July

Emptiness

How I did it -  This month's image was taken at the former Zimmerman Farm in northeastern Pennsylvania. The main house and farmstead became part of the National Park Department many years ago, and although currently abandoned, the beauty and history remain. This image began as a multi-exposure set of RAW images which I then processed in Photomatix Pro using only slight adjustments. Then, in Photoshop CS5, I used the patch tool to eliminate a small but dark electrical outlet plate above the window that seemed distracting to the overall picture. I also used a brush sampled with a color from the walls, and at low opacity, clicked on the edges and corners to slightly darken those areas. Finally, I added a border to complete the look. By the way, I had opened the old refrigerator door to give a focal point to the photo but was sure to close it again before I left. I plan to enter this image in both club and International competitions but value your suggestions and opinions before I do so. 

COMMENTS:
 

Brad Ashbrook	This image is very nice and a great use for HDR, it really brought out the textures in the wood. I have never been a big fan of the various framing techniques, so its tough for me to comment. A couple of things to consider, I love the color on the door, but the image is a little flat in contrast. The other area to play with is the outside trees, they seem to be the same brightness, vibrance and contrast as the interior. I think there needs to be a little difference. Well done!
Louis Duncan	I believe that another name for this is an “ice box.” A block of ice was placed in one compartment and it cooled the interconnected compartments as the ice melted. It is interesting to see the normal procedures of earlier generations. The muted colors seem to complement each other, but the image is a little homogenous for my taste. I haven’t started HDR yet but perhaps I should.
Margaret Price	There is certainly a real feeling of isolation and emptiness in this image. It is an unusual treatment and I think that it would work even better with a “busier image” with a bit more of a theme to give the effect more focus.
Vico DeVico	Marie, there is nothing more that I can suggest for this image. Your title is perfect and the image is absolutely stunning and your light use of HDR is just right. This should do quite well in competitions.
Stephen Byard	I think the effect and processing are interesting, as well as the story behind it. For me, the green out of the window and the dominance of the number of windows is stronger than the cupboard.  I would think this is not an easy subject to portray.
Carol McCreary	My eye is drawn to the windows and the green rather than the open icebox. The HDR effect complements the old wood in the photo. The title is effective for the subject. Maybe crop past the first window on the left to help concentrate on the icebox.

Member Bio

Marie Altenburg - Biography I’m married, have five daughters, 4 sons-in-law, and 8 perfect grandchildren!   I live in Ft. Lauderdale and spend summers in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  With the support and encouragement of my husband, I’ve had ample opportunities to practice my craft.  My interest in photography probably began when our children were youngsters and I spent countless hours trying to capture all their youthful smiles for Christmas card photos by balancing stuffed animals on my head.  I find that I now prefer other types of photography to portrait-taking!  I enjoy an artful look in photography, and seem drawn to flowers, architecture, landscapes, and seascapes.  I also enjoy macro and HDR, and love working in Photoshop.  It seems that the learning never ends!  I was thrilled when one of my photos appeared in Popular Photography magazine, and although I have been fortunate enough to have earned awards for my photography, including stars in EID and CPID, I feel that I have so much more to learn. Much of what I know about this craft is the result of help from, and interaction with other photographers, and for that I am so grateful.  I am a member of the Boynton Beach Camera Club, the Pocono Photo Club of which I am also their PSA representative, and I serve as the EID Study Group Coordinator for PSA.  I am also a member of its Everglades Chapter.  Setting new goals and learning from them never ends!