Curvemeister Forum

I have been going through old images.  They are all on LR as a catalog. I can filter by date and stars.  So a brilliant idea, go back 10 years.  So that is my project.  I split the selections photos (max 10 a year) with little or no family.  Family photos- significant or pretty.  My family is protective of posted images especially the children.  I will post next week.  This post will push me along.

I started doing digital in 2002 with a Sony Mavica.  4 mb images on a disk!  Then a 20 D, 5D, and finally 5d2. 

Over view.  Bad or improvable images are sometimes cringe worthy.  That happened when I boosted colors but let something go bad.  Many photos I look at and notice that I have better tools and techniques.  Sometimes just converting to new LightRoom process and a quick correction does wonders.  The biggest improvements seem to be the images with two halves.

Remember end of year maintenance.  I start a new high level folder. I am going to wait to archive 2014 until after I fix my top ten plus family.  Then _print_ the top photos, that is the ultimate backup.  No, my images are not contest winners or National Geo worthy, but to me they are important. 

I love this idea...  I cannot wait to see this Steve.  Please share when you are ready.

Greg

I have already "recovered" three images.  I liked them, but could not figure how to do them so they sat with 3 stars.  I will be posting along with my prior failures.

Hi

This is a great idea. I look forward to seeing what you choose.
If you dont mind I might copy this
I'm not sure I could get down to 10 - its not that I take lots of fantastic images just that I am lousy at culling
Its a great concept

Julie

Okay here goes.  My top ten, weighted for importance to me and quality.  Few or no family members.

Notes:  Image 2 is a placeholder for the better photo.  Image 4 is a work in progress.  It looks fine in the monitor, but I have not done a successful print.

There will be an eleven....  ONe more awaiting CM and other moves... 

Image 8, needs a little more work. 

but what the heck it is a start.

Very nice Steve.  The posting to the forum is making them look a bit off but they do look very nice overall.

Greg

For me, it is a work in progress.  The railcar (image 2) is replicated in several images, and I have not a totally acceptable image.  The last bird needs to dial back the color of the body.  It is not natural.

The cityscape is close.  I feel if it square gets too much lighter it becomes unnatural.  The overhdr look is not pleasing. 

This leads us to ...  my greatest failure.  There was a rocket launch within a mile of my ranch.  It was the largest ever on the west coast.  It was the largest since Saturn days.  It was at night.  Despite whatever, I was caught behind the power curve.  They do not announce the launch time, just a 2 hour window.  There is a web site that passes on the count down.  It had rained the day before.  I had no idea what to expect.  They had searchlights in the sky because of the clouds.  Apparently they would not launch into clouds.  So it was pretty, but dark.  I had a tripod.  I should have set the ISO to 1600 or 6400 and done a 2 or 4 minute exposure.  Then when it launched, wow.  The sky lit up.  When it went over the horizon, it was almost daylight.  I scrambled and not much there. 

Well I added an eleven.  I switch a train shot.  Subtle change to a bird.  A lightening of both artichokes and cityscape.

Steve,
How much Critique are you looking for?  I am completely willing but reluctant to go too far.

Greg