January

Kitchen

How I did it -  This was shot on my third trip to the Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown, PA. I had been there before, but conditions weren't right (and too many people were in the way) for capturing this image. This time, I got closer to what I wanted. I shot for HDR because I needed a wide dynamic range to get details in the shadows and in the highlights. After I processed for HDR (in Photomatix), I took the image into onOne PhotoTools and added some brightness and brought out some of the details. Then I did a LOT of healing (using the healing brush tool) of spots that were visible. It took a lot of work and many hours, but I was determined to accomplish this. Not sure if it was worth all the work, but I do like it.

COMMENTS:
 

Marie Altenburg	Great shot and terrific processing, Vicki!  I find my eye circling the image though and wonder if it might be improved if the outer edges were darkened a bit to draw your eye to the enter.  You could do this with software such as Nik’s Color Efex Pro Darken/Lighten Center filter, or Photoshop’s Burn tool, or by painting at a very low opacity using a shade of brown.  It’s a great shot, though!  I’ve heard that this is a great photo location and after seeing your image, I have to agree!
Brad Ashbrook	HDR really helped this image and you have done a nice job. You might want to crop or clone the bottom center, the line across the bottom should be removed. The technique is very good, not the sure there is enough interest in the subject for competition.
Louis Duncan	Vicki, for me this image was well worth the effort. Excellent depth and detail.
Linda Sharp	I like this image. Compositionally it works with the lattice work in the windows mirrored in the brick work along the LHS. HDR has also worked very well for you here – the tonal range looks as if it would have been huge!. I like it and it tells a story relating to an old fashioned kitchen really well. Worth the effort.
Jan van Leijenhorst
Carol McCreary	Wonderful HDR kitchen... I like all the detail in the photo. Having the window in that spot helps draw your eye through the photo. It is a little static so not sure how it will do in competition.

Member Bio

Vicki DeVico - Biography   My name is Vicki DeVico and I live in central New Jersey. My camera accompanies me on all travels and all subjects are likely to end up captured by my camera. I've recently started creating HDR images and am exploring the possibilities in that genre. Although I've always had the desire to create art, which was channeled into many directions, the idea of actually using photography for that purpose didn't manifest until just prior to the purchase of my first digital SLR camera. I was in Las Vegas and took a tour of the Valley of Fire—shooting with my point and shoot, with disappointing results. Shooting with my Canon Rebel XT, then my XTi, and now my two 40D cameras, has been a real learning experience. I started out self-taught, supplemented my knowledge through avid online reading, classes at Brookdale Community College and photography classes at the six Photoshop World conferences I've attended as well as various other NAPP conferences. I also study with Laury Egan, a fine arts photographer. I continue to learn and, hopefully, improve. My images have hung in various shows at Brookdale Community College, in Monmouth Camera Club shows, Twisted Tree Café in Asbury Park, various shows with the Monmouth Camera Club. My photography has been accepted into numerous juried shows at the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury, NJ, the Belmar Arts Council, and I've participated in shows at The Sandy Hook Lighthouse and McKay Gallery in Red Bank. My memberships include PSA (of course), NAPP, Guild of Creative Art (Shrewsbury, NJ), Monmouth Camera Club (PSA member club), New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs, MCAC (Monmouth Council of the Arts), and SICA (Shore Institute of Contemporary Art). I'm a Photoshop “junkie” and teach Photoshop to beginners. I love sharing what I've learned with others and really look forward to participating in this Study Group, receiving feedback and learning from the members. My website: VisionsbyVicki My blog: VisionsbyVicki My Flickr Photos: vickidevico