Maybe the one I chose is a little less "tradional" than I usually am and was inspired by something that was bounced around as an idea several months ago but was ruled out as "impossible", naturally I took that as a challenege and while I didn't get things as "perfect" as I would have liked it certainly stood out from the group I posted already.

I downloaded the plug Chows linked ot but I've still beeen having issues opening .raw direct into PS as I get a message saying I need a plug-in. I think I'm going ot need to hunt down my Canon Software CD and get my ZoomBrowser working again as I can easily get into PS with .raw through that.

100 replies, 1,499 views I'm open and receptive to comments

 

You've certainly have got my curiousity piqued.

Chows gave you the link for PS CS2. Are you using version CS or CS2? If using CS2, did the install instructions from Adobe make sense and you had no issues?
FWIW, on a PC I preview and sort all of my RAW files in Adobe Bridge (part of PS CS). I can then open a RAW file from Bridge which will launch PS ACR automatically. Or I have to initially associate my camera's RAW file extension with PS to have it linked and opened by PS. If you're using a Mac, others can jump in with proper advice. Hope this helps.

 

I'm using CS so I guess I've got to dig around the adobe site for a few minutes then.

I'm curious to see what everybody else has submitted, once I got the ideas rolling in my head it can be a great round, but I can only submit one and I'm not technically skilled/equipped enought to photograph all my ideas yet.

 

My mistake

try http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...atform=Windows

There are two links, one for the CS Raw plugin and one for the update to that plugin

 

A modifcation of wha tmy current sig is.

 

Were you able to get PS ACR module installed and working?

Looks like you used the posterize filter on your sig photo? I love that filter, but be careful if you apply it, then resize your photo for the web as it will change the look tremendously.

I like in your sig photo the car has somewhere to travel that is distraction free. Rubber stamp out the pole on the far right. Personally, I would have turned the front wheels out to the right so I wouldn't see tire tread blocks and would indicate travel to the end of the photo, not into the center of the photo, but that's a personal choice.

Looking good.

 

Half

Yeah this photo was from the inital shoot that started this thread, dust on the CDD makes it not worh posting as an image but with the posterize and a little PS work it makes a nice sig, for the time being, it's the second with temo intentions, but my last one was only supposed to be around 1 night, I hope to get a good shot this week for a new longer term sig


Here is a shot from a few nights ago, playing in PS

 

Not as many as usual but I think the quality makes up for it. 3 shots I really like and one that is a new technique that needs perfecting still.

 

Hmm, send me a PM if you'd like more help with this.

You may want to use a different technique to black out your sun visors and near the drivers seat. It looks like you just quickly painted a light black tint over them and is very obvious. Perhaps use layer levels and feather out a layer selection mask? I still never tire of the hidden motor look though. My $.02.

 

Its the hood I began to erase it after everything else was set, and wasn't liking the results so I figured I'd leave it. Did a little additional burning here and there to eliminate my DMV and tollway evidence.

So here are some shots from tonight. I'm also posting a few quick edit vs. involved edit photos for some comparisons.

 

I like this one a lot. It's great composition. Your eye follows the road and it shows what the MINI is about, a twisty road.

Very nice Motor

The focus point is up close. Was the car moving or blur because hand held.

BTW, after reading all about raw, I gotta agree with speed here. You have to have the original disk. http://photoworkshop.com/canon/dpp2/index.html and take the tutorial. I know after reading that, come XMAS Day ... we will be using the Canon Raw SW to do most of the work and save to .jpg at the end.

BTW, Fryes has 2GB Ultra II cards for $37! http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=242863 I just got one and it came in 2 days!

 

Thanks Chows I kept the focus,on the car, the blur if from driving through the corner.

 

This was just before my third stop to clean the plat and knock the snow out of the wheel wells.

 

That last snow pic makes me thing of a dragon with fire in its eyes...maybe if it were darkened a bit.

 

a general rule that will make almost any photo better, zoom in, it wont always work. And look at your mini in an abstract way to get some cool pics. And get low or high like some one else said. The main thing is to look at your world or mini from a different angle than everyday life.


For my next Mini photoshoot, I am hoping to get on and airport flightline ( I have connections) after a rain when it is all shiney and get so cool pics hopefully

 

Interesting you say that as one of my mantras from photojournalism was get close. I had more close abstract photos earlier on in this thread but constantly run into the same dilema when framing such close phots on an automobile, as many are works of art with connected flowing complimentary lines, you start chopping those up and the results often don't match the desired effect as things lose the balance and flow that the once had and your eye ends up getting lost.

Low shots while I have many are growing old quickly and are many times a result of parking lot and no tripod or anything else stury to place the camera, higher prespectives are little harder to come by locally but part of the reason I do keep scouting out locations and variety. If you check the last few pages you may note the mix of angles.

Here are some shots from Fri-tonight.

 

Ahh! Exactly my philosophy regarding works of art!


-J/C

 

This describes exactly why I find issues with on H.A.W.G.'s photo with the headlamp bezel cropped on the right side and the flow of multiple circles being broken. No flow for my eyes to travel on.

Yea, Juan's back with yet another perfect example!

Motor On, maybe time to revisit reflections to investigate what opportunities winter weather can give to you?

I'm really digging these two. Still hand held? Time to start a new "In-Motion" thread, eh? The macro/micro shots look perfect from a technical standpoint. I just am unable to articulate why I'm not "wowed" by them.

Try and stay warm while you're out there. I get cold just looking at all the snow in your photos.

 

Yup still hand held I may look into a new tripod toward the end of the month not quite sure.

Here is one from earlier today.

 

Jimz68 has been a bad influence on my lately and my spending habits by alerting me to a sale at FilmTools of some very nice car camera mounts. Most helpful tripod article I've ever read can be found here. My $.02 if doing it again would be to get a CF Bogen instead of the Gitzo that I have. I love my Acratech tripod head, best I've ever used.

 

Thanks, I need something else to spend money on

Although it does look like I'll probably get much better results with one of those.

 

I just read that article. Whoa, $1K for a tripod? I guess if you do this for a living, its part of the price of doing business.

Funny thing is they mentioned Velbon.... Haha, I still got one of those!

But here is a valid question. For slow shutter speeds, sure it needs a tripod. However, just about all new IS lens quote a three stop help. Is this going to negage the need for tripods?

 

Aww, come on Chows, you of all people know there is no such thing as a free lunch and quality photography equipment isn't cheap. (which lenses was it that you were looking at again; why not just get the kit lens?) $1k is also too high, a quality one with head can be had for < $500, especially if you skip CF.

YMMV. IS is a nice tool, but I'd take extra shots while using it 'cause it's not a complete panacea IMHO. Tripods are just like any other tool. A bad one may get the job done, but can be such a PITA to use or screw up your work and make it worse (consequently gets left behind and never used again). Good tools make a quality job simple to perform. My $.02.

 

FilmTools is always having a 'sale'. I've purchased several items there in the past & highly recommend them. I love DIY as much as the next guy, but you can never go wrong with buying pro grip gear—it becomes part of your permanent collection. The 'gripper' vacuum cup w/3-D head is a great piece to start & you can build from there.

 

No, not in this lifetime anyway.