Challenge Photos from Week 33

Critique Group Challenge: Week 33, Cup & Saucer
Photo by Joen Wolfrom

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Joen says:

After discovering the theme, I decided to play creatively within the editing process using multiple cups and saucers within the image. I dozens of photos of a cup and saucer on our wooden kitchen table, but ended up only using a couple.

I worked to death 4 different versions of teacup images, playing with 5 – 9 layers and ended up getting myself caught in all sorts of visual editing problems. Basically, I changed the opacity of the different layers, did a bit of cloning, and used the spot-healing tool to eliminate some distractions. Then I explored the different blending modes to see what evolved with the different options. I believe I used linear light for this image. I tinkered around with shadows, highlights, etc. and then finally said, “enough” as I was driving myself batty. I needed to stop this teacup madness before I got any deeper in the editing weeds and hit the wall

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 33 - Found Alphabet

52-Week Challenge: 
Week 33, Found Alpabet
Photo by Thomas Bradley

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Thomas says:

My initials are TMB, T is part of a fence. M is part of Lazy Tong Riveter. B is boots, I did a lot editing with scaling and distorting the image in Photoshop.

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 33 - Snacks

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 33, Snacks
Photo by Diane McCue

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 Diane says:

It’s cherry season here in New York. These taste as good as they look! A little help from Waterbrush app.

Smart Phone Challenge:

Week 33, Snacks

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

In Nebraska for the lecture there was a snack table with very yummy cookies - which I did partake, and did take a photo. But I found the tea dispenser and cups more interesting. The trick was to start the flow and take the photo before my cup ran over. I barely succeeded. I like this main element flanked by less dominant companions. Edited in Prisma app with Tokyo

Critique Group Challenge:

Week 33, Cup & Saucer

Photo by Ricky Tims
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky  says:

This is from my small collection of Dingle Pottery, from Dingle in Ireland. Hedi is a wonderful and fun potter and I never stop in Dingle without adding a bit to the collection. For this shot, I tried multiple options—including one which included a portion of my blue-shirted belly (you can thank me later). I chose this one, with the cup upside down on the saucer - near straight on. The slight offset off the center circle was more interesting to me than the bullseye version. The counter top was white - so I added a gradient layer - blended it with a blend mode - and then erased over the cup/saucer. I opted not to clone out the hot white center refelction partly because it draws the eye to the smallest ring, and partly becuse it was a bit like an "eye" with a refelection. No other fancy footwork - pretty straight forward this week.

Photos from Week 32

Critique Group Challenge: Week 32, TickledPink
Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky Tims says:

Sometimes I get annoyed at my own challenges. I think, "this will be fun" - and then, I realized that here on the mountain I have very limited options. But... that's what makes it a challenge. My first inclination was to NOT photograph a flower. But I don't have pink things in my house. Like - seriously...nowhere. Or, the little pink that existed did not make for an interesting subject. So.. out to the garden I went. I explored many options on how to presnet this, but in the end, went for two layers. The shot from above and a layer of gradient pink blended over it.

52-Week Photo Challenge Class
Week 32 - Old Paint

52-Week Challenge: 
Week 32, Old Paint
Photo by Phillip Richardson

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Phillip says:

Found some paper recycling bins in a nearby village that had years of benign neglect evident. Took a wide angle shot up close. Liked the corrosion / rust eating away at the lettering and base paint of the bin. Applied normal LR edits in post

Smart Phone Photo Challenges
Week 32 - Bumps

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 52, Bumps
Photo by Cyndi Johnson

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 Cyndi says:

I recently received this trivet and thought it perfect for this weeks challenge! Hope all are staying safe in your part of the world!

Smart Phone Challenge:
Week 32, Bumps

Photo by Ricky Tims

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Ricky says:

I really struggeled with this one - not a lot bumpy things around here. But, voila! I saw a package with bubble wrap and decided to lay the wrap on top of a piece of hand-dyed multi-colored fabric. I liked it best at an angle. A slight blur was added in the BeCasso oil filter.

Critique Group Challenge:
Week 32, TickledPink

Photo by Jeff Sprinkel
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Jeff  says:

This is a painting in the great room over the fireplace. It actually is a blend of many colors. I thought about the challenge and wondered what it might look like with just the "pinks" highlighted. It was a fun challenge

I made Asternoon Delight a few years ago. The quilt began as a photo I took at Autumn Rock. The photograph was manipulated in photoshop using a montage technique to create the swirling background. The image was printed full size onto whole cloth (36" x 44") then heavily quilted to add texture and detail.
To provide an extra smile to your day, the alternate name for this quilt is Kiss My Aster.

In May of 2021 I was able to have my first quilt retreat since the Covid-10 pandemic began shutting everything down in March of 2020. Unbeknownst to me, the students organized a block challenge with the theme based on my Happy Houses that I have added atop the burned trees at my home on the mountain. The blocks were assembled into this fun and joyful quilt and presented toi me in July.

2021 Smart Phone Group

Smart Phone Group: Critters
Photo by Jackie Anderson

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Jackie says:

Canadian Geese are such a wonder and I was able to capture their beauty at a nearby pond where mothers were teaching their goslings about life and what comes next.

2021 52 Week Challenge Group

Challenge: Radial Symmetry
Photo by Corrie DeCamp

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Corrie says:

I almost went with a beautiful rose with radial symmetry, but this more "artistic" image just kept calling me back. I was working with shutter zoom and between the wind and the technique, I really like how your eye travels around this naturally lime green Everillo Carex plant. LR edits, spot removal, square crop.

2021 Critique Group

Challenge: Night Lights
Photo by Bill Arneson

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 Bill says:

Gas stations like this have a bright, colorful aesthetic and are apparently inviting. But late at night with no customers or with customers one would rather not be alone with, these oases of light enveloped in darkness can also project isolation, loneliness and in some cases foreboding. I took this photo from a distance to try to give some sense of that feeling. Editing was primarily decreased exposure around the pumps and removal of some extraneous lights on the sides from other sources in PS

Ricky's Challenge Photos:

Challenge: Critters
from the 2021 Smart Phone Group

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Ricky says:

I was determined not to submit my pups - but I had far more photos of them than the bees - which were just about the only other critter I came face to face with this week. The Cailforina poppies have been a joy and hundreds of bees seem to think the same.

Challenge: Night Lights
from the 2021 Critique Group

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Ricky says:

This is my little oasis - or rather jungle. I used a high f-stop for the starbursts and full 30seconds exposure.