2014-01-24 - Projection Competition
"The City is Alive"
Category: Color
Contest Score: ??/27 - Second place (I think at least one person got a perfect score this evening)
Print medium: Digital Upload
Location: Top of the Terminal Tower in Cleveland, Ohio! One of the many benefits of being a member of The Cleveland Photographic Society!
Story behind the photo: Sunset on top of the Terminal tower can lend it self to some beautiful views! I used a few Cokin graduated filters to take this photo.
Camera gear:
- Canon Digital Rebel XTi
- Canon 11-18mm Ultra wide-angle
- Remote shutter release
- Tripod
- Cokin Filters - Graduated Neutral Density
- Sunset filter (Can't confirm)
- Amber filter
Photo Specs:
Raw Image > 3-image HDR saved as PSD> Saved as Jpeg for upload
Focal Length: 14mm
Exposures: 0 / -2 / +2
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter Speeds: 0.5 - 1/8 - 2.0
ISO: 200
Software used:
- Photoshop
- NIK Color Efex Pro 4
-NIK HDR Efex 2 (3 Image HDR)
Lessons learned:
- Cokin filters can save even the brightest of days! Or it can totally ruin your photos... you just never know.
- Bracketing exposures (AEB) and then using HDR software such as NIK HDR Efex or Photomatix can yield some interesting results!
"Reflecting On Where They're From"
Category: Color
Contest Score: ??/27 - Third Place
Print medium: Digital Upload
Location: Somewhere in Bedford Metroparks in Bedford, Ohio. http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Reservations-Partners/Bedford-Reservation-1.aspx
Story behind the photo: Went on a hike during early December in the park. Saw remnants of fall leaves in a pool of unfrozen water, and got some ideas...
Camera gear:
- Canon Digital Rebel XTi
- Promaster 11-18mm Ultra wide angle
- Handheld
Photo Specs:
Raw Image > saved as PSD > Converted to JPEG for upload
Focal Length: 18mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/40
ISO: 400
Software used:
- Photoshop
- NIK Color Efex Pro 4 (Just used slight filters)
- HRD Efex Pro 2 (Single Image Tone Mapping)
- Alien Skin Exposure 5 (for some simple film effects, and the boarder)
Lessons learned:
- Even if it's cold, there are shots to be had!
- The original unedited photo doesn't look nearly as cool as the final product.
- Sometimes rotating a photo 180 degrees can make a substantial difference!
Final Thoughts:
The proper cropping can help or hinder your photo entry... could mean the difference between placing, or getting nothing at all... Just make sure you it works for the photo, and don't force it!
