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Feb 22, 2017 09:05:44   #
russjc001 Loc: South Carolina
 
I find many folks object ( or just don't like) photos that are manipulated to appear like a painting. I have done several using Topaz impressions and get significant yet subtle negative feedback. I am not someone who has any actual painting talent - my stick figures aren't even that good! 😱 Some are people who actually do paint so I can understand how they may feel about it. Any other UHHs have this experience? This photo was taken last week at a local equine center.


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Feb 22, 2017 09:14:17   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
There are a number of UHH folks who enjoy playful pp! Some like subtle, some like in-your-face, some like one style but not another. Some of us refine or adjust as we go along (I love looking back two years to my early days with Topaz Simplify; there are a few that make me cringe now, but many still make me smile).

I think, as with any pp, it's a journey of discovery: finding the full potential of a particular software, and then finding your own voice (getting away from pre-sets, making additional adjustments, combining effects).

Having said all that, your image doesn't work for me 100%. The background is a little too pronounced, especially the sky (a good goal is to learn to selectively reduce opacity or the "effect") The horse's head appears a little distorted - perhaps a wide angle lens? There is a sad "expression" (half closed eye). There are some pretty colors and brush strokes in the fur, though.

Enjoy your journey; it's addictive!

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Feb 22, 2017 09:17:03   #
ksmmike
 
Hello,
Yes, I've taken two online classes with Sherron Sheppard. I found her classes to be quite good. She offers many ways to make your photos look like paintings, along with courses on
some basic photoshop techniques. Its been a few years since I took her classes and I know she updated them some, but I found that getting feedback from others in the class in a private
forum was helpful. I think the forum access was lifetime, but I really don't remember now. Sherron is an award winning painter, who also is into photography.
Mike

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Feb 22, 2017 09:23:19   #
DBaltzer Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona
 
I'm currently playing around with Impressions and Remask5. I'm on the road so I don't have any examples to post but if I were to use your picture I'd mask out the horse from the background - use Impressions on the background - then add the natural horse layer onto the "impressionistic" background. It's a pretty cool effect with the right subject and one that I've received pretty good feedback on.

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Feb 22, 2017 09:30:39   #
StevenG Loc: Long Island, NY
 
russjc001 wrote:
I find many folks object ( or just don't like) photos that are manipulated to appear like a painting. I have done several using Topaz impressions and get significant yet subtle negative feedback. I am not someone who has any actual painting talent - my stick figures aren't even that good! 😱 Some are people who actually do paint so I can understand how they may feel about it. Any other UHHs have this experience? This photo was taken last week at a local equine center.


I love Topaz Impression. I've had it since it first came out, and use it only periodically. So, I'm still learning. At first, my images were a bit "in your face". Now I have developed a more subtle style. I do know that some people don't like any type of processing, others do. It doesn't matter to me if people object to my work or not. What matters to me is that I am happy with the end result.

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Feb 22, 2017 09:40:58   #
ksmmike
 
Here are a couple from the class Sheppard class I mentioned. Like anything else, you have to work at the techniques and use a variety of her methods to create your own style.
Those were some of the initial ones I did. My style has changed a lot in how I do them now, but I still apply the lessons from her class.
Mike





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Feb 22, 2017 09:47:04   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
I'm not a big fan of this kind of manipulation, so I generally don't comment at all unless there's one that is particularly striking. In this case, I believe what Linda said is right on.

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Feb 22, 2017 09:51:40   #
GHW3 Loc: San Antonio, TX
 
If you like this art form, it does not matter what others think. If you were an accomplished painter, there would be those who negatively criticize your work. Develop your technique to make it your own and enjoy.

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Feb 22, 2017 09:57:24   #
Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona
 
I pretty much agree with Linda as well, however the examples that kasmike displayed are wonderful.

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Feb 22, 2017 10:04:03   #
russjc001 Loc: South Carolina
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
There are a number of UHH folks who enjoy playful pp! Some like subtle, some like in-your-face, some like one style but not another. Some of us refine or adjust as we go along (I love looking back two years to my early days with Topaz Simplify; there are a few that make me cringe now, but many still make me smile).

I think, as with any pp, it's a journey of discovery: finding the full potential of a particular software, and then finding your own voice (getting away from pre-sets, making additional adjustments, combining effects).

Having said all that, your image doesn't work for me 100%. The background is a little too pronounced, especially the sky (a good goal is to learn to selectively reduce opacity or the "effect") The horse's head appears a little distorted - perhaps a wide angle lens? There is a sad "expression" (half closed eye). There are some pretty colors and brush strokes in the fur, though.

Yes, I agree with your comment on the background. I'll go back and do some more work on it. I used a 55 mm f1.8 prime lens on it. I must have caught him in a blink - does look sad!

Enjoy your journey; it's addictive!
There are a number of UHH folks who enjoy playful ... (show quote)

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Feb 22, 2017 10:05:06   #
russjc001 Loc: South Carolina
 
ksmmike wrote:
Hello,
Yes, I've taken two online classes with Sherron Sheppard. I found her classes to be quite good. She offers many ways to make your photos look like paintings, along with courses on
some basic photoshop techniques. Its been a few years since I took her classes and I know she updated them some, but I found that getting feedback from others in the class in a private
forum was helpful. I think the forum access was lifetime, but I really don't remember now. Sherron is an award winning painter, who also is into photography.
Mike
Hello, br Yes, I've taken two online classes with ... (show quote)


I'll look into that - thank-you!

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Feb 22, 2017 10:07:30   #
missinglinq
 
As GWH3 said...it's art! And, as the old saying goes...art is in the eye of the beholder!

If you're doing this for yourself, do what you enjoy!

If you're doing it to sell images, and the money is important, or could become so, then you can worry about what 'others' think!

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Feb 22, 2017 10:11:02   #
ksmmike
 
More recent ones are a bit more subtle. Sometimes I add a lot more color, other times, I add subtle changes. I think it depends on my mood. I use Photoshop and a Wacom tablet. I hope that helps some with your journey. But it works with pretty much any subject matter. I've done many with orchids, but I think I like the original photos the best. Landscapes can work if you keep it subtle.
Mike





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Feb 22, 2017 10:17:05   #
ksmmike
 
Oh, and you don't need field passes to get good sports photos, tho it for sure helps. The Astros (Jose Altuve) was taken from behind a chain link fence during infield practice last weekend and the Dolphins was taken from my seat about 10 rows up in the end zone with a VERY slow 80-400 Nikon lens. Its one of the original 80-400's. I'm hoping the new 300mm that's much lighter and faster AF will help this upcoming season get a higher rate of keepers. The volleyball photo was of my daughter from a few years ago with a Nikon 80-200 2.8, one of the older ones, but a nice lens. The older ones were with a Nikon D700 and the last one was with a D750 camera body.

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Feb 22, 2017 12:23:12   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
russjc001 wrote:
I find many folks object ( or just don't like) photos that are manipulated to appear like a painting. I have done several using Topaz impressions and get significant yet subtle negative feedback. I am not someone who has any actual painting talent - my stick figures aren't even that good! 😱 Some are people who actually do paint so I can understand how they may feel about it. Any other UHHs have this experience? This photo was taken last week at a local equine center.

Not every picture is a good candidate for this, but I do like it and your example is very nice and I like it a lot! I did this only once, back in 2008



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