almost missed it

[Dennis Bishop]

Last Tuesday, it rained all day. Overnight, the temperature dropped, giving us our first light snow of the season. Delighted, I headed out to capture some fall/winter transition shots. Foremost on my mind was some pumpkins partially covered with snow at the end of the front walk. Not expecting to see anything of consequence, I walked farther down the driveway for some reason. There's a low spot at the edge that catches leaves. It also fills up with rainwater. The shallow puddle was frozen only on the top, and there were fine cracks wandering through the ice.

ISO 1000 (definitely didn't need it, then, but had forgotten to reset), 1/320 sec, f/8, 105mm macro lens

first processing step -- remove a distraction with the Photoshop snow shovel
increased contrast and enriched colors with a duplicate layer in Soft Blend mode at reduced opacity
Color Efex -- tonal contrast/cross balance (tungsten to daylight) masked off of leaves to make background bluer and intensify the white cracks and fine snow
Snap Art -- Stylize line art, 3 layers with various Snap Art settings and some masking to provide dark details in various degrees
Silver Efex -- High Key 2, Luminosity blend mode at reduced opacity and masked off to affect background only (lighten and reduce contrast)
exposure adjustment layer applied loosely and lightly to leaves to highlight them a bit
dark brown gradient vignette

[denise ippolito]

Dennis, I love the line - first processing step -- remove a distraction with the Photoshop snow shovel. Too funny I think the Snap Art step really brought this to another level. It reminds me of a map. Nice eye for this.

[Judy Howle]

Well seen and processed Dennis! I don't have SnapArt but it seems to have added a nice element to the processing.

[Dennis Bishop]

Well seen and processed Dennis! I don't have SnapArt but it seems to have added a nice element to the processing.

Thanks, Judy. Everybody should have SnapArt. Well, maybe not everybody, but it's one of my favorite tools.

[Judy Howle]

I already spent my software allowance on Color Efex 4 so it'll have to wait... I tried an older version demo and wasn't impressed but maybe it's better now.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, when I first read your description I thought "I don't think my Photoshop has a snow shovel" But I get it now. Great image - I love what you created (and your humor).

[Dennis Bishop]

Dennis, when I first read your description I thought "I don't think my Photoshop has a snow shovel" But I get it now. Great image - I love what you created (and your humor).

Thanks, Cheryl. Here's why I needed the snow shovel. It was too distracting, even toned down in Viveza.

[Mike Landwehr]

Dennis, I really like what you've created. I wasn't familiar with Snap Art, but will take a look at it (though I realize it's but one step in the process). Your image really speaks to the transition from fall into winter. I like the balance of the composition, and the various shades of brown. Congrats on having the vision to spot a nice image that many of us would have walked by without noticing.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, yep, I see why you needed a snow shovel What a wonderful transformation.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Dennis, Here's another very well done vote. You had to see this in the first place......that is the Hat's Off congrats I offer. Great!

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application, Dennis

Like the image, but not the weather it takes to capture it. Been there and done that!

I have seen that effect many times in my past life ... when the camera was no where near. You did a very good job of converting it to the final image.

[Brendan Dozier]

Well seen, composed, and processed, Dennis. Nice touch bringing out the textures, detail, and colors.

[John Ippolito]

Dennis, this is a wonderful creation made from a "walk by". Congratulationss on finding it, and the great processing. Very nice work!