FUJI

OK!   Here we go, for those interested in my mono conversion method.

1: The original as it came out of camera ( for this converted from RAW) 

2: The same shot, adjusted for colour, contrast and sharpness.

3: The final mono result done in Photoshop CS6 and Silver Efex...A vignette...Targeted Contrast grading on layers, then targeted sharpening on layers.

All layers flattened as I progress through my work.

This then is my equivalent of what might have happened in a Darkroom during ...Film Days.

You can imagine the cost and timescale, chemicals and experimenting that might have taken place to achieve the final mono result.

My method takes a little time, a deal of pre- planning, then careful use of brushes, sliders  and layers.

Feedback and comment very welcome:

FUJI

WOW!

I’m truly overwhelmed .....what a fantastic surprise......the light on the Abbey Pool was incredible that morning, with the mist adding greatly to the atmosphere, this was the best, of a short series taken at the same time.

A lovely addition to us celebrating the 60th Birthday of our daughter too..... Can’t believe she is 60 now.... our little girl!  TEMPUS FUGIT .

Thank you for all the wonderful feedback folks....much appreciated.

FUJI

An incredible study Paul....I have always reckoned that if you can see all the detail in the eye of a fly, you have nailed macro.

Congratulations!

FUJI

Hi Paul,

No, my friend it is you who is  the hero..... ....yes, selling your original gear was tough, but I there has been a point similar to that in everyone’s life.

During my 82 years I have had lots of them along the way, but like yiu, I am a....cup-half-full....person, always optimistic.....this tends to produce the silver linings which help reduce or even eradicate the negatives. The recent loan of lens from Geoff is a good example.....soon you will have a camera that will do what you want.

you were a huge inspiration to me when I got completely taken over by the macro bug.... then fate took a cruel hand, when serious retinal problems threatened then severely restrict my  usable vision.

just like you, I sold all of my kit.....but, unlike you, I was able to transfer to Micto-Gour-Thirds gear, and I haven’t looked back...the LUMIX GX8 has the Godsend of a  Tiltable viewfinder, which helped me to develop new techniques, and to compensate. Thankfully my vision is now better than it ever was thanks to three incredible eye surgeons; but I wouldn’t swap my GX8 and it’s collection of varied lenses for anything. They give so much pleasure and have made me many friends.

Just stick in there.... all will come right eventually.....

Please keep the pics coming..... I always look forward to seeing them.

this pic was taken through one of my DIY lenses...a tiny vintage Cine camera lens hot glued into an M42 adapter... my cheapy flash has a layer of kitchen towel as a diffuser....

Stay safe and Positive..all willl be well.

FUJI 

There are quite a few of these available Polly.... the film makers were very enterprising.

Their ploy was to widely advertise the fact that they would be filming in a certain city or town on a particular day.... movies were in their infancy so the whole thing was a house novelty and draw for all ages and classes.

Also on the advertising was that films shot, would be shown in the local cinema’s or suitable halls....

fascinating stuff

FUJI

Hi, all 

Dee phoned my just now....see my chatbox message.

She gave me ...Google Earth ...details....This is what I found.... it may not be this exact property, but one very similar according to her description and given address .... ideal for a single occupant... close to parks and all facilities.... she can’t wait to get a working internet connection..  Isn’t modern tech wonderful?

She sends ooodles of love to all.

FUJI

Hi Heather........good to see you again.... despite everything things are still ticking over nicely.

FUJI

Just fantastic Dee... take your time you will get there.....eventually...tell us about that weather....

FUJI

INSPIRATIONAL IS THE WORD....

w

11 hours ago, Martyn said:

Great band Fuji, I've been following them on Youtube for quite a while now. The cornet player, Shaye Cohn, had a famous father. Al Cohn was a Jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger who played with the Woody Herman band

Thanks for that info Martyn..... Shaye is certainly one of the most talented jazz trumpeter and band leaders currently playing... I love her unique casual looking , but firm control via simple signs all the other players take their timing from....

please other members of TIPF ...seek this band out on YouTube.... you won’t regret it......real music from the very soul...

FUJI....

Tuba Skinny....the best  Contemporary trad jazz band Ever...... seek out their numerous videos... Shay, the trumpeter is the leader.... an incredibly talented group.

Purely by chance,  opened this fascinating glimpse into a long gone English life.... almost certainly Lancashire or Yorkshire, going on the shawls and clogs....

The video has a rather strange start.... but once going, it will fascinate you.... people from another time almost making contact over the years....obviously playing to the new-fangled  cine camera...a real rarity back then..

FUJI.

A superb shot John...a well deserved win.

FUJI

Hi, Folks..

This is one if the best presentations on this subject I have viewed... so I share it with you..

Hi, both.... yes...new, or, vintage lenses can give real pleasure...

Any old lens can be made into a tilt-shift one.... have a few bevies too many then go out with your camera.... walking, of course.

FUJI

Very well done Cheryl ....a well deserved win.... I enjoyed the challenge too.

FUJI

Flippin’ ‘‘eck Martyn,

A very warm welcome back to the fold.... TIPF is still functioning much as it did in the past.... despite being completely wiped of the digital map, a few years ago.

It was resurrected, and has continued ever since, with a steady core membership..... I really look forward to see what you can do with your new gear.

FUJI

A great bit of kit for what you do Denis.....

Soon it’ll’ be.... Gambol with me gimbal through the tulips .....

Cant wait time see results.

FUJI

As rendered by...Waterlogue.... my iPad watercolour app.... it can produce surprisingly good results.

it was difficult to lighten that dark top using the much used jpeg as a starter.

FUJI

Great news Denis.....congratulations to  all.
 

we treasure our grandchildren..the youngest will be 16 soon..... .

FUJI

Many congratulations Rye.... very well deserved.

FUJI

Oooer, could a mod whiten that text fir me please....for those using the dark theme.

Hi, All 
Mystery noises in the chimney this morning..

Silence ! Silence ! All day, that is until I managed to have the first few mouthfuls of my evening meal .... then it began... 

An obvious Jackdaw squawk, not loud, not really in distress but obviously making an effort to shift itself out a pitch black awkward situation.
But, every time I took the temporary board off the front of the fireplace, all I could see was a pile of soot, sticks and debris.... fortunately out three storeys of  Victorian chimneys posses a fierce drought upwards, so very fine dust was carried that way.

I was half way through my meal, when, the scuffling, scraping and scratching got louder, as did the occasional squawk... on inspection with my torch, all I saw was one pretty fed up fully grown male Jackdaw, disoriented and unwilling to move.
Jackdaw’s have fierce Looking  eyes plus a good old beak, never mind claws.

So, I literally boxed clever....I shut in three sides of its escape route with my painting boards, then, on the third open side, I placed a box with broken bread inside.

For half  an hour nothing happened....then, just after I finished my ice cream....a huge black Covid launched itself past my catcher box, into my room. Fortunately it flew almost directly on top of our Victorian sideboard... I shot as quickly as I could to open the front door.... thankfully it saw sense and flew straight out then up.... so surprised we we we didn’t see exactly where to....
But on our roof and all of the neighbour’s roofs about 50 Jackdaws permanently gang out.... most folk including us have wire chimney protectors to prevent nesting.

Ours had been pulled out or removed during chimney repairs.... so we had one adult bird plus most of its twiggy nest all the way down three stores of chimney...a drop of about 50 feet.

The only damage I can see is a claw hole in my Victorian portrait of a lady.....so we got off pretty lightly.

FUJI

Sent from my iPad

Many congratulations Polly ......a very well deserved win.

FUJI