Hi guys, thanks for your comments and votes on 'Alhambra Palace'
It was a bit of a rushed entry, and thought some of you might be interested in seeing it without the botched soft-focus effect which made it look like it was out of focus.
Bob, I like the sharper focus one better. It is so easy to go overboard with Neat Image; I just started using it myself and find I only have to use 30 to 50% noise reduction (sometimes less) with my FZ10 or else it gets too soft. Sometimes, like with your Fairyland Woods picture that very soft effect is really beautiful. That photo just grows and grows on you, the more you look at it the more you like it!
This Meadowlark picture was my out-take from the Centered Challenge:
I only used about 50% on both channels of Neat Image to mostly gid rid of a bit of noise in the sky. When I tried to go any higher it went really soft.
Since my centered picture didn't do very well, 5.216, I probably should have gone with this one as it's more obviously centered.
Your second batch of Spain Pictures are lovely. Will take some time to really look through them soon. Have been baby sitting the grandkids more than usual and haven't had as much time on the computer.
Looks like you guys might be seeing some more of my Pentax shots, as I just got back from the camera store where I just reluctantly left my FZ10 for repairs (the zoom sticks occasionally) :-(
Sammie, I didn't NeatImage this shot, the soft-focus was achieved with Gaussian Blur, then the effect reduced. If I use NeatImage in any kind of noticeable way, then this is always deliberate. The Alhambra Palace submission was rushed though, as I hadn't seen my wife while I was in Spain, and only saw her from Saturday evening! The entry was rushed in last thing Sunday.
Your Meadowlark picture is great, lovely and sharp!
Looks like you guys might be seeing some more of my Pentax shots, as I just got back from the camera store where I just reluctantly left my FZ10 for repairs (the zoom sticks occasionally) :-(
Hope it doesn't take long to get your FZ10 back from the shop, Bob. So far I havn't had any kind of zoom sticking problems with mine (knock on wood). I almost dropped mine from the top of an old train last week when trying to get shots for the unsual viewpoint! It was SO windy it almost blew me off and took the camera right out of my hands; luckily, I had the neck strap around my neck.
Hope it doesn't take long to get your FZ10 back from the shop, Bob.
I REALLY hope so too! I'll be really narked if I don't get it back in time for the Glastonbury festival.
Let your story about how the neck strap saved your camera be a lesson to us all, especially near big drops, or water!
