Sunday Morning Go To Church Meeting

I am now the proud owner of NIK Software's Color Effex Pro filters for PhotoShop. This bi-color filter gave the original more of of a Disney fantasy land feel, or at least a warm and sunny Sunday morning glow. Please feel free to be brutally honest.

They appear to be waiting for something. Maybe a ferry to take them across to the other side.

ahhh!

so you got hooked on the NIK filters.. congrats

they are pretty awesome...i have them too..

i like what you did here. very surreal feel

as far as the composition...

it would have been nice if there was a bit more separation from the left duck to the white bird .

also i like the thin branches at the top but maybe clone out the right corner branch and the little

parts on the right side,

still undecided about the tree trunk...it does help ground the image.

I think the filter has quite a nice effect here, but I'm be cautious about where and when to use it.

Thanks for your comments.

 

kenny - I did the pruning you suggested and like it better. I can't do much about the white bird (egret) but next time I'm there, I'll have a word with him ;) As for the tree, as you said, it probably grounds the picture and for now, I think I'll leave it in place.

 

Shawn - I will certainly not be overdoing it with NIK filters. It's too easy to have your photo look exactly like all the rest of your photos AND everyone else's by overuse of them, especially the "weird" ones. I had a very good outcome with a photo in my Digital Alterations folder ("Till Death Do Us Part") but cringe when I think about my entire portfolio done in that style. My intention was to use the filters primarily for color and lighting adjustment in a way that's transparent to the viewer (although I always disclose manipulation on the Details page.) I hear your concern and share it!

C&C welcome. Thanks for looking.

A very nice composition of fowls of different species. The tree, grass and the twigs all make the image interesting. Great photo. - Lester

I enjoy this. It's simple but beautiful. Well done.

Very beautiful!

there is a certain surreal feel to this one. Nice one

Thank you much!

Alberta: I love the composition and the treatment. Fine work. Warm regards...

The color! Such warmth you've captured. I love how you've framed this devout little threesome with all the colors and glory of spring.

Couldn't help smiling when I look at this image. Such fitting & funny title. This seem to be an illustration directly out from a children's book. Well done, ALberta.

I love the magical colors, the sense of whimsy and story...I find the shot delightful, Alberta.

Thank you so much. I'm delighted at the reception this one has received. You've all put words to the feelings this one evoked in me.

You truly have captured a fairy tale feel. The filter effect works well.

 

This crew look to be synchronizing their watches and doing a final check of plans before embarking on an adventure to the far shore.

 

Have fun with your new toy!

Thanks for your comment. Much appreciate.

 

Of all the photos I've recently posted, I least expected you would visit this one - an am truly delighted that you did.

 

I had to go back and look at your portfolio to get a handle on the many layers that make up Gordon Bowbrick and it was very much worth the trip. I did find romance there, nestled in between the edgy abstracts and B&W studies, the drive-bys, documentary flower photos and the dogs. (Dogs cannot be categorized. They are in a class by themselves ;)

 

The most romantic image I found in your body of work is one I hadn't previously viewed and that I love: Rotten to the core. It is brilliant and has become my photographic education and visual enrichment du jour. Merci!

I did quickly notice something different about you and this shot immediately. I thought new camera or something but I read about your new acquisition, and you have used that software to good effect. Nice one!

Thanks. Much appreciate.

 

It all started with a free trial (of the NIK Software filters). I've been searching for more free trials but then I'm afraid I'd have to buy something :(

 

Cheers ~

...then you must have seen this site?:

Free Photoshop-compatible Plugins.

No - how did I miss that one? Great stuff!! Thanks so much. Off to investigate.

 

Cheers ~

This is really quite good. I think your use of the NIK filter works nicely here too. I really love how the water fades from the clarity with the rocks in the FG to an apparent merge with the sky; that effect and the quality of light gives this an almost otherworldly feel. I agree with the minor clone of the one branch coming out of the UR corner, but leave the rest. Well seen, and captured. I like this a lot, Alberta. Cheers! Chris

Very good image. I am also trialling the NIK filters but only done a few with the 'weird' filter.

Yea, the weird one is totally weird. Picking the right source material is the trick, I found. Since I used it and received very positive critiques and high ratings, I've backed off the weird ones for now and have been experimenting with the others. I bought the Standard set - more affordable than the full-blown version and containing almost all the filters I was really interested in. Graduated Neutral Density is by far my favorite. Good luck with your trial. I'll be looking in your portfolio to see the splendid results.

 

Cheers ~