Lets do a few pictures

[finman57]

Some of these are new and some are old so if you have seen them, sorry.

Ngara
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/070608L.jpg

Lwanda
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/070608a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/070608d.jpg

Ruby red. Picture is too dark up front but I still like it. lol
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/11-11-08.jpg

[ChrisG12887]

wow! super nice pics!

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Are you using a photo tank with painted black back or do you blackout the background later.

[eggzackary]

I really hope my lwanda turn out as nice.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Excellent pics Pat!

[RD]

Very nice Pat!

[fischfan13]

Just want to bump a great Thread.

[EMTBMIKE]

Can we see the pictures before they were photoshopped.

[Spud]

Stunning shots !

[Afreakin]

Can we see the pictures before they were photoshopped.

To me these are great pix. PhotoShop is what it's all about today, enhancement to a great photo. Some of the greatest photos are cropped from a larger area pic. I don't even know how much post processing was done.

Great shots

[AlishanAS]

To me these are great pix. PhotoShop is what it's all about today, enhancement to a great photo. Some of the greatest photos are cropped from a larger area pic. I don't even know how much post processing was done.

Great shots

Could not agree more.

[fischfan13]

Give me a great photo of a single or a pair of fish any day.
Finman's fish are not only beautiful but his picture taking skills are phenomenal as well.

[finman57]

I will look and see if I can find the others. I am terrible about keeping track of them. Or keeping them. I found this one on the card. Had not deleted yet.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/other%20junk/DSC_0059-1.jpg

[finman57]

I usually Crop, then Size to 800. Then I darken the photo some and take the spots out that usually are on the glass. I then us the unsharp mask just a touch because of the resize. If you sharpen too much then it makes the photo look bad. I will play here.

[finman57]

Okay, resized. Darkened to clear the back some. Still needs more.
Then took out most of the spots on the glass.
Then used the Unsharp mask.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/other%20junk/a3.jpg
Add one sharpen click after the unsharp mask. It causes other problems like
the spots behind it coming out. Also too sharp in my opinion.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/other%20junk/a1.jpg
This is with clicking sharpen 2 times. You can see this is way too sharp. Brings out the imperfections
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/finman57/other%20junk/a2.jpg
I have never played with the Photoshop that much. One day I may take the time to play with it. I would love to learn more but as a friend of mine says "if you have to photo shop for more than 2 minutes then throw the pictue away and get the camera out.
So bottom line is YES I use photoshop. I try not to use it much but I do use it.

[vinman]

Do you just keep peacocks or do you keep other African Cichlids Too Like to see some of you other pic's

[ValleyAquatics]

Great pictures. :beerchug:

[Larry Johnson]

Nice shots Patrick!
Are any of these from OCA this year!
if you have to photo shop for more than 2 minutes then throw the picture away and get the camera out.
I use this very same idea when I do the initial deletions on the boat right after a dive.
IMO darkening the pic down a bit brings out the color of the fish,,,,removing noticable marks,on glass or 'starbursts' from floating sand in the water removes unnecessary distractions while viewing.
Cropping then resizing a pic with the above notables is just standard and acceptable to me.

The "unsharp mask" I'd like to know more about.
Pat,do you have any shots of your "Best in Show" winner from OCA?
Congrats on that one!

:beerchug:,Larry

[finman57]

The guy above is the one from the OCA show. I really need to get a good picture of him. Still a little under size. That was taken in a 10-gallon tank that is on the rack on end.... Looking in one side. Small window. He was the only one in the tank.

I do have other pictures besides peacocks. I did post a few in the Tank section. I will put a couple in the New world section. Not great but okay shot. If I have not already posted them. I will look.

[VoodooGirl]

These are beautiful photos. The black background really makes the color pop. Bravo!

[finman57]

In this case the black background is from the lighting. The way I had the flash and the settings on the camera it made the background dark. Actually a medium blue color on that tank... I do paint some black for pictures.