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Hello. Another resounding 1X-Curation failure of mine. I would simply please like to know what improvements (if any) you think would be valid? Alternativly, if you think the image hopeless, please say so. I should emphasise, the failure at 1X-Curation, whilst not positive, does not concern me per se; I am (as ever) simply interested to hear people's views and suggestions (if any). Again, I am, perhaps unlikely to adopt any changes at this stage but I am not closed to really good ideas, which match my concepts but do it better.
Here's my original blurb:
An homage to both the brutality and delicacy of a cold Winter period. One wonders how the spiders live, overnight spinning their silken lines across perished umbels. But live they do, some subsequently entering our houses for warmth - and to terrorise us.
I was driving to a location to take some photographs when I saw umbels protruding from the verge-banks and, though I did arrive at my destination later, this impromptu shot was the day's best, in my view. Shot in mid Hampshire, England, UK on a very frosty morning in October, 2024. When not prepared for posting on "1X," this image is framed in white and silver, which sets it much better I think.
(end of original blurb)
The title, by the way, is from a 20thC David Essex hit-single and, in turn, from Shakespeare - thus, I feel compelled to say "Exit, pursued by a bear." Hence, I must run, so cheerio and thanks in anticipation.
Sorry, the above formatting went wrong - Hopefully this helps:
"Only A Winter's Tale"
Canon EOS 80D APC-DSLR.
Canon EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II @ 123 mm.
ISO: 100 (Base); f-5.6; 1 / 1,000 sec.
PS: Software: Windows 11-Pro; ACDSee Pro-9; ACDSee Ultimate 2022; ACDSee Ultimate 2025; Topaz Photo-AI
Woad,
Thanks for sharing the photo. It's a pleasant decorative photo. The feeling is bright and clean. The sharpness of the little, spikey stalks adds to that feeling. It would look good framed on the wall as it's the kind that you see more in each time you look. The technical details are OK - sharpness, depth of field, colour, and so on.
In my opinion it is too bright overall. High key is good for a wintry scene, but I think if it were a bit darker the frozen web strands would be more visible.
The sample edit is darker and the contrast was boosted a bit. Some sharpening was added with Topaz Sharpen at the default settings. The colour was cooled just a little for the winter theme. The big change was a crop left and right to simplify the composition. 'Perspective Crop' was used to pull the bottom left corner in, and to start the leading line of the web from the top corner. To keep the right flower umbel in I used Photoshop's 'Edit> Content Aware Scale'. To avoid distorting it a selection was made around it and saved as a Channel. In Content Aware Scale it's possible to 'Protect' the channel so it won't change as the rest of the image is transformed. I hope that makes sense - I'm just practicing with this relatively new Photoshop tool, after learning about it from another Senior Critic.
These are suggestions only. My 'umbel' suggestions?
I like the title.
. . . . Steven, senior critic
Woad,
Thanks for sharing the photo. It's a pleasant decorative photo. The feeling is bright and clean. The sharpness of the little, spikey stalks adds to that feeling. It would look good framed on the wall as it's the kind that you see more in each time you look. The technical details are OK - sharpness, depth of field, colour, and so on.
In my opinion it is too bright overall. High key is good for a wintry scene, but I think if it were a bit darker the frozen web strands would be more visible.
The sample edit is darker and the contrast was boosted a bit. Some sharpening was added with Topaz Sharpen at the default settings. The colour was cooled just a little for the winter theme. The big change was a crop left and right to simplify the composition. 'Perspective Crop' was used to pull the bottom left corner in, and to start the leading line of the web from the top corner. To keep the right flower umbel in I used Photoshop's 'Edit> Content Aware Scale'. To avoid distorting it a selection was made around it and saved as a Channel. In Content Aware Scale it's possible to 'Protect' the channel so it won't change as the rest of the image is transformed. I hope that makes sense - I'm just practicing with this relatively new Photoshop tool, after learning about it from another Senior Critic.
These are suggestions only. My 'umbel' suggestions?
I like the title.
. . . . Steven, senior critic
Hello Steven. Thanks, once again, for some excellent suggestions and a great example. Most of what you suggested had not occurred to me, though I had pondered that left-crop. Although I no longer use Adobe products, I am sure I could do everything you suggest in ACDSee (though they have different ways of arriving at similar results). [NB I added the software to the list after you posted becasuse I forgot before, my apoloies].
The darkening and left cropping and slight right-cropping do certainly focus the image better. I have to weight that cumulative effect against a partial loss of the light, misty, etherial look. I especially like that left-crop and the cobweb from the top-left, though. Anyway, both approaches are interesting and you have done a great job - sterling work, thank you again. Much to ponder. I am most grateful. Glad you like tje title. All the best.
PS: FYI, I'll post the same image in its border, which I had to remove to post on 1X but still feel is integral. Later on I'll try your adaptation in similar.
