RAW workflow using DIMAGE Master Lite
- Histogram (0,1,220)
- Save as TIF
Post-Processing with Paint Shop Pro X
Rotate left 1.25 degrees
Crop
Select right side bg - promote to layer
- Hue & Saturation: HSL (Yel -20)
Duplicate BG as new layer
- clone out thread
Merge all (flatten)
Smart Photo Fix: (7,7,0,0,0,2,4)
Digital Camera Noise Reduction (60,15,50,25,0)
Noise Reduction: Salt & Pepper (7,4)
Switch to main layer
Brightness & Contrast: Clarify +5
Brightness & Contrast: HMS (10,5,0)
Clone tool to clean up board square blemish by lower left rook piece
Resize
Merge all (flatten)
USM (.35,100,10) + luminance
Neat Image
Save as JPG
***** for inquiring minds ;^) *****
Originally I was going for a blur shot of the King falling over. After experimenting I liked the fading out look better.
Tied a thread to the top of the black King, used the remote shutter release, counted to two slowly (exposure time total was 3.2 seconds) and then pulled the King off the back of the board. By waving the thread slightly during the exposure it didn't really show in the background at all, minor cloning around the back of the King took care of the remaining piece of visible thread.
The background clouds are from the packaging material from one of the kids' toys. Thought it might come in handy some day. ;^)
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Statistics
Place: 38 out of 188 Avg (all users): 6.2937 Avg (commenters): 7.3846 Avg (participants): 5.8493 Avg (non-participants): 6.4749 Views since voting: 1835 Views during voting: 389 Votes: 252 Comments: 16 Favorites: 0
Great long exposure here. I think the blue skies in the background is just a tad saturated and takes away from the main subjects and focus of this image. However, the trickery used to make the King disappear might revel well with the voters. Great shot.
Great idea, good color, exposure, and execution. Chess players would say that the position looks contrived, but the ghost-like reflections fit right in with the fading king. Nice.
Some of Walter Wick's best work is his surrealist art/photography. This is an excellent tribute photo in that style. My congratulations to you on conceiving, and executing such a fine photo. Among my top picks!
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