These next few days I will be blogging about . . . . 

Digital Lightroom Contest – Still Life

The entry deadline is May 17th, and the prize is the complete Topaz Suite Bundle (something I already own).  That is quite a jump from the last set of prizes, and I anticipate a large turnout.  As I mentioned before, Topaz’s pricing is very reasonable for what you get, and they give you free upgrades for life.  But if you cannot afford even these plugins, enter the contest.  You can’t win if you do not enter.

When I first mentioned the contest, I also stated I planned to explore still life concepts, and the above were my first subjects (there were many . . . I spent a number of hours this past weekend shooting arrangements of different objects).  Actually, the above was a proof-of-concept shot.  The actual shots were done in a light box, and using a black backdrop.  

This was the next proof-of-concept, using the in-camera flash . . .

Then I set out to do the deed; to shoot still life (seems unsporting, what with me being a decent shot, and all).

I liked this shot, but felt a higher angle would work better . . . 

This was also a little darker, but I still felt I should go steeper . . . 

This is about what I had envisioned . . . on to the processing stage.  For processing I used both Topaz Black and White, and onOne Perfect Black and White.  I like both programs.

I am unclear as to the actual rules regarding processing photos, but I think these would be allowed as they do not manipulate the subjects themselves, but rather alters how they are presented.  I don’t know if there is a limit to how much manipulation is allowed.

I thought it could use some punch . . . 

Then I played around a bit with some options . . . 

This next one is the Topaz plug-in.  I like the effect of the cups and saucers “floating” . . . 

BUT . . . the arrangement, while appealing to the engineer side of my personality, looked overly staged.  Mind you, this next one is just as staged, if not more so, but it looks more like someone just threw the damn things on the table (without breaking them . . . I would have been in deep sh*t had I chipped or broken any of these).

Again, I played with some filters . . . 

Both programs have lots of presets, and each can be adjusted to the user’s content.  Lots of sliders, buttons, and stuff . . . mind you, who has the time, but if one is so inclined, the permutations are endless.

BUT . . . I am no slouch with my own adjustments (using Lightroom) . . . well, I am a slouch, or I would do a lot more.  Still, here are a couple of examples of my own adjustments.

And that’s it for this installment of my exploration of Still Life Concepts.  Tomorrow I will add another segment, and will do one each day until Friday, May 17th.  That is the deadline for submitting your entry for the contest.

As a reminder for them who made it this far (and therefore might actually be interested in the rest of the photos), the SmugMug Gallery can be found HERE.  All the above shots are there, as all subsequent themes will be.  The gallery is in reverse chronological order, with the latest photos (these, and then each subsequent post) shown first.

If you are one of them gentle people who appreciate moments spent not reading about man’s inhumanity to others, and found this to be one such moment, don’t you think you should share it with others in your life?  Others who might appreciate the above, and find a similar escape in it?  

. . . and, even if you hated it, and found it a complete waste of time, you might want to share it anyway; there is always the chance it will make you appear less like . . . you know, you.

Astute persons might have noticed these doodles, and correctly surmised they hold some significance for me, and perhaps for humanity at large.  If said astute person is curious about them, click on it for an explanation of their origin.

WordPress is still screwing around with trying to be a class operation.  As such, while they busily work to add features and themes I will never use, they are remiss in fixing problems like disappearing links.  So, if you click on the doodle, and nothing happens, this is the link it’s supposed to go to:  https://disperser.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/palm-vx-and-i/.  Note . . . there is no guarantee WordPress will keep this as a link, but at least you can copy it and paste it on a browser’s address field.

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Please, if you are considering bestowing me some recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline nominations whereby one blogger bestows an award onto another blogger, or group of bloggers.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I would much prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would actually mean something to me.

Should you still nominate me, I will strongly suspect you pulled my name at random, and that you are not, in fact, a reader of my blog.  If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards          About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not personally hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.