Twisters old / Laineys new tools!

[Buckeye]

No your right , no way out at all ! Everyone knows I've got a brilliant lathe and tools now ..... So I had better make sure I do a good job ! ( or learn how to photoshop !)
Lainey

It would be quicker to learn how to turn than to learn photoshop enough

Peter

 

[Lainey]

We are expecting half a dozen pens to be shown on this forum by Saturday Elaine. All done by your good hands !!!!! lol

Only HALF a dozen Terry ? I will definitely do that ......not saying WHICH Saturday though!
Lainey

 

[Lainey]

It would be quicker to learn how to turn than to learn photoshop enough

Peter

I know your right of course ! The computer and I have a mutual dislike for each other , we have only one thing in common, neither of us can communicate with the printer !

 

[Buckeye]

I know your right of course ! The computer and I have a mutual dislike for each other , we have only one thing in common, neither of us can communicate with the printer !

Ahhhh! The eternal triangle Try calibrating your monitor and match up your printer profile, now that is a black art

Peter

 

[Neil Lawton]

It would be quicker to learn how to turn than to learn photoshop enough

Peter

Depends on who is doing the teaching

 

[Buckeye]

Depends on who is doing the teaching

That is definitely true and you could learn simple techniques very quickly even from someone who dabbles in PS, but the intricate stuff, not a chance, it would be quicker to learn how to turn properly and vastly cheaper

It's good of you to tutor Lainey in Photoshop? It shouldn't take long before she can do a tutorial to go alongside Vic's, we will all be winners

Peter

 

[Neil Lawton]

Photoshop lesson!
Take a picture, If it doesn't look right you can waste your life Pi##ing around with it, or take a few seconds to take another one!

 

[paulm]

I disagree, there are only a few things you need to know in photoshop or any other image editing programme to make a picture presentable at the level we need. If you want to be a professional that's different kettle of fish but its like driving. You don't need to know the same to drive a car on the road as you do to be an F1 driver and the basics will get you from A to B. When editing the photo to our standard all you need is to crop, change the levels and maybe but rarely do any touching up.

That is unless you're putting your photos in Vogue of course.

My son was doing a course his photography and I was able to get the RSPB photographer for a day to teach him some techniques and tips. I also attended and he showed us what is needed to turn snap into a photograph and its not really a lot despite a lot of professionals wanting you believe otherwise.

 

[Buckeye]

I disagree, there are only a few things you need to know in photoshop or any other image editing programme to make a picture presentable at the level we need. If you want to be a professional that's different kettle of fish but its like driving. You don't need to know the same to drive a car on the road as you do to be an F1 driver and the basics will get you from A to B. When editing the photo to our standard all you need is to crop, change the levels and maybe but rarely do any touching up.

That is unless you're putting your photos in Vogue of course.

My son was doing a course his photography and I was able to get the RSPB photographer for a day to teach him some techniques and tips. I also attended and he showed us what is needed to turn snap into a photograph and its not really a lot despite a lot of professionals wanting you believe otherwise.

I agree with most of what you say, but if you look at what sparked this, it was a light hearted comment from Lainey "make sure I do a good job ! ( or learn how to photoshop !)" if you turn poorly and expect to use photoshop to disguise your pour turning then you may as well learn how to turn properly. There are lots of people who use photoshop, but if you look closely at their photos you would see that they would do better to start from the beginning and learn only the basics of photography, if they learn the basics they won't need photoshop for everyday good images.

I couldn't care less if someone posts out of focus shot of their prize pens or posts photos so small it disguises the poor turning, if I can't see them and others can't see them, that's their problem.

You say "When editing the photo to our standard all you need is to crop, change the levels and maybe but rarely do any touching up." it depends what you mean by "our standard" the standard as far as I can see ranges or rather ranged from Vic's former photos to Jim's and Terry's. the thing that separates Jim's and Terry's from Vic's old pics is that they take some care with the exposure and probably need the minimum amount of photoshop, get the lighting and exposure right and you are almost there.

If you look at your photos they are for the most part sharp enough, but no matter how good you are at photoshop or any editing program they are just not on par with Jim's, Terry's and Vic's last pen photo. I remember you having a go at the advice or tips I gave on photographing pens as too technical, that's why I don't do it in public any more, but you are doing nobody any favours by saying "our standard" If pen turners want to sell their pens then the better they can photograph their pens the more likely they are to sell them. The same pen well photographed will outsell the same pen poorly photographed and I am not talking professionally well photographed.

I don't mean to cause offence with this post, but you will take it how you will.

Peter

 

[Dalboy]

I think that some are worrying to much about photographing their work. I don't use Photoshop or whatever it is. I just want to go and turn enjoy it and be able to show a picture which can be seen without faffing about. All I use is a clean background and take 1/2 dozen photos then pick the best one.
Personally if you are that worried about your photos join a Photographic forum, but that is just my point of view

 

[Buckeye]

Points of view are like ars* holes, everyone has got at least one

Peter

 

[Vic Perrin]

I never thought that I would get involved with photography to any degree whatsoever. I used to get annoyed at the poor quality of photo that I was posting as it by no means shown the true look of the pen. I used to use my iPad as it was quite easy to snap and post a pic. The remarks that I got about them did not bother me and I found the banter very amusing. However it did not take away the dissapointment of not being able to portray what the pen really looked like. Terry took me under his wing and explained some of the basics about camera settings and lighting etc. With regard to Photoshop I had a 1 hour lesson over the phone with Terry where he took me through the basics of using Photoshop and the results were what I think Brilliant. I don't want to become a top class photographer I would much sooner opt to try and become a better Woodturner but I must admit it is very self satisfying when you eventually get a half decent photo of what you have made.
Vic

 

[Buckeye]

I never thought that I would get involved with photography to any degree whatsoever. I used to get annoyed at the poor quality of photo that I was posting as it by no means shown the true look of the pen. I used to use my iPad as it was quite easy to snap and post a pic. The remarks that I got about them did not bother me and I found the banter very amusing. However it did not take away the dissapointment of not being able to portray what the pen really looked like. Terry took me under his wing and explained some of the basics about camera settings and lighting etc. With regard to Photoshop I had a 1 hour lesson over the phone with Terry where he took me through the basics of using Photoshop and the results were what I think Brilliant. I don't want to become a top class photographer I would much sooner opt to try and become a better Woodturner but I must admit it is very self satisfying when you eventually get a half decent photo of what you have made.
Vic

Don't undersell your achievement it was not a half decent photo it was a really good photo, you don't need to be a professional to turn out good work, you have shown that and well done.

Peter

 

[paulm]

I agree with most of what you say, but if you look at what sparked this, it was a light hearted comment from Lainey "make sure I do a good job ! ( or learn how to photoshop !)" if you turn poorly and expect to use photoshop to disguise your pour turning then you may as well learn how to turn properly. There are lots of people who use photoshop, but if you look closely at their photos you would see that they would do better to start from the beginning and learn only the basics of photography, if they learn the basics they won't need photoshop for everyday good images.

I couldn't care less if someone posts out of focus shot of their prize pens or posts photos so small it disguises the poor turning, if I can't see them and others can't see them, that's their problem.

You say "When editing the photo to our standard all you need is to crop, change the levels and maybe but rarely do any touching up." it depends what you mean by "our standard" the standard as far as I can see ranges or rather ranged from Vic's former photos to Jim's and Terry's. the thing that separates Jim's and Terry's from Vic's old pics is that they take some care with the exposure and probably need the minimum amount of photoshop, get the lighting and exposure right and you are almost there.

If you look at your photos they are for the most part sharp enough, but no matter how good you are at photoshop or any editing program they are just not on par with Jim's, Terry's and Vic's last pen photo. I remember you having a go at the advice or tips I gave on photographing pens as too technical, that's why I don't do it in public any more, but you are doing nobody any favours by saying "our standard" If pen turners want to sell their pens then the better they can photograph their pens the more likely they are to sell them. The same pen well photographed will outsell the same pen poorly photographed and I am not talking professionally well photographed.

I don't mean to cause offence with this post, but you will take it how you will.

Peter

I don't take offence Peter, why should I?

When I talk about our standard I'm talking about taking and editing a photo to show on this site and potentially for selling with minimal effort. I could spend a lot of time setting up prior to taking photos and a lot of time editing them but I choose to spend as little time as possible to get an optimal photo. Given that there is a lot of criticism on the site about photos without a lot of instruction or forum wide help then I take it on myself to do it for those with less knowledge than myself to allow people to use the same method as myself. I agree that Terry, Vic and Jims photos are absolutely superb nowadays but they didn't learn from general shared information and they also spend a reasonable amount on each picture and that is excellent if they want to do that and I also agree that that extra time shows. If it came to selling a pen on-line then I also agree that if put side by side then theirs would outshine mine and would possibly sell easier but if they're not side by side then I wouldn't think that it would make any difference unless one is rubbish which I don't think my photos are but that is my opinion. I think we differ on what the reason for taking the photo in the first place is and also the desire to spend time on photography, which for me is a means to an end.

I'm not having a go, just my thoughts and I think that we are coming from different angles.

 

[Buckeye]

I don't take offence Peter, why should I?

When I talk about our standard I'm talking about taking and editing a photo to show on this site and potentially for selling with minimal effort. I could spend a lot of time setting up prior to taking photos and a lot of time editing them but I choose to spend as little time as possible to get an optimal photo. Given that there is a lot of criticism on the site about photos without a lot of instruction or forum wide help then I take it on myself to do it for those with less knowledge than myself to allow people to use the same method as myself. I agree that Terry, Vic and Jims photos are absolutely superb nowadays but they didn't learn from general shared information and they also spend a reasonable amount on each picture and that is excellent if they want to do that and I also agree that that extra time shows. If it came to selling a pen on-line then I also agree that if put side by side then theirs would outshine mine and would possibly sell easier but if they're not side by side then I wouldn't think that it would make any difference unless one is rubbish which I don't think my photos are but that is my opinion. I think we differ on what the reason for taking the photo in the first place is and also the desire to spend time on photography, which for me is a means to an end.

I'm not having a go, just my thoughts and I think that we are coming from different angles.

I am so glad you didn't take offence. I have to disagree about the reason we take the photograph in the beginning and the amount of time taking the photo. My setup is not as elaborate as Terry's, I don't know about Jim's or Vic's. What people may not appreciate is that I don't want to spend time taking photos I want it done and dusted asap. I can and have and probably will use an elaborate setup again, but when it comes to taking photos for the forum pens then I don't want to waste time. I can set it up in about 45 seconds maybe 30, but 45 is okay take the photos 2 or 3 shots per pen thats another 45 second 60 at the most. Put the card into the reader and load into iPhoto, crop, levels, exposure, white balance and export at 800px max. upload to the forum. From taking the card out of the camera to getting the images uploaded I could have shot another couple of dozen pens. I want to spend the minimum amount of time taking photos or post processing them. Anyone can do it, everything I do is very basic there is no manipulation of the image other than stated above. Get everything right when you take the photo and there is very little to do after, unless you are trying to make a fat pen look slim, but it's easier to put it back on the lathe.

Peter

 

[paulm]

I think we've just both said the same things except that the most I elaborate my setup is to move a piece of paper in front of my keyboard

I too take seconds to take the photo and edit it (I plug the camera in, it takes too long to remove the card). The longest part of my presentation is uploading the photo to the forum. And this is what works for me.