Local Lamb: Nothing quite like it you know. Any views on the processing?

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Nothing quite like it you know. Any views on the processing?

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ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

magnetoman wrote:

Nothing quite like it you know. Any views on the processing?

I'm assuming the numbers are so the farmer can keep track of individuals. Does the paint/ink wash off easily when they sheer the sheep?
Erich

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

A well composed shot…oh you wanted pp comments. The subdued back ground works well to separate the sheep. Maybe it’s just the texture magnetoman, not so much the trees and house...but the hills and sky look like a stage backdrop to me. If that was your intent you did well. Not saying that is a bad thing…it seems the sheep have some texture also, and makes me wonder what they would look like without it.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

ebrunner wrote:

I'm assuming the numbers are so the farmer can keep track of individuals. Does the paint/ink wash off easily when they sheer the sheep?
Erich

I'm guessing the ink comes off quite easily Erich, but I'm no farmer! Note that respective lambs carry the same number as their mother - now that's got to be handy if you're a lost lamb.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Frank2013 wrote:

A well composed shot…oh you wanted pp comments. The subdued back ground works well to separate the sheep. Maybe it’s just the texture magnetoman, not so much the trees and house...but the hills and sky look like a stage backdrop to me. If that was your intent you did well. Not saying that is a bad thing…it seems the sheep have some texture also, and makes me wonder what they would look like without it.

Thanks Frank. I haven't used textures or any selective area pp, just the Lr sliders. I see these hills daily - in fact I can see them from my house - and just wanted them to look natural. The pp is one I learned early-on for Lr - happy with exposure, contrast -100, highlights -100, shadows +100, hold alt down and move white slider until first inkling appears against the black background, alt down and black to first inkling against the white background, add a touch of clarity to taste and same with vibrancy. I think it's meant to look HDRish. The textured look is sharpening - they look a bit woolly without it! A bit of dodge and burn would make the sheep stand out nicely, but I'm not sure they're worth it. Tomorrow is steam train day, much more interesting.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

magnetoman wrote:

Nothing quite like it you know. Any views on the processing?

I like this a lot. The sheep and lambs are deadly sharp, and the slightly hazy background provides beautiful context but unintrusive. Yes, it's a good enough picture and simple enough composition that you could develop it a dozen ways and have fascinating potential. I am thinking particularly of the work of M Mourik https://www.flickr.com/photos/42443389@N00/.

But this, as it is, is a perfectly lovely image with nothing further.

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

magnetoman wrote:

Thanks Frank. I haven't used textures or any selec... (show quote)

Thanks for the in depth tutorial, was I ever wrong...really looks almost like a canvas type texture to me.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I'm afraid I just don't appreciate this at all. To me it looks like a taxidermy display. The impression I get is of several stuffed sheep in a diorama, perhaps to show what recently shorn sheep look like. I doubt if that was your intent, but thats the way it comes across to me.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

minniev wrote:

I like this a lot. The sheep and lambs are deadly sharp, and the slightly hazy background provides beautiful context but unintrusive. Yes, it's a good enough picture and simple enough composition that you could develop it a dozen ways and have fascinating potential. I am thinking particularly of the work of M Mourik https://www.flickr.com/photos/42443389@N00/.

But this, as it is, is a perfectly lovely image with nothing further.

Thanks for the link Min, I get your point and will see what I can do along those lines. But, and talking about lines, we have a local steam gala starting today so I'm off to see what I can get - weather forecast's not too good tho'!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Frank2013 wrote:

Thanks for the in depth tutorial, was I ever wrong...really looks almost like a canvas type texture to me.

Wasn't trying to teach you to suck eggs Frank, just saying how I got there as I know you have a serious interest in pp and detail. I took this shot with my little RX100 pocket camera whilst walking the dogs. Both this and its bigger brother the RX10 use the same sensor system and produce extremely sharp images that do have the appearance of an added texture at times.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

mcveed wrote:

I'm afraid I just don't appreciate this at all. To me it looks like a taxidermy display. The impression I get is of several stuffed sheep in a diorama, perhaps to show what recently shorn sheep look like. I doubt if that was your intent, but thats the way it comes across to me.

We'll never make a farmer of you mcveed, this is to show brand new lambs, not shorn sheep! Must admit I get the 'stuffed sheep' thing tho', I had similar thoughts. Maybe Min's idea will do something for it. Thanks for the opposite view, it is appreciated.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Hi Dave

Could the haze that members spoke about be the natural haze that we get on the hills here in the South West? I know that on Exmoor which is nearer to me than where you are in Dartmoor, that on most days there is a haze which is quite visible in photos. I visit Exmoor at least twice a month, so I know what I am talking about.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Heather Iles wrote:

Hi Dave

Could the haze that members spoke about be the natural haze that we get on the hills here in the South West? I know that on Exmoor which is nearer to me than where you are in Dartmoor, that on most days there is a haze which is quite visible in photos. I visit Exmoor at least twice a month, so I know what I am talking about.

We do get a haze and quite a lot of sea mist here Heather, but I'm not on Dartmoor (that was just a holiday), we're in Dorset and those are the Purbeck Hills. We're off to Exmoor for a week in the autumn, somewhere Dulverton way I think. Hope all is good in Somerset.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I'm glad I read all the previous comments because now I know why the sheep didn't look quite real

Difference between clarity of foreground and background - just a matter of taste (or can be reality, of course, when hazy or misty).

I love their poses, but the paint really spoils the cute factor. I guess, for me, your pic is a combination of life on the farm + too-cute-to-be-real. Well done and edited for the intent you desired, Dave.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'm glad I read all the previous comments because ... (show quote)

Thanks Linda, your comments are appreciated. As I explained in reply to Frank, I haven't tried to get a particular effect, it's just the way that process, which I thought might suit, turned it out. For me it's a 'working snap' - something taken because it's there, to keep my hand in. Makes you feel better when you can click a shutter, as you know. Minnie's suggestion has got me thinking though.