Thank you Duncan, well done too for getting them up nice and early. Your'e right it was helluva tricky lighting. I shall have to pop round again to that bloke and tell him I won, he will probably want to know if there was any money in it! If only eh? Anyway, congrats to Martin and Hefty, will post up next challenge for you now as I am off to Truro for the day and I am sure you are all dagging to know what I have chosen ...

Don't ask me what he was doing with that crow bar!

I shall attempt to be as constructive as I can. this image had great potential with a sky like that, very moody and brooding. However,as you ask for c&c here it its, seeing mono is my thing!

basic stuff:
wonky horizon
part of shore line is not enough and distracting, either show the shore properly or not at all
having half a boat LHS is bad, crop it or clone it out
soft, needs sharpening

now for mono bit:
the overall tonal range was heavy, flat and uninteresting
you need to apply that heaviness of tone to only parts of the image to attract attention ie the sky
adjust the overall tonal range with levels or curves, with levels bringing the left and right hand sliders up to edges of histogram
then go in and dodge to lighten parts of the image ie. the middle space where the boats are moored, gives an impression light coming through clouds
dodging and burning on an overlay layer so they are less destructive

I quickly had a go at what I have just said, hope this may be of help

Lilly

That is a great picture, superb, you sd have submitted that entry, shes just gorgeous!

Yes, Well Done John & everyone, some great snaps there..
Lilly

on the sea and shore, Cornish men doing what they do best!




K10D, 135mm2.8FA SMC; f/2.8@1/4000s, iso 100

try and get in touch with your feminine side and I am sure you will manage OK

Yes, I have tried that High Pass before but didnt think to do it on this one so I did an overall sharpen and de-noised it a bit which is why I think because of the film grain it has turned a bit soft and waxy, but heh, I like it anyway, thats what matters, but will try again HP way.

Thank you Mike, here you are then:
I use PS CS3

Select the background with magic wand or lasso
REDEFINE EDGE command, feather to suit approx 55 pixels; adjust/contract to suit
I opened one of my free texture background files I got free with a mag, select all, edit, copy
Back to original file, edit, paste into
when on textured background layer, Image, adjustments, curves or levels to match the lighting of foreground
Tidy up on original layer with dodge & burn as required

All there is to it! (did spend a wee while working it out, tho')
Lets see your attempt next!

Right, took onboard what you all said, I agree I think it does need some substance behind her, what do you reckon to this?
BTW it is not quite so digitally sharp because it was Tri-X 400 and to oversharpen makes it too noisy.
If you like it I will reveal how I did it.

Cheers Lilly