Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

For your consideration

(Download)

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Very intriguing Mr. Spad, might be the new old lady look similar to the old man look everyone will try to achieve. Well Done.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

A flower cherished by those she has touched, nicely done!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Im not sure it will be a good idea to follow my lead young Frank. And to those who want to try suggest you develop a skin like a rhino first ya gonna need it.
Just a play with a pile of adjustment layers involved then various textures and blend modes. More proof of a misspent youth.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Thank you for dropping by young fella

Snap Shot Loc: California

Great effect!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I know her! It's the same shot from your tutorial about the grunge painted lady!

I do like this style better. Are you going to do a tutorial on this processing as well? It looks pretty interesting.

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

Very impressive Billy! Absolutely love it!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Glad ya like it Mr Shot! Thank you for calling by

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Glad you like it min. I would have loved to think FYC was ready for a tutorial on this type of stuff but in all honesty although it generates some nice comments Im not sure our average or even the majority of members would actually participate and try and reproduce their own versions. FYC is place more for nice simple safe images where the poster can get a pat on the head and where concepts that mean little and are never gonna occur to our snapper in the field can be pseudo intellectualized about.
I shall continue to move forward producing slightly more adventurous pieces and anyone with a serious desire to learn from the very small knowledge font I have is welcome to contact me via PM.
Im just not convinced the desire to strike out and be different is there and writing a good tutorial to fall on the ears of those who are not ready seems like a waste of time.
Dave Chin wrote a video tutorial which was superb. Have you seen anyone use his techniques? No folks would rather respond to a thread which allows them to post not so good images converted into something else but are sure of a guaranteed pat on the head. Or if you bathe something in Topaz after two clicks you can post it as super artistic and original.
Its the beast FYC has become so its not ready for a learning exercise that would entail 3 hours in front of a PC and a piece of work with up to 50 layers. Topaz Simplify is so much easier is it not?

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Agree that all tutorials don't appeal to all people, and some of us don't post our results while we are still struggling with it. You're right that Dave Chinn's tutorial was great. I've spent a fair amount of time with it and tried diligently to convert an image of an old ruin in the delta from day to night, but haven't figured out some of the lighting problems. I was fortunate to have plenty of time to discuss it in person with Dave, and get a few pointers but mostly I just need to spend more time with it.

There are wonderful things that can be done with all software, and terrible things as well. I'm a big fan of Topaz, Nik, On One, and the whole MacPhun suite (Aurora is a real kick)They all perform better with a layered approach so that you can mask and blend to get the most of it. I seldom see those one click wonders here, but I do see folks trying some creative ways to use all the software packages.

Creative approaches that move further into the art realm like this one don't appeal to everyone either. I'm learning some painting strategies within PS, using tools I never even knew of, and it's been a lot of fun but it's not for everyone either.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

While I don't feel I am quite up to average just yet and my artistic(sorry maybe doodle is more appropriate) vision is no where near what you seem to be able to see....I want you to know your and others tutorials here have not fallen on deaf ears. I for one have learned much from them. I don't necessarily produce the doodle you do with the knowledge but it has help me be able to process the more mundane normal photo.


I would like to start seeing a bit more in depth critiques of images and still try to do that myself but I think maybe we need to ask for more of what we are looking for when we post....I should have been explicit with my latest two kid posts as I was not that interested in how cute my models were but that's my fault for not asking. I am always looking for ways to get better.


I have used some of the techniques just haven't had anything worthy of posting yet. Just my 2 cents worth.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

I would hazard a guess you are selling yourself short in saying you have nothing worthy of posting.



Techniques explained in tutorials always come in useful. Even artistic type techniques often find a use in more normal picture making.




The standard of critique on general posts is probably as good as its going to get. The lack of any critique other than a pat on the head in the sharing type threads is a different matter. The bar is invariably set at an incredibly low level which means the participants have to make little effort to meet the criteria and the standard of comment is determined by the standard of work on display I'm sure.
But your idea of being more specific about the type of critique required when you post is a good one.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Without wishing to downplay any of the other comments on this image Don when a guy such as yourself who earns his living making images and is an expert at post production tells me an image is even just OK it means an awful lot.
Thank you for calling by my friend and I trust all is well with you and yours.

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

All is well here in Nashville and I appreciate your kind words. I haven't posted much work lately, as I am working on a piece, that has taken me over a year now to create — and it's time I finished it! ;-)

It is a combination of all original photography, compositing and digital painting all rolled into one composition. It is music related and is 84 inches x 45 inches and has over 550 layers (so far). I guess it's my Mona Lisa. ;-)