Amish Men Building Outhouse

[Anita Bower]

I took this photo a couple of years ago when a small Amish school was being built just down the road from our house. These men are on the roof of one of the outhouses. I wasn't supposed to take photos of faces, so I used the Accented Edges filter to blur their faces. I cropped, used the basic adjustments in PS7 and Elements 10, and the Darken/Lighten Center in Color Efex Pro. Added a vignette.

I'm working on a series of the Amish for a local exhibit and would appreciate constructive critique. :-)

[denise ippolito]

Anita, I like the composition, it does feel a tiny bit tight on the sides. I like that you thought to blur their faces a bit. I like the subtle use of accented edges. I can't wait to see more of the series.

[Anita Bower]

Anita, I like the composition, it does feel a tiny bit tight on the sides. I like that you thought to blur their faces a bit. I like the subtle use of accented edges. I can't wait to see more of the series.

I agree that it is tight on the sides. I was eliminating distracting elements.

[denise ippolito]

Ya, that's what I figured.

[Jack Breakfast]

Anita, I think this is terrific. I find the tightness vaguely poetic here, and I would love, yes love, to see the original. Is there any chance you'd share it? Really great stuff, in my opinion.

[Anita Bower]

Anita, I think this is terrific. I find the tightness vaguely poetic here, and I would love, yes love, to see the original. Is there any chance you'd share it? Really great stuff, in my opinion.

I'm glad you like it. I'd be happy to share. By original, do you mean uncropped? Or, not post processed?

[Brendan Dozier]

Very nice composition, Anita! Has charm and a fine painterly quality to it. Really like your filtering work, especially the Accented Edges blur you used on their faces. Agree about it being a bit tight on sides, but still very well done!

[Jack Breakfast]

Hi Anita, I meant that I would love to see the original photograph without the post-processing, so that I can compare...I've been out looking at trumpeter swans all day and I've come back home and I still really like this photo! I like it better than most of the enormous swans I befriended today...

[Bob Miller]

Hi Anita....great composition and processing! You might consider a texture overlay!

[Anita Bower]

Hi Anita....great composition and processing! You might consider a texture overlay!

Good suggestion. I tried a couple and didn't like them, but perhaps it is worth exploring more.

[Anita Bower]

Hi Anita, I meant that I would love to see the original photograph without the post-processing, so that I can compare...I've been out looking at trumpeter swans all day and I've come back home and I still really like this photo! I like it better than most of the enormous swans I befriended today...

Here is the unprocessed image. You can see that I cloned out the power lines.

[Jack Breakfast]

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing...it's a great shot on its own, and I like what you did with it...

[Anita Bower]

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing...it's a great shot on its own, and I like what you did with it...

Thanks!

[Paul Lagasi]

Very nice image, always love the hats and beards, outhouses for a school, wow. If you suggested it here you'd be lynched.
Nicely composed and cropped, Anita...TFS