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Study Group 2
Don von Wolffradt

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Joseph Malkary
Allen Gannaway
Bill Provost
Ron Alexander
Lynne Royce
Al Swanson
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Title - Steam Engine Fireman

January 2012 Image

How I did it - This is a black & white image I took in 1980 in Manassas, Virginia. I started by scanning the original negative and moved it to PaintShop Pro 4X (the most recent version) for the digital work. I adjusted the contrast (using curves) and density (Dmax) to my liking. Then I used 'Effects' (filters in PS) going to 'Art Media Effects' and then 'Black Pencil'. That effect fit this image better than the others. Incidentally, the train stopped for about 5 minutes to take on passengers. In that time, I ran off three rolls of film, mostly of the engine.


COMMENTS:
 
Joseph Malkary  Beautiful image. Composition, exposure are good. You did a great job.
Allen Gannaway  Great! I’ll admit I’m a sucker for unusual techniques, but a straight print. of this image could stand by itself. Good work.
Bill Provost  I really like this photo. The setup is perfect with the worker to the left 1/3rd of the parallel lines leading towards him to draw your attention to him. Great photo!
Ron Alexander  I like the effect chosen. It adds the sense of age, of a bygone era of the great steam horses. The man and the machine are both locked in that time. Maybe the effect filter might have been somewhat less but that's an "eyeball" decision.
Lynne Royce   It looks like an antique etching. Excellent Photoshop work on an exceptional photograph. Extremely well done, Don.
Al Swanson  This is truly an interesting image to view. One just wants to sit and stare at this and go over every detail of the engineer and the engine. The pixilated surface on the image adds to its character and balance. Good shading. If there's anything that I would've done a little bit differently on this one, I think it might be to have cropped the engine closer to that head of the engineer. Very pleasing to view.
   


Member Bio
Don von Wolffradt - Biography

  I first started photography serious in the late 50's and have been pursuing it ever since. My first 35 years were strictly black and white film and I had my own darkroom and did all of the processing. At first, I read and followed the teachings of Ansel Adams but soon realized that was a hopeless task. I did learn good darkroom and camera technique, and as my photography interests changed those things stuck. By the 1990's I discovered color and my photography life changed 180 degrees. Likewise, by 1995 digital was playing an ever increasing role and by the late 90's I donated all of the darkroom equipment to the local Community College and my life has been digital ever since. Even though I have discontinued exhibiting in PSA salons, I have three stars in large B&W prints and one star in large color prints.


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