I guess it is all in how you care to look at things, but at times it felt like I lost all perspective on my last Photoshop assignment. The last step, printing, was particularly trying. Here is the print lurking harmlessly on the screen in the print queue:
Looks great! what could possibly go wrong? Well, let’s start with the major problem. The printer didn’t like the paper, lovely little streaky lines called “head strike” So, that was a question of changing the settings on the printer. The other problem, well, that was a bit more subtle, it just didn’t look right. To me this image was a lot about the light, and it just was’t working. So back to Photoshop:
It took a total of two and a half hours to get my print to look the way I wanted. Had I lost all perspective? Yeah, probably. Here is my defense. It took me hours to make this photograph. I wasn’t going to settle for an “OK” print.
So, here is the final, final photo I promise:
Also, as I wrote in a previous blog, this image was entered in a weekly photo competition at my camera club. I won an honorable mention. If you are curious to see what I was up against here is a glimpse, you will have to scroll down a bit to see all the images. It is a talented pool of photographers, so any win is a major win for me.
What do you think, had I lost my mind perspective? And thank you if you have been following me on this journey, I will stop now.
Cheers!
D’you know, I’m sure your journey of frustration is one many of us have had along the way in our photographic lives! And will still have on occasions… 🙂
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Yup, that’s true.
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I call it being passionate not losing your perspective. Well done!
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Thanks 🙂 I’ll stick with your perspective on the matter 🙂
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Wanting something to look the way you want it to and taking the time to do that is not losing perspective – it’s determination. The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say – I think the final looks great! 🙂
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Thanks so much, I am happy with the final result. I also really learned a lot on the way so that is important to me as well.
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Great take on the theme.
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Thanks 🙂
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Congratulations for winning an honorable mention! 🙂
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Thanks Amy 🙂
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The print looks reaally nice!
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Thanks 🙂
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Wonderful result – well worth all the angst!!
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Thanks, and I thought so.
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Wow – sorry the printing was such a pain! and I have that happen before – where the laser printer looked totally different than the ink jet at home. However, that was not an important picture – and well, I can see why spent the time to get the print right. And I would have spent the extra too. Also, and I know you know this – but even if you do not get a mention or a win – it would still be just as amazing (but how cool to get HM). 🙂
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one more tidbit – I just checked out the other entries and I liked yours the most. and I promise – that is not false flattery -and while I agree that you are right – a VERY bunch of talent of artists there – but in the class B entries – well I like the basket lady with pipe – but really like yours – with that steam and lighting and color and design – I dunno – maybe I am bias from familiarity – ha !!
~y.
anyhow, I also just enjoyed looking at all the entries – like that striped lady or those interwoven circles – very diverse entries – wow.
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Thanks for taking the time to check out my competition. You see now what I am up against 🙂 Also, you will understand why I don’t envy the judges, especially for something like this that is “Open-Color” so no theme. It is a pretty diverse competition. One of the reasons I was happy with my placement was that the comments from the judge just really reflected what I was trying to do with this photo. It is nice when someone understands your work without you having to explain it.
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oh my gosh is that true, it is so wonderful “when someone understands your work” – refreshing too- 😉
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Exactly 🙂
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Yeah, it was just one of those situations where I was just not willing to settle.
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OK first – good for you for insisting on perfection. Second, you’re right, the other photos are also wonderful. Third, even better you got to use your photo for more than one challenge 🙂 It’s a lovely shot, you should be every bit as insistent on perfection as you have been! Well done 🙂
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Thanks Tina 🙂 Also thanks for also taking the time to check out my competition.
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I’m not sure if I’m also prone to loosing perspective or we are both just right but I’d have done the same thing! 🙂
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Let’s just go with both being right 🙂
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Maybe it is ‘persistence’ (usually a good thing), rather than ‘losing perspective’. I’d rather err on the side of optimism…
Coral
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I’ll stick with you Coral, and go with your optimist point of view 🙂
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The final result is adorable.
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Thanks 🙂
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I’d say, it was well worth all the time, the trouble. It looks really great! Congratulations, Amy – it’s well deserved!
Big hug, Dina
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Thanks Dina, I was happy with the outcome. I have to say that even though it was frustrating at times, I really did feel like I was learning a lot, so that made it worth it.
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That’s exactely how I evaluate the countless hours spent on getting things right and better to; it’s a learning process! 🙂
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I agree and to me the process is really important 🙂
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Most important! I don’t like status quo. 🙂
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🙂
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You have achieved oblique perspective with this shot. Very good considering tha most people intentionally or unintentionally achieve obliquie perspective.
You certainly have good competition in your class. I wouldn’t have picked the one chosen for first place. I would have selected Jesse’s instead, and moved your shot into second place; largely because of what you’ve achieved. What did make second, I would give an honourable mention to because although it’s beautiful I’ve seen images like it before, and I don’t care for the faded pale vignette.
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Thanks for taking a look at my competition and giving me some feedback on that. I was happy with the honorable mention because in his comments about my photo, I felt like the judge really understood what I was trying to achieve without me having the ability to explain or defend my work, and that was satisfying to me.
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Beautiful. I really like your header photo, too.
janet
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Just checked out the competition. Yours was excellent and you were also right–lots of excellence there.
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Thank you, and they have competitions weekly, it is a pretty impressive club.
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Thanks 🙂
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Congrats – so well deserved. You are a perfectionist and it is the frustrations of technology that make us lose our mind.
p.s. My mantra for keeping perspective is: what does it matter on the scale of world events
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Thanks. That’s a good mantra to keep in mind when thinking about things on a larger scale.
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An interesting “journey”. I assume you colour calibrate your computer screen. I generally find with my printing that I have to increase the exposure but 0.5 in lightroom to compensate for the difference in a computer image with transmitted light and a printed image with reflected light.
Well done in the competition.
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The lab that I use for printing, is generally well calibrated. So, when I went to print the first one, I was surprised that it didn’t match. In the past, I had not had any problems between my screen, their screen, and the print. I went with increasing the saturation and brightness in the print process and that took care of it.
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I think your determination paid off…anyway you had already spent a lot of time and effort on this photo, why would you just settle when it came to the final print?
I love the soft movement brought by the steam and the light. Just for the record I thought the firefighters portrait should have come first, followed by your morning tea, and then the stripped tulip….what a talented bunch.
Out of interest what was the gender mix of the judges?
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It has been interesting to me to read what people have thought should have won. It would be a tough job to be a judge for this. For this competition, it was one male judge. This is a weekly competition, so one judge only. They also have other competitions that are larger and then they usually go with three judges. Overall, there are more men in the club, and therefore more male judges.
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Interesting, and of course I ask because I have a sense that male and female might have slightly different preferences 🙂
It’s always tough to be a judge of anything of course!
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I agree, male and female judges do see things differently. I’ve also found there to be differences depending on the age of the judge and also what their relationship is with the club. There are some who love to push boundaries and those who really interpret the rules very tightly.
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I am on the feed for these replies – and so I read these comments – and just had to chime in here 😉
but with judging – I noticed that it also depends on the other pieces in the show and how certain ones stand out. Like if there is a lot of one subject – sometimes the odd ball photo (or art pieces) is more appealing because it was a refreshing change. Even though the recent competition they were all SO diverse – so that may not apply this time.
but I have seen it before – being a judge myself and when I have had students in different shows.
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Yes, although I have to say that this does tend to be a more conservative club. There was an odd ball piece in my class this time that got passed over after a few rounds because it was odd ball. Every once in while something get through that is truly different, but generally speaking this is not a club of edgy artists.
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Yes, the competition was stiff, Amy. Congrats on your honorable mention. I love your final image. Lovely. 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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Amy, I think your final photo turned out perfect. I checked out the competition for your photo club. There are a lot of wonderful photographs – tough competition. Congratulations on your honorable mention. Personally, I think judging a photo, like other artwork is a matter of “perspective”. I liked yours and one of the other honorable mentions better than a winner in your class – and a winner in the A-class. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (I use cliches shamelessly.)
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Thanks Robin, I agree that it is a matter of perspective. Anytime you are entering in a competition or even just showing someone something you are working on, it does come down to what they like or don’t like.
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Congratulations on the honorable mention! It is a really beautiful shot.
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Thanks! I was happy with the way it turned out.
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Your patience and persistence paid off. The final shot is gorgeous!
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Thanks 🙂
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Beautiful image. Congrats! I’d say it was well worth the time and effort. Lovely.
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Thanks so much, it was worth it to me 🙂
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Congratulations! 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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