Challenge #26

[Marty Landolt]

BUZZ,
Really! Is it you? Maybe I've been sleeping but I've often wondered where you were. Glad to have you back!
Marty

[Jodi Frye]

Hi marty ! I see you threading so thought i'd say hello. Your image is warming and thoughtful. Your getting to be quite the pro ;)

[Marty Landolt]

BUZZ,
Well, come on now...get with us and also enter your version of a Challenge. I bet a lot of us are putting off some "must do" work to be able to do the Challenge.
JODI,
Oh, Thank you so much for the encouraging words. When I open the Forum and read Grant's words on encouragement I say "AMEN!" Of course you realize you are my mentor.
Marty

[Marty Landolt]

BARBARA WAYNE,
I like your new picture in the "ARTISTS" section, but actually don't think you could ever take a bad one.
Marty

[Marty Landolt]

STU B,
Your submission for the Challenge was certainly the most thaught provoking of all. The number of entries does not reflect the interest in it.
Marty

[carl sutherland]

Many thanks for the kind words from so many of you.

Marty, our dogs are Australian Shepherds. If anybody would like to see them and missed the link it is <http://homepage.mac.com/csut2/PhotoAlbum2.html> .

Carl

[Nancy S]

Carl,

It looks like your dogs are a lot of fun to play with!

Nancy

[JuergenDirrigl]

Carl,

Nice pictures. And, I too wish you well!

Juergen

[Bob E. Warren]

BEN TESTA: Superimposing the text of the Gettysburg Address over the picture is a great idea.
BYRON GALE: Having the 'spirit' rise through the beam of light is a terrific effect.
GARY WEBB: I liked the idea of using Lincoln and his son Todd to view the picture. The reflection of the picture in the train window is another great way to present the image.
JODI: Substituting crosses for the bodies was a stroke of genius.
MARILYN LEE: Superimposing Robert E. Lee over the battlefield offers a striking commentary on the picture.
NANCY: Great restoration job -- could you comment on how you adjusted the light in the center of the picture?
ROBERT JONES: The eyes are a neat touch -- they comment on the picture without the need for words.

Bob Warren

[Nancy S]

Bob W,

I adjusted the image with 99% of the effort concentrated on a selection which did not include the bordering material of the photo. The lettering of the title was lastly just darkened, omitting the gruesome 'body harvest' thing.

I used layers and selections in luminosity mode. A copy of image, lum. mode set to soft light, lessened the opacity some. A blank layer under, in lum. mode, painted with black at low opacity over all areas which were too light. (Had sky area masked off to darken the horizon some). Separate selection of middle ground horses and riders, feathered, lum. mode, darkened and USM. Probably the best enhancement after all the above was using USM, lum. mode with a small amount and a large radius and adjusting opacity. (I think in the beginning I did a small Levels adjustment to brighten somewhat)

I think your images are always so well done and look forward to viewing them each week.

Nancy