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Category: Friendly Praise Archive

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High Above


	High Above A rework of an earlier image from my trip to St. Petersburg. The massive and beautiful dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral. 07/10 Finalist - Theme (Circle) Chris Budny

- Nikki McDonald

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Such lovely light, color and detail, Chris. The off center composition is very nice, too.

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March 05, 2010

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks, Nikki! I wanted more of the surrounding architecture, so this has a lot less cropped off than the first version. And I was eager to try a new RAW conversion with some of the PS tools I'd never understood or known about, until reading about them this past week.

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March 07, 2010

- Gail Vitikacs

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Gorgeous....this is awesome!

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March 10, 2010

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks so much, Gail!

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March 13, 2010

Bunny Snow

Magnificent capture.
Sometimes moving in close works better than wide angle captures. In close, details are abound. This is a case in point.

My best images of St. Petersburg were done in Raw. If I'm able to travel again, I'll definitely take my SD/CFC's and work only in Raw. The quality is there; not in jpgs.

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March 31, 2010

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks, Bunny! I was a little surprised I got this shot (the cathedral is pretty dim, compared to outdoor light, and I was going hand-held, since tripods were prohibited.)
I always shoot RAW (ever since my first BP class, shortly after getting my first Canon a few years back. I enjoy (so far!) playing around with the RAW conversion process, and love the "safety net" RAW provides, with exposure of highlights and shadows, that JPG sometimes loses.

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April 01, 2010

- Nikki McDonald

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Well whatever you did in the conversion certainly got my attention, Chris. This is a beautifully composed and detailed shot and I've finally settled on it as my favorite from among your March entries -- but there were many contenders. Among them are Snow Stream -- maybe just because winter is behind us now :); Portal Doors -- love the off center composition and the contrast of the curves and the linear; Railing Detail -- my runner-up from your new entries as I love the complementary colors and the composition suits my taste; Palmetto and Pink -- this has a one dimensional look that is very appealing, I think, and the colors are great; and of course Whiteout, O is for Oenology, and No Cell and you already know I like those. I really think you should pick up a finalist or two or three this month :)

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April 10, 2010

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Ah, Nikki---we need to get you a role as a BP judge! I love your prediction for me :) Thanks so much!
This rework involved a new crop (showing more of the original capture) and a new RAW conversion as well, using the "masking" adjustments brush to selectively adjust exposure during conversion, primarily in the shadowy arches at the four corners. (I'd recently learned about that tool within the PS RAW converter, and was eager to try it out!)

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April 10, 2010

- Nikki McDonald

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Can I take credit for this LOL?? Very satisfying and gratifying it is! Congratulations on the finalist and good luck in the next round, Chris.

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August 13, 2010

- Claudine Grove

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