So beautiful, and not a footprint in sight.
FundyBrian’s Explorations
- Thread starter FundyBrian
- Start date
juryjone
MobiLurver
- Real Name
- Jerry Jobe
- Device
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
Terrific results!
I did a tutorial on using different high-contrast vector variations as masks in iColorama. The technique and results are a lot like yours.
https://enthusiasmnoted.wordpress.c...ectorsnap-and-icolorama-step-by-step-pop-art/
You should have seen when I left, my little trail following the brook quite far out on the old beaver pond. I’m about halfway along the open water “brook”. I remember there’s water there in the summer so I was stepping carefully testing each step to be sure I wouldn’t fall in a hole. I think it is actually an underground spring coming up which is why the water is warmer and not frozen. That’s a tricky thing about ponds.
I’ve been busy following a 10 day online mindfulness summit. It supports what I have been learning through the Sounds True app and already shows an impact in my life.
I’ve also been busy following my drawing course, at this point just drawing things found around the house as subjects to practice course topics, like cross-contour lines.
Here’s my latest drawing - an udu drum. I’m less satisfied with the photos of the drawings than the drawings. The photos seem to exaggerate the paper texture making the holes in the blacks more noticeable. I guess I’ll switch to smoother paper.
Our winter weather has been screwy. Swinging between -15 to -20°C, then getting a bit milder in snowstorms, then swinging to the opposite extreme, +5 or 10°C and then heavy rain taking away all the snow. Not good for depicting the magic of winter.
All this is to say my mind has been largely elsewhere than making photos. As I said at the start of my project - something is brewing. I feel it just below the surface. A new direction. The return to drawing will no doubt be part of this but more so when I get involved in the next phases - digital drawing and photorealistic painting.
I’ve also been busy following my drawing course, at this point just drawing things found around the house as subjects to practice course topics, like cross-contour lines.
Here’s my latest drawing - an udu drum. I’m less satisfied with the photos of the drawings than the drawings. The photos seem to exaggerate the paper texture making the holes in the blacks more noticeable. I guess I’ll switch to smoother paper.
Our winter weather has been screwy. Swinging between -15 to -20°C, then getting a bit milder in snowstorms, then swinging to the opposite extreme, +5 or 10°C and then heavy rain taking away all the snow. Not good for depicting the magic of winter.
All this is to say my mind has been largely elsewhere than making photos. As I said at the start of my project - something is brewing. I feel it just below the surface. A new direction. The return to drawing will no doubt be part of this but more so when I get involved in the next phases - digital drawing and photorealistic painting.
Altered reality.
I recently returned to try the SkyLab app again. In this case the sky effect seemed ok but maybe the birds made it a bit contrived. I rather like the moody feel to the photo.
Here’s the original for comparison.
That dark headland meant the sky had to transition fairly abruptly. The app was really made to work with simpler horizons. If your photo has something crossing from the bottom to the top, such as a tree, then you’re out of luck.
When you have seen the original and go back to the altered version you notice the reflection of the headland need to be retouched to enhance the realist of the effect but if you’re not looking for problems it works ok.
It’s nothing that can’t be easily done in Photoshop but a lot quicker since you don’t have to start searching your files for a good sky. However, in Photoshop the situation of the tree going from the bottom to the top could also be managed quite well.
I recently returned to try the SkyLab app again. In this case the sky effect seemed ok but maybe the birds made it a bit contrived. I rather like the moody feel to the photo.
Here’s the original for comparison.
That dark headland meant the sky had to transition fairly abruptly. The app was really made to work with simpler horizons. If your photo has something crossing from the bottom to the top, such as a tree, then you’re out of luck.
When you have seen the original and go back to the altered version you notice the reflection of the headland need to be retouched to enhance the realist of the effect but if you’re not looking for problems it works ok.
It’s nothing that can’t be easily done in Photoshop but a lot quicker since you don’t have to start searching your files for a good sky. However, in Photoshop the situation of the tree going from the bottom to the top could also be managed quite well.
juryjone
MobiLurver
- Real Name
- Jerry Jobe
- Device
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
SkyLab was an app that I did not cover. My choice - I was having my articles mirrored at The App Whisperer and they were running a promotional contest with the app. My pan of it would not have been appreciated.
My main problem with SkyLab, as with all Brain Fever apps, is the masking. They really make it difficult. If your horizon isn’t straight, if you have trees or buildings or mountains, you have to mask manually, and there’s no magic wand selection tool like Leonardo or Limits like iColorama. You can’t zoom in far enough or reduce the size of the brush enough to do it manually, either.
Sometimes I’ll use SkyLab and create a really bad version, which I will take into another blending program to do the masking. So it’s not utterly useless.
My main problem with SkyLab, as with all Brain Fever apps, is the masking. They really make it difficult. If your horizon isn’t straight, if you have trees or buildings or mountains, you have to mask manually, and there’s no magic wand selection tool like Leonardo or Limits like iColorama. You can’t zoom in far enough or reduce the size of the brush enough to do it manually, either.
Sometimes I’ll use SkyLab and create a really bad version, which I will take into another blending program to do the masking. So it’s not utterly useless.
I’m finding I don’t have time to edit more that about 1/3 of what I have photographed. They languish on my camera roll for a while and then I back them up and delete them from my phone. The sheer volume of photos weighs me down. The time it takes to back them up and organize them is longer than it takes to make them. It is important for there to be a good organization system of backing up and storing images so I will know where to look for them later should the need arise.
I either have to make fewer photos or delete a lot more after making them.
I either have to make fewer photos or delete a lot more after making them.
Yes, it’s not a high end app but OK for some fun.
I’m with you on that. I wish I had the fortitude to delete more of my images. And I could use a better organization system. I have about 1000 images in my miscellaneous folder....
I have a massive problem with this. It’s just so time consuming. I have decided I must be more ruthless with culling my photos.
ubbyisis
IOTM Winner - Sep 21 & Sep 22
Could have been written by me. And tomorrow is backup day [emoji849]
Stunning!
Your drawing skills are impressive!! I like the paper texture in the photo, and don't feel it's too much.
These are both lovely.... I must say my favorite is the SkyLab edit - it's beautiful! I think the geese look pretty realistic... I've seen that many times in real life.
juryjone
MobiLurver
- Real Name
- Jerry Jobe
- Device
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
To be honest, I did write an article on SkyLab. I just didn’t cross-post it on The App Whisperer.
https://enthusiasmnoted.wordpress.c...phy-apps-skylab-an-app-that-remains-grounded/
I realize it is a less than perfect app but I’m pretty happy with the result I got. Other people seem to like the results, too. For more serious work I would look elsewhere.
Latest drawing. Garlic - a study in light, shadow, and values.
Also, a drawing of an apple. A B&W photo was supplied and the objective was to draw it as closely as possible.
Also, a drawing of an apple. A B&W photo was supplied and the objective was to draw it as closely as possible.
- Real Name
- Lisa Waddell
- Device
Very nice!
Another drawing. Arrange objects, shine a light on it to create light and shadows. Draw with values.
I noticed that photographing the drawing with jpeg was more forgiving (compared to DNG). The heavy noise reduction applied by the iOS smoothed the tiny holes in the blacks caused by the paper texture. Even so, I could notice details in the photo I didn’t see at the time of photographing - namely, a few bits of eraser leaving black specs.
Interesting note: I did make a photo of the mushrooms to refer to but it could not get everything in focus. It didn’t have enough depth of field to reach from front to back with the 2.8 lens. I was using the 2x to avoid so much wide angle distortion.
I noticed that photographing the drawing with jpeg was more forgiving (compared to DNG). The heavy noise reduction applied by the iOS smoothed the tiny holes in the blacks caused by the paper texture. Even so, I could notice details in the photo I didn’t see at the time of photographing - namely, a few bits of eraser leaving black specs.
Interesting note: I did make a photo of the mushrooms to refer to but it could not get everything in focus. It didn’t have enough depth of field to reach from front to back with the 2.8 lens. I was using the 2x to avoid so much wide angle distortion.
Last edited:
- Real Name
- Lisa Waddell
- Device
Very nice, Brian!
Wow. I especially love how you created a background... all those lines! Did you erase the edges to get them so perfectly aligned?
The lines are supposed to convey the idea of a wooden cutting board but because it was bamboo the lines are all fairly straight. Yes, I did plan and draw them to be that shape but I did need to tidy up the edges a bit.
I just noticed the corners look darker in the thread above. It doesn’t show on my drawing. I must have introduced some vignetting as I photographed it.
Last edited:
The definitely do. I’m just amazed at your drawing skills to bring that to life.
I’ve said it before, you are very encouraging. I really appreciate it. Thank you.
This drawing is from an assignment to make a scene with things getting more indistinct as they disappear into the distance, or mist, in this case.
This view shows Owl’s Head (the big round headland at the back). The closer headland is Joel’s Head and the foreground trees are near Dixon Falls. A range of about 7km.
This view shows Owl’s Head (the big round headland at the back). The closer headland is Joel’s Head and the foreground trees are near Dixon Falls. A range of about 7km.
Last edited: