Hmmmm, think maybe this was PhotoShopped?
PhotoShop is a software program that let's you manipulate a photo.
It has come to be a derisive term that implies "cheating" on the image.
But other "tweaks" can be done without using PS:
Increase/decrease contrast.
Make a photo lighter or darker or crop it for dramatic effect.
But, yeah, this shot has been doctored like crazy.
PS has a clone tool that let's you copy a portion of the image and place it somewhere else. Like left and right hands on the guitar player seen here.
It was an interesting picture because of the 3-neck guitar played by Eddie Vaan Shaw.
The top is a 12-string guitar and the other two are more traditional 6-string.
I felt the two on the bottom felt left out so I corrected it.
The
"swaying" building in Prague, Czech Republic, was actually designed and built that way by American architect Frank Owen Gehry.
He initially named it the
Fred & Ginger building, after the famed dancing duo.
I did not have to alter anything about the
"Gum Trees" that drew the attention of tourists and locals and, finally, the City.
A man with a steam machine was hired by the city to clean poles on four corners by the Custom House and the Market.
Who knows how and why the stick fad started but it wasn't the kind of image Charleston strives for.
After getting them clean, a sign warned Gummers that they would be fined a thousand dollars if they stuck with doing this.
I DID add the caption over the head of a tourist.
The picture of a "relaxed" Mickey Mouse was not retouched at all.
This was a lazy street entertainer on a main street in Las Vegas that I happened to spot as a passerby dropped a tip.
While others had to prance and dance and pose to gather tips, this person (male or female?) found a position that Disney never would approve. The blue beer bottle was a perfect touch.
This dramatic photo was not Photo Shopped.
However, the contrast was boosted and saturation was increased.
It's pretty close to what I saw when I captured a pretty awesome scene on the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Because that area was filled with tourists milling around at all hours, I simply tilted my camera up a bit and shot over their heads.
Guess that was fooling around with the image.
But simply a planned approach to crowd control.
Another thing to do when the shot you want is too crowded, just wait a few moments.
Crowds ebb and flow and there will be a time when you can have fewer people in the picture.
The long scenic street shot in Lisbon, Portugal, could have used some cleaning up with software.
If you zoom in, you'll see the front of that beautiful iconic yellow electric trolley is totally covered with graffiti that was scribbled, scratched and painted on.
On other shots, where I am much closer, I did use a "paint brush" tool from PS.
With it, I was able to restore the original, pristine look that you saw on Lisbon t-shirts.
(Click on the photos and links for more details.)
PhotoShop is simply a tool and certainly can be overdone, creating a false look.
On occasion, I am guilty of that.
Thanks for stopping by.
Labels: Charles Bridge, graffiti, iconic yellow trolleys, Lisbon Portugal, paint brush tool, PhotoShop. clone tool, Prague
Time out from vacation photos....
I took a needed break from processing vacation pictures and went out for some live music.
Vanessa and Alex Harris at the Pour House were preparing a fancy sit-down Cuban dinner last night.
At a reasonable cost and it was a sold out affair., overflowing the LOT restaurant.
As an added bonus, the music that night was FREE and featured the exciting local group, The Garage
Cuban Band.
Lively and danceable. Congas and bongos. And a whole lotta shakin' going on. The attached video was done at the PoHo on 10-10-2010. Worth a listen.
My notes say the bassist is Ron Wiltrout, but beer was involved so that might just be a wild guess.
He kept the music going and the crowd flowing.
I went to their website and see they've been active around town.
I missed hearing them play at the
Royal American - a really cool venue - and at
Proof on King Street.
I see they also performed at
Victor's Social Club up the Alley between the Music Hall and Rue de Jean and even at the Old Jail.
Dancers ranged from shoulders and hips slightly moving to all out
Cha-Cha-Cha back and forth on the dance floor.
(The Swing Dancers of Charleston would have had a ball as they practice long hours to get the steps and movements just right when the music starts.)
Another crowd-pleaser was the guy on bongos and that ribbed oblong thing
* he scrapes to create an interesting sound.
I really should have taken the time to nail down names of performers I enjoyed but - hey - I'm retired and do this just for fun.
*Playing the güiro usually requires both long and short sounds, made by scraping up and down in long or short strokes.[2]
OK, I looked up the name of the hollow "fish" that is described as a percussion instrument.
The point is, they all played well and gave us some authentic Cuban sounds.
I caught a moment with Vanessa and congratulated her on a fine ethnic evening.
Now, I should get back to editing my vacation shots. Some streets in Lisbon reminded me of what I picture as streets of Havana...but with newer cars.
Thanks for stopping by. Keep alert for a chance to see and hear the GCB.
Buenas Noches.
Labels: Cha-Cha-Cha, Garage Cuban Band, GCB, Havana street, Lisbon Portugal, Vanessa and Alex Harris
A long, long day......
The hotel in Sevilla, Spain mentioned there was a "terrace" attached to my room.
Yikes. There sure was!
Arrived at night so didn't appreciate the amenity until the next day.
Several beers were in the minibar in the room (priced at about Euro 2.50).
So there was plenty of space to relax and rest up after sightseeing and a day-trip down to Gibraltar.
This walking tour of the British colony had us saunter across the distinctive airport runway that bisects the city of 30,000.
This was the Southern tip of Europe and 12 miles across the Strait from North Africa.
Actually, this was the second time I walked across an active aircraft runway.
As a Marine stationed on Vieques, an island across from the eastern side Puerto Rico, I misunderstood the announcement about hopping on a bus to "get to the other side" of the very active US Navy airbase at Roosevelt Roads.
Yep, I looked both ways and walked across (no jets landed!) and was met on the other side by angry-looking MPs.
The Base Commander fumed and mentioned I was an idiot Marine, shouted for a bit and then I was free to continue my weekend at nearby San Juan.
Here at Gibraltar, we tourists were stopped by barriers as a small private jet prepared to roar down the runway and soar away.
In the midst of the European Union, we had to break out some British Pounds for fish & chips and a beer at a cozy pub.
This is my first posting about an 18-day trip to Portugal, Gibraltar and Spain. I tend to NOT tell in advance when I am going to be away for an extended stay.
It was completed early, early this morning after a 22-hour day of traveling.
I'm still jet-lagging.
Made my first cup of coffee at home after several weeks of ordering "Cafe Americano."
Travel is fun - but tiring - and it's good to be home.
Thanks for sharing some vacation photos.
I have a LOT more!
Oh, just discovered that Google can take two (or more) of your pictures, stitch them together and create a panoramic view.
The runway I mentioned in Gibraltar was a good example of not being able to get it all in one shot.
Took two and apparently kept them pretty level.
This is so much better than showing one or the other.
Thanks Google...but, I don't remember you asking if I wanted this or even giving you permission.
Labels: Cafe Americano, Gibraltar, Lisbon Portugal, Sevilla, Spain
