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Category: Before and After

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Lone Cypress


	Lone Cypress Finalist Located along 17-Mile Drive near Pebble Beach on the Monterey Penninsula in California, the Lone Cypress is over 200 years and one of the most famous trees in the world. It is perched on a rock with supporting cable around it to keep it from falling. The day we did this drive last summer was cold, overcast, and drizzly. This was definitely reflected in my photos, but when I started to adjust levels, I realized I had a pen and ink drawing kind of look that I liked a lot. I did some digital tree trimming and ocean removal to tidy up the look, moved a boulder up to fill in the bottom left after the crop, and burned to remove highlights on top of tree and boulders. Category: Digital Darkroom Nikki McDonald

- Nikki McDonald

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Original

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February 18, 2008

- Nikki McDonald

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This is the third time this poor image has been up and down today--a charm? Thanks so much to everyone for the enthusiastic reception and previous comments.

Corinne M. Thompson
Nikki, you put alot of work into this with fantastic results! Thanks for showing the original.
2/18/2008 7:10:17 AM

Cyn D. Valentine
Beautiful silhouette Nikki..stunning work!
2/18/2008 7:15:08 AM

Harmeet Singh
Beautiful work...
2/18/2008 7:52:05 AM

BOB COURNOYER
Great silhouette. I like what you did to it.. :-)
2/18/2008 8:19:14 AM

John Caruso
Your effect work really paid off on this one, Nikki. You've created a very graphically strong image here!
2/18/2008 8:33:02 AM

Michelle L. Frick
Beautiful silhouette and effects Nikki! I know this tree! I love your version!
2/18/2008 8:54:14 AM

David Phalen
Awesome work Nikki!!! You've created a wonderful pen and ink like image.
2/18/2008 9:02:28 AM

Susan M. Campbell
I've been to see the Lone Cypress and the weather wasn't too great for me either when I was there. You did an excellent job of turning the original image into a work of art. Well done!!
2/18/2008 9:24:23 AM

Pat Gamwell
SUPERB shot, Nikki! I recognized this famous tree the minute I saw it. Fabulous idea & subject for the silhouette! Put this on the top of my favs! WTG, girl!
2/18/2008 9:48:37 AM

Dr. Silly
Super job you did on this. :O)
2/18/2008 10:30:06 AM

Ron Roberts
NICE RESULTS...RON...
2/18/2008 10:38:21 AM

Susan M. Rosin
Really nice silhouette image, Nikki! I like a lot!
2/18/2008 11:10:11 AM

Ken Smith
Ahhh, so that was you that tried to push me down the cliff, when I was getting my shot! LOL I like your crop and effects...very much so. I hope we see this one again!
2/18/2008 1:15:32 PM

Tamara K. Walker
Super work, love the end result.
2/18/2008 3:54:22 PM

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna
Wonderful and awesome restoration on this fantastic image, Nikki!!!!!
2/18/2008 6:31:14 PM

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February 18, 2008

- Shelly A. Van Camp

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Beautiful capture in B&W!!

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February 18, 2008

JO ANN CLEVELAND

I recognized this tree immediately!

It is beautiful and the black and white is striking.

Would sell I bet easily, great job Nikki1

jo ann c.

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February 18, 2008

Pat Gamwell

Much improved and VERY impressive, my friend!

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February 18, 2008

- Stefania Barbier

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impressive indeed Nikki... looks like some Japanese silhouette... gorgeous!

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February 18, 2008

- Mitch Spence

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A beautiful exercise in shape and form, Nikki. The silhouette is perfect and perfectly cropped. Oh, and how great that bird was there in exactly the spot he should be.

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February 19, 2008

Melissa G. Meiselman

Ultra dramatic image...a great improvement from the original...with wonderful shapes and contrasts, Nikki!!

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February 19, 2008

Sandra R. Alvey

Awesome Nikki! I love the presentation and the bird is awesome!

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February 19, 2008

Joan Powell

Fantastic B&W image , well done !

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February 19, 2008

Jeana Clark

Outstanding work Nikki!!!
I really like the original, but the effects here are stunning!!
WELL DONE!!!
~J~

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February 19, 2008

Carol Teal

I love your pen and ink drawing look Nikki! The original is very nice too, but I love what you did here! Great work!

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February 19, 2008

Michael S. Lazarus

Nikki, Wonderful composition that is especially balanced. I could imagine this image on some ancient asian artifact. Feng Shui is what comest to mind. The monks would be proud :-)

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February 20, 2008

Dianna Hauf

Absolutely WONDERFUL Nikki!!! LOVE this image and what you have done to it!!! What a fabulous eye for creativity. I would hang this from my wall Nikki! I truly love this!

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February 21, 2008

Siete Meeter

Fantastic B&W image , well done

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February 24, 2008

MELODIE C. ROBERTS

Hey Hey Hey
I beat Jeana ;0)

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February 24, 2008

Jeana Clark

OH CRAP!!!
MeL beat me to it!!!
The EP's are rolling in FAST G/F!!!
Hang on to you hat!!!!
WOOOHOOOO!!!!
~J~

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February 24, 2008

- Nikki McDonald

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Now this time you guys beat me to my own. I didn't know about this one but I'm very glad to see it. In all modesty (not!), I thought it had a chance to go someplace if it just got out of the starter's box :) Thanks!

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February 24, 2008

Colleen Farrell

Absolutely fantastic, Nikki! You are right, this is a very famous tree and I have taken one of the many thousands of "standard" photos of it. But you've turned it into art--beautifully done!

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February 24, 2008

Susan M. Campbell

Congrats on the EP...well deserved!

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February 25, 2008

Jayne Martin

Excellent work - excellent eye -- excellent pic!!!

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February 27, 2008

Susan M. Campbell

Yippee....way to go Nikki. Congrats on getting finalist!