Serious Lucy

[pasusan]

I'm just learning GIMP and I used it to clean up the upper background as Lucy was laying in front of a gas fireplace/stove that was really distracting. I prefer to use natural lighting whenever possible - which I did here.

Would love any critiques...

[CLK]

Looking at that expression, I would say you are getting plenty of critiques on site. Don't know about GIMP but the picture of the cat, coloring and background are good. The longer I look though the upper left corner darkness seems heavy and sort of tilts the effect that way. But you better ask Lucy first.

[JPS]

A good attempt at removing the fireplace. A good effort while learning PP.
The picture overall is a little 'soft' IMO.
John

[AgfaB2]

Hi Susan

Nice portrait of a lovely cat. I like it.
For a meanigful critique it would be helpful to have some info about the equipment with which this picture was taken (Exif Data).

Cheers
Wolf

[pasusan]

Thanks for the responses!

I take it that by "soft" you mean - not sharp?

Geeze, if I tell you about my equipment I'll probably be kicked off the site... My stuff is OLD.

Here is the Exif:

Photo information
Jan 1, 2013
884×754 pixels – 561KB
Filename: P1010007b.JPG
Camera: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Model: C2100UZ
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/3 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 14.7mm
Flash Used: No
Latitude: n/a
Longitude: n/a

[AgfaB2]

Hi Susan

Thanks for the responses!
Geeze, if I tell you about my equipment I'll probably be kicked off the site... My stuff is OLD.

Nope. You'll be elevated to the OLDIE HALL of FAME.

Oly C2100UZ, the 1/2", 2MP granddaddy of bridge cameras, with specs some of todays cams are dreaming of (except the MP count of course).
38-380mm FFE F2.8 - F3.5 OIS lens, LCD screen, EVF and! top display.
JPEG and TIFF (I guess, RAW did'nt exist in 2000), all the manual functions, hotshoe and mic input and even a wireless remote.

A photographers camera and you sure know how to use it.
And it shows, that even with 2MP one can make beautyful pictures.

As to softness.
I found out (the hard way) that cats don't like to be sharpened, at least not from a small sensor.
It's the whiskers.

On my cat pic (look at the december2012 competition) taken with a 1/2.5" 14MP P&S the whiskers are 3-5 pixels wide. Not much for a sharpening algorithm to work on and they look funny afterwards.

Cheers
Wolf

[pasusan]

Thanks very much Wolf... I am quite attached to my camera!

I've been using it for years for family and vacation photos. (The kids always called it the bazooka.) I'm just now starting to use it for fun and learning. Also trying to learn PP, never done much except straightening and cropping.

It was real good to hear (see) the nice things you said...

[kespada51]

Wow, I think you did a fantastic job! Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[AgfaB2]

Hi Susan

It was real good to hear (see) the nice things you said...

I'm a newbie myself here and that's what I like about this forum.
Feels like family, absolutely non-intimidating and very helpful.

cheers
wolf