Our photo club had an informal get-together on Saturday. I led the group on some photo exercises designed to help spark our creativity. I used two examples from Freeman Patterson's book but I also used two of our challenges here on 365 (a modified version of the tag challenge was the first). My final "assignment" to the group was the second. I told for them to go home, decide which picture they thought was the worst of the day, and then to "throw it into the processing blender" as I like to say. In 365 words that's ETSOOI! I never assign anything that I won't do myself, so here's what I did with my worst photo of the day.
It began when I drew the tags "tree" and "reflection". I went in search of tree reflections on a nearby creek but the shadows were not in my favor and the creek water was not calm. I did find one tiny, tiny puddle! But it was on the road and grit from the recent snowstorm was pretty much engulfing it. Simply put- it was ugly! However, I took the shot just in case I couldn't find another reflection. Thankfully I did find a more suitable reflection in my car window (of all places!) so the ugly shot became the worst of the day. Now, what to do with it? Most of you know how this goes now- fiddle with this effect, dabble with that effect, add a grandchild here, some selective coloring there and several hours later along with who knows how many tweaks, I come up with this.
I've never read that you can't do composite work on this challenge so I hope this qualifies! And it's so much better than the best, I'll never show the other!
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat! Maybe it's me, but I can't get the image of a little boy feeding candy floss to Darth Vader out of my head!
I'll go and lie down now....
Thank you Connie, Mave, Joan, Joyce, Rob, Lynda, Kerri and Guymundo!
@guymundo I only saw the original Star Wars movie- and back when it was first released so I'm unfamiliar with the scene you're describing. But I'll take your word for it!
Hi Ann _ I didn't read this well enough at the time (just looked at the abbreviated version on the feed) so I failed to realize that this was for etsooi95 and also failed to realize it was a composite!! All in all - big fail!! I don't know what the original intention was for the etsooi challenge - but I figure the host can only do their best and interpret it as they see it. I figure that etsooi means to take something not very exciting and turn it into something much, much better - by any means at your disposal. So, thanks very much for entering this - I think it's a perfect example. And I also think your idea of using this as an activity for your photographic club is grand. Cheers Rob
@robz Thanks Rob- I'll fix the tag. I don't remember reading anything that said you couldn't edit using composites. And just for you, I'll put the original in my third album so you can see just how edited this was!!
so interesting, ann. thank you for the narrative! i would have thought that composites fit perfectly in an etsooi challenge, and this is a really fun one ... i'm keen to have a go at some, but hesitant because of my photoshop shortcomings ... but i'm on holiday for a few days over easter, and it might be the time. thanks for the inspiration anyway :)
@pistache Thank you Clare- I am really a dabbler with them- but they are fun. I don't have photoshop so I use a number of different programs sometimes for different parts of what I do. But if you've got time off- play with it. One of the best things about digital photography is anything can be "undone" and/or "deleted"!
March 29th, 2018
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@randystreat @grammyn @golftragic @louannwarren
Thank you Kathy, Katy, Marnie, and Lou Ann!
I'll go and lie down now....
Thank you Connie, Mave, Joan, Joyce, Rob, Lynda, Kerri and Guymundo!
@guymundo I only saw the original Star Wars movie- and back when it was first released so I'm unfamiliar with the scene you're describing. But I'll take your word for it!