,
Thank you all for your comments. I gave some thought of various crops, but the comment that stuck was Dennis' one about cropping from the bottom lightened the bg (which is odd since the bottom is the brightest part ;-). So the issue (now) to my eye is the brightness of the bottom which is counter to the idea of darker foreground for depth. So... I darkened the foreground just so the top was brighter in comparison.
Anyway. That's my choice. Thanks again for the comments.
Cheers,
-Michael-
Did you crop any? It looks the same size to me.
Anita,
No crop, just darkened foreground.
Cheers,
-Michael-
I like it this way.
Congratulations on 2nd place.
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