Oooohhh - NOW I get it!!

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by multiweb

ah... ... data will be well on par with Peter's although you guys are using very different instruments.

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Soo.. Let's see how well you handle it!

(sorry..I couldn't resist...plus this would make no sense to anyone who has not seen "Spaceballs" )

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

ah... that's what it is then. This usually enhances the edges of contrasty features and makes them pop. I've used it a lot in the past on shots with a poor image scale but I have found that when the data is quality data it is actually more destructive than anything else especially in the smaller details. It creates artefacts on bright or dark edges and gives this kind of 'bubbly'/embossed look. Have a look at the latest shot Peter Ward posted. It's a very similar image scale (on display resolution) so it's easy to map fine details one on one. Your shot shows all the faint features he's picked in his but your edges are rougher. So I think not sharpening your shot at all with more data will be well on par with Peter's although you guys are using very different instruments.

Bad precedent Marc - let's just appreciate images that are posted here on their merits rather than compare them to one another - can of worms mate, trust me!! And you don't need to justify your initial position - you already said you don't like it (and I'm perfectly fine with that) - leave it there and wait for me to complete the image. Finally, high pass is not destructive if - like any other sharpening / contrast enhancing method - it's handled properly.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Soo.. Let's see how well you handle it!

I hate it when my Schwartz gets twisted!!

I'm afraid it's no contest contest Peter - I processed mine blindfolded!

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

I'm afraid it's no contest contest Peter - I processed mine blindfolded!

OK you win... I just do plain yoghurt.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Too much testosterone with your toys guys. Take it easy Marcus.

[Ross G]

A great photo Marcus.

Smooth and a huge tonal range.

Thanks.

Ross.

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

A great photo Marcus.

Smooth and a huge tonal range.

Thanks.

Ross.

Thanks Ross! I confess I've been a little dismissive of Eta over the years, mostly because it's been done to death. But having seen the wall to wall features and detail present (rarely seen in scaled down versions) I'm now a convert. I promise to do only one version though!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

I promise to do only one version though!

Ok wise guy, you have'in a go?

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Ok wise guy, you have'in a go?

Nooooo ... of cooourse not!! ...........

Your repros are one of the reasons we love you Mike!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Nooooo ... of cooourse not!! ...........

Your repros are one of the reasons we love you Mike!

...I have had a couple of one hit wonders though, while I did do a cropped version (doesn't count as a repro), the Fighting Dragons of Ara was a once only processing result ...couple more but hmm? not to many others I have to say ...seems I am an eager posting Beaver

[gregbradley]

I have adopted the policy of leaving an image overnight before I post it and I often find the next day I no longer like the result I got.

You can get too into an image and lose perspective.

i find a bit of withdraw helps. Do something else for a while and come back to it rather than working on it continuously and you see it with a fresh view.

I believe Marcus does that too.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I have adopted the policy of leaving an image overnight before I post it and I often find the next day I no longer like the result I got.

You can get too into an image and lose perspective.

i find a bit of withdraw helps. Do something else for a while and come back to it rather than working on it continuously and you see it with a fresh view.

I believe Marcus does that too.

Greg.

Yeh, yeh but that's boring, I like sharing the experience rather than making sure it's peeeeerfect every time before I post, share the experience & love, warts and all, as it were

[gregbradley]

Horses for courses. I'd say you're doing pretty well at it!

Greg.

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

...while I did do a cropped version (doesn't count as a repro), ...

Does too!

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I have adopted the policy of leaving an image overnight before I post it ... I believe Marcus does that too.

Yes I do. It's just that after you've stared at an image for so long the defects and the big picture can become invisible. If not that, then a fresh eye can often spot other ways to optimise an image.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yeh, yeh but that's boring, I like sharing the experience rather than making sure it's peeeeerfect every time before I post, share the experience & love, warts and all, as it were

It's not really a search for perfection, although my wife tells me I obsess sometimes. It's about getting it to the sweet spot where you believe there's nothing more that can be done to improve it. Posting an intermediate step like I did here is sharing the journey and I think that's good, even though some may be tempted to critique it as though it was a final! When I do my final colour version I will obsesss, I promise!