Today in pictures

[davemac]

Originally Posted by mobertol

I wanted to prepare the following photo for the competition in B&W but can't manage to upload - it isn't quite how I wanted it in any case and I was hoping the expert Photoscapers might be able to explain to me how to do what I want.

I wanted to put the photo in B&W, as I have done in the version with the frame, but using the colour isolation technique which Margaret has used so successsfully on here in the past so that the man's hat stayed in it's original colours, even though they are more or less black and white, and would provide an interesting contrast I think...an alternative would be the opposite - the hat as in the B&W with the rest in colour, what do you think? Is this possible and if so how do you go about it?

Choose the tools option, then effect brush, choose the type of effect you wish to apply, then chose your brush size from the circles just above the tab. then all you do is brush over the area you wish to be grey scale or sepia. it helps with accuracy if you enlarge the picture, this then gives a better line definition.

For all Photoscape users, there is an update that gives more options, brush size addition and a few more bells and whistles I have yet to play with.

[davemac]

Here are a couple done earlier in the year, my bluebells, and one of mine Mrs P. applied the technique to, and I have to admit is better at spotting a suitable picture for this application than I am.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Is this what you meant Dianne?
You just have to play around a bit with photoscape.
1) load the picture to photoscape.
Choose tools from the menu.
Click on Grey scale.
For large areas that you want to remove colour go to the Zoom and reduce buttons on the R hand lower edge of the picture.
Reduce the size of your pic.
Choose the large brush........and hold the L button on your mouse and sweep the circle over the areas where you want to de colour.
Give a wide frame where you want to leave colour. To remove the colour from areas close to your target(where you want to leave the colour) Zoom in and use a smaller brush.
It takes a bit of patience, but the results can be spectacular.

You were quicker off the draw than me, however the advice is the same.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I'm not sure I have explained the process very well Dianne.
This is one of the pics I treated in this way. I think it is particularly effective, but might not be to everyone's taste.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Dave I like to think it is my artistic bent which makes me spot the pics that the colour removal work for....but maybe I am just deluding myself .
A lot of pictures happen before I take them...in my head that is.
Sometimes the idea is better than the execution.......but you have to remain open to possibilities.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Davemac, I know you are happy when you come home from filming with a wet gusset and I am not doing it properly if I return dry. I have to consider my old bones which have lasted a long time and I want them to carry on.
I cheat a little when taking shots low down or high up ones which means leaning backwards with a risk of falling over so I use this little device which isn't expensive and will, with the included adapters, fit any viewfinder.
Call me a softy, I don't care.

I have to my knowledge never called you a softy, and I wouldn't presume to criticise anyone's technique either. We all have our own way of taking pictures, also we have our own specific types of photographs we prefer to snap.

I wouldn't want anyone to use my specific camera, in the same locations looking at the same subject, and contorting in the same way as I do, it would very soon become tiresome if we all did the same thing.
What I would encourage is for people to go out and take photographs with the camera they are comfortable with, and a subject they have a symbiosis with, that way the passion for the subject comes through.

I would also point peoples attention to the name on the thread "today in pictures" it was never about who takes the best pictures or who specialises in a specific genre, or whose tackle is bigger than mine. It was, and still is about a persons day in pictures or just a snapshot of that day. It doesn't have to be in photographs either, it could be watercolours or oil paintings to take it to the extreme.

However, if you go back to the beginning and look at the photographs produced, and select at random through the thread to the present day, you will come to the conclusion that the photographs produced from then to now have shown a definite improvement, not on an individual basis but the group as a whole. This has not evolved by everyone doing their own thing, but by bouncing off one another, and a willingness to share ideas, techniques, software wrinkles, and other "stuff". We all extract inspiration from the group, and I would like to think that if I take a picture and someone else can expand on it, then they would do so.

Right this is the most I have typed in one go, I have to go and have a brew, and a Garibaldi

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes Dave, you are right.
We could all stand in the same spot with the camera of our choice and all of us would come away with a slightly different perspective on the scene.
It is good to get advice from others......to see the shots they have taken. Some of them take your breath away and numerous times I have thought ' I wish I had snapped that'.
There is an element of competition, but it is the healthy sort...the sort that makes you want to achieve more.....but there is much good natured stuff on this thread.
I like to see the snapshots of another persons day....and for those on the forum who cannot easily get about, it takes them to,some interesting places.....without the need for them getting a wet gusset.
Long may it continue.

[Gremlin]

I know you never called me a softy Dave, it was meant in a light hearted way.
Sometime I find it easier to use the right angle viewer to get a photo I would struggle with otherwise.
After two serious spine operations I know that if I got into the positions I have seen you get into to get your wonderful close ups of fungi I would never get up again.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I just worry that if I got down there someone might think I have collapsed and would try to resuscitate me....or worse.... Just kick me into the canal with the rest of the rubbish.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I know you never called me a softy Dave, it was meant in a light hearted way.
Sometime I find it easier to use the right angle viewer to get a photo I would struggle with otherwise.
After two serious spine operations I know that if I got into the positions I have seen you get into to get your wonderful close ups of fungi I would never get up again.

I like to think that my perspective on the low down stuff would give people and idea, even if they didn't know it was me, perhaps they would consider that it might be, and this is the point, we plough our own furrow photographically, but appreciate the furrow next to us as well, this then makes as a whole, a ploughed field.

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I just worry that if I got down there someone might think I have collapsed and would try to resuscitate me....or worse.... Just kick me into the canal with the rest of the rubbish.

You can rest assured that should you get down and dirty, and then find you can't get up again, someone would be there to include it in their day at the pictures.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by davemac

You can rest assured that should you get down and dirty, and then find you can't get up again, someone would be there to include it in their day at the pictures.

See......now that is something else to worry about!
I really don't like featuring in pics.....I,prefer a 'behind the camera' approach.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Is this what you meant Dianne?
You just have to play around a bit with photoscape.
1) load the picture to photoscape.
Choose tools from the menu.
Click on Grey scale.
For large areas that you want to remove colour go to the Zoom and reduce buttons on the R hand lower edge of the picture.
Reduce the size of your pic.
Choose the large brush........and hold the L button on your mouse and sweep the circle over the areas where you want to de colour.
Give a wide frame where you want to leave colour. To remove the colour from areas close to your target(where you want to leave the colour) Zoom in and use a smaller brush.
It takes a bit of patience, but the results can be spectacular.

Thanks Margaret -I will have a play around and see what happens, I doubt it will turn out as well as yours - I was hoping it would stand out a little more so I may try something a little different.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by davemac

Choose the tools option, then effect brush, choose the type of effect you wish to apply, then chose your brush size from the circles just above the tab. then all you do is brush over the area you wish to be grey scale or sepia. it helps with accuracy if you enlarge the picture, this then gives a better line definition.

For all Photoscape users, there is an update that gives more options, brush size addition and a few more bells and whistles I have yet to play with.

Thanks. Hopefully will manage to "get" the technique through both explanations - will give it a try later. The programme does keep asking me if I want to update it but I wondered if it was worth it or not - sometimes they take forever to do it for only minor changes.

[mobertol]

Referring to Dave's post above - I agree that being a part of this group of enthusiasts has given me a lot of input and ideas. I don't do the technical stuff as my mind doesn't seem to work that way (odd for an engineer's daughter!) I do like seeing everyone elses work and I think there are definite styles which have evolved since the thread started. Everyone has made such an improvement in their offerings and the range of subjects and places is what keeps it so interesting. Long may it last!

[davemac]

Originally Posted by mobertol

Thanks. Hopefully will manage to "get" the technique through both explanations - will give it a try later. The programme does keep asking me if I want to update it but I wondered if it was worth it or not - sometimes they take forever to do it for only minor changes.

there are a number of new widgets to make it worth the update, and it only takes minutes to complete the precess. once learned the selective colour option is straight forward, as is the sepia option, there is also a new bandicoot colour option but not too sure what this is about.