Mr G. No, I now see what you saw. Hay no disparaging remarks about FL. We have Mount Dora, lovely old stores filled with antiques and mildew. I think it is 200 feet above sea level. Then there is also a famous mountain in the S.E. area of Ocala indeed a work of god in progress. You can see the Waste Hall trucks wind their way to the top to make it higher.

Critique is based on what I have learned from the ol' masters that judge at mytbcc camera club. For instance the sprig lower left in the photo above is not part of your statement of the photo. Also, there needs to be a visual reference for level ... I see a tilt to the left; even the tree at the left border appears to be tilted.

Generally, serenity of the water stated in the reflection is beautiful. When it comes down to it, whatever makes you happy in your photos is the most important. But once rendered for critique, it becomes the object of visual rules which are the basis for judging for points in a group of photographers. You know, over exposure, under exposure, out of focus, central point,,,, a whole list of criteria for judging. Not my rules,,, I tend to be a documentarian of a scene based on years of documenting industrial processes and accidents etc.... hard habit for me to break.

I respect the beauty of your work. I respect your written verbal skills. And I respect Colorado where I took a memorable vacation in October when the temp ranged from 80 to 20 F and from Sun, Rain, Snow, deer in the cabin yard, wonderful hiking trails,,,,mmmmm,,, i can smell and see it in my minds eye,,, thank you Colorado.

Dearest 5-Dogs, while I have answered this question, again simplified to the unwashed digital masses; I will say that you in your photo radiate serenity and in your writings are pleasant and non harsh. Surly I would have been 100% sure that you were the reincarnation of one of Buddha hand maidens if you had been against a tree (preferable an Olive tree on a hill ) in lotus position with sitar music playing. oooummmmmmm oooummmmmmm oooummmmmmm Unlike the Beatles I would not consider you a fool on the hill and would have contacted you by chanted the number 9 many times. (I know you know)

I dreamed I was dating Vee's sister,,,,not one of the triplets tho: see
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-1445-1.html#17366

Mr. G, The photo that Gizzie tweaked has a large pool of water in the foreground!! Why, is that the interesting thing???? I think not, the subject is, sure a little of the water, but primarily the other shore with trees. I would crop at the arched bough that hangs out in the lake area.

This crop would get rid of the lower left problem and the excess dull boring still water and focus on the shore.

Sure the info is there in the dark area, so perhaps brighten that up. If you have the raw file, you have the info to brighten. Even without raw, you can use a lightening brush. d/p

I will confess, your sister was in bed with me last night and she did not make an impression on me or the pillow.

Vee, great work,

My burned hand got good points only critique was hand and arm were too redish. (I did a preference test with neighbors and they liked the red burned look best) During the critique session, I asked the judges and peanut galley how I did this. None knew our guy. General opinion was that I used layers. Told how regard to using a simple flashlight to paint on slow exposure and that started a very good discussion. Huggs this AM,,

Check out http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-1878-1.html

My critique via two mods of Gessman's picture is on pg 3.
Critique my critique, you opinion is valued by me. Ok to disagree with me,,, that is what the word critique is all about. With great respect for my friend Vee, I am steaming that second cup the back to bed,,, (your sis left already) zzzzzz

Edit 3 Close to shore. Also some sky effects could be added with layers because sky is just blah,,,, I am interested in your Critique of my Critique. Be Gessman,,, tough and to the point... Don

Gessman in Mountains Revisited #3

Could even crop close to the shore line and not show reflection, the mtns are a strong statement and why use the reflection, except that it was there?

Gessman, strange that you and I were standing in the same spot when we took the mtn photo!!!!

Seriously, did a quick clone brush on a few thing and crop with my ol easy MGI Photosuit 4, then opened in PSE 7, used Topaz Adjust Spicify and here it is . I thought that the foreground elements had nothing to do with the mtns in the background as well as a bit of rock stuff in front right of the water.

Just one man's opinion, but you asked for a critique and we all see the world via our eyes and the camera lens. Words are lame in critiques when actual adjust would do 1000X better,,,, you know one pitcher (of beer) is worth a 1000 words. Total edit time, because I was sipping coffee, about 15min download to finish.

You are a great photographer. I have admired your photo and text submissions /compose and tell it like it is attitude. ;-) Last night at the mytbcc.com as soon one of my photos was put on the view stand, I said to the guy next to me hummm, that one is cropped too tight to the mat. Yep the Judges marked down for that!!! Why could I not see that when I was ready to mount it??? Psychology huh.

Gessman in Mountains Revisited

DB !!!! YOU ACTUALLY READ A LICENSE AGREEMENT !!!
I WILL REMEMBER YOU FOREVER SO I CAN SAY, WELL I KNEW A WOMAN WHO ACTUALLY ...

THANKS FOR THE INFO DON

Yes, this has ended up as a writers forum and I am will copy as fast as possible and sell as a humor book,,,, (lol)

Yep, I have two cameras that take raw, the Fuji s9000 and the kodak z1510. So I should take raw and educate my self, but I so love the on the hip Pana TZ3.

I have had QImage for years. It does conversion of raw and tho they have an newer version they will still add additional raw to the Original QImage that is 10 years of upgrading.

You can read about it and i bet some one will be selling the old one on EBay for low price .. oops, i lost the bet!! I check EBay and Amazon. They still sell it, but 39-89 and they ask a yearly support and update now for the new edition. Oh well, can't win them all.
http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/editions.htm

:lol:
thanks I needed :lol:

Right on 5-dogs. Open Source is a great movement.

I ran just a quick google on opensource photo edit programs ...
http://alternativeto.net/software/fotoxx/?platform=windows

you look up like "lightroom" and click and alternatives come up. Worth a look...

I got MS Word for $15 when teaching, county special. Hate that ribbon menu. So I use MS Office O3 from a previous year.
NEW = NOT NECESSARILY BETTER

Hay all you guys with creaking joints, including me! I listened to Coasttocoastam regarding lyme disease by a man named Tom Grier, http://www.canlyme.com/

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2011/09/14

The diagnosis of Lyme disease is difficult as is the treatment and the symptoms cause problems with joints, nervous system etc. I had the big Bulls Eye tick bite and was told flatly that it could not be lyme disease because it is not in Florida, only in New England. Fired him went to another, test was negative, but test is only 30% good.

The ticks got on me while laying down photographing beautiful lichen on a rock.

Tom Grier, was diagnosed via symptoms as having MS! but eventually got better with treatment for Lyme disease.
Worth reading about.

WoW, Adubin, love your work, indeed.
Hay, every one get that morning cup of brew and travel to Natures world with Mr. Adubin. d/p

Nik Dfine $99 OUCH
www.perpetualvisions.com/new-articles/nik-dfine2/revew-dfine2-.html

Topaz is 79,, not a great deal of $ diff.
But full Bundle all Topaz Programs is 299, so the 99 is 1/3 total price of bundle.

Glad I bought mine 2 years ago! Well, Topaz has free upgrades that is a virtue.

Free is http://www.colormancer.ca/free/index.htm

found above freeware in a comment at:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/plug-ins-actions-photoshop-compatible/177308-free-noise-reduction-plug.html

Also shoot at lower ISO Good luck