Inspiring Photo: Wisdom #4974173

Wisdom

Uploaded: October 27, 2007 12:16:14

Description

A Tibetan refugee standing in the doorway of his home in Darjeeling, India. Resubmitted after some fine tuning.

Comments

Anna M. Halasz October 27, 2007

Absolutely beautiful portrait.Beautiful lighting and contrast.Love it ! Anna #772158

Crystal L. Craig October 27, 2007

Steve, this is fabulous! Wonderful details, great lighting, incredible capture of character :) #4991807

Steve M. Harrington October 27, 2007

Thanks very much, Anna and Crystal. This is my fourth submission of this guy. I think I'll keep at it until he is banned from BP. :)
Steve #4991823

Dianna Hauf October 27, 2007

I am TELLING YOU, I will request a brain scan on BP if they pass this wonderful (and a favorite of mine) image up!!!! Glad you are NOT giving up!!!! "Good on you!" #4992036

Steve M. Harrington October 27, 2007

Thank you for supporting my stubborness, Dianna. :)
Steve #4992050

Daniella Puente October 27, 2007

Strong portrait Steve, like saturation and excellent details on the man... #4992115

Steve M. Harrington October 27, 2007

Thank you, Daniella.
Steve #4992648

JO ANN CLEVELAND October 28, 2007

This is awesome! His will and character show through your wonderful capture!

jo ann c. #4996072

Steve M. Harrington October 28, 2007

Thanks a lot, Jo Ann. I'm glad you like this.
Steve #4997207

Dianna Hauf October 29, 2007

HA! GREAT! He was chosen again! EFP! COME ON!! He is on his way yet again! ;) We're pulling for you!!!!!! #4999982

Steve M. Harrington October 29, 2007

Thank you for the heads up, Dianna. I'm almost ready to sign a new cheerleading contract with you. I'll send it over shortly. :))
Steve #5000031

Marta J. Baldwin October 30, 2007

You better send me one too Steve...This is really an awesome capture and presentation of this wonderfully wise old man. I bet he could tell you a thing or two! Congratulations on this well deserved EFP! #5002774

Steve M. Harrington October 30, 2007

Thank you, Marta. I'm really pleased you like this image. I met this man over three different years and, although we didn't share a common language, he taught me a great deal.
I'm thrilled to send a contract, but no purple pom poms, ok? :)
Steve #5005118

Aggie Villanueva November 01, 2007

What a fabulous capture. ANd the work you did on the photo to make the most of this man's unique qualities is superb. Well done. And congratulations on the pick. You deserve it. #5014390

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

Thank you, Aggie. I'm working hard to get this guy right! :)
Steve #5015232

Peter R. Hammer November 01, 2007

Great portrait Steve but it has a very strong magenta cast. Try duplicating the layer and then do a filter->distort->average to the layer. Hit ctrl I to invert the colour and set the blending mode to color and adjust the opacity slider to about 29% to remove the cast. Another way is to use a curves layer or levels layer and adjust the green slider to add the opposite of magenta. #5015685

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

Thanks for that interesting suggestion, Peter. I tried the first technique and found his face looked a bit washed out at 29%. Here it is at 20%.
Will this technique work for any color cast? #5015852

Peter R. Hammer November 01, 2007

Pretty well Steve. What you are doing is taking an average of all the colours so it can get distorted if say there is a lot of bright red and you have a cyan cast. Always worth a first try and you can always use the eye dropper to change the layer colour. Another technique which can be useful is to use a curves layer and the white eye dropper to set the white point. That doesn't work here as the white parts are already burnt out and you don't want to add to the burnt out areas. #5015909

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

This technique is fascinating and valuable. Three questions: Is the opacity % always going to be in that 20% range, regardless of the color of the cast? If using the eye dropper, do I choose the most prominent shade of the suspected cast before starting the technique? Is a standard curves adjustment often needed after the cast is eliminated?
Thanks for this info. I really appreciate it. #5015947

Peter R. Hammer November 01, 2007

No the opacity can change but it will always be fairly low. It depends a bit on how strong the cast is and what you want to achieve.

NO!!! When you use the white eyedropper you are setting the point in the image which will be a pure white (255,255,255). The black eyedropper sets the black point (0,0,0). You have to choose what should be pure white but that won't work if the whites are burnt out as they are already set to pure white. The eyedropper works best if there isn't anything blown. Use the info panel and the eyedropper in the toolbox to see what an particular pixel is in RGB.

A standard curves adjustment can be made after using the eyedropper but that is a completely separate operation. You can also use the eyedroppers in the levels adjustment layer to do the same thing.
#5016060

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

Thanks for the clarifications, Peter. I'm aware that the curves adjustment is totally seperate. I was wondering if it was commonly necessary. In other words, does this technique commonly wash out an image somewhat? #5016087

Peter R. Hammer November 01, 2007

It shouldn't as you are blending in color mode. #5016179

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

Great! I think I now understand the concepts and can start playing with it. Thanks again, Peter. #5016198

Shahn Torontow November 01, 2007

Hey Steve , both are awesome, sure wish I could see them side by side. He looks very wise, many years of living close to mother earth. Great.
Shahn #5016622

Steve M. Harrington November 01, 2007

It's tough to compare in this situation. There was a color cast in the first, but since it was already entered in the contest, I'll let it ride for now. I'll just consider the cast creative license. :) Thanks for you comment.
Steve #5016656

Dianna Hauf November 26, 2007

IT IS ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!! Congratulations dear Professor!!! Well deserved! #5128032

Steve M. Harrington November 26, 2007

Thank you, Dianna. I have struggled to get this guy right as you know. I am pleased. :)
Steve #5128088

Lisa J. Boulden November 26, 2007

This is FABULOUS work, Steve!
Congratulations on this well-deserved finalist!
--lisa #5128122

Cassie L. Woodlee November 26, 2007

You took the words right out of my mouth Dianna!!! WTG Steve well deserved my friend. A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! #5128283

Kay E. Mahoney November 26, 2007

Congratulations on your finalist, Steve. #5128295

Peter R. Hammer November 26, 2007

Congratulations for making the finals Steve. #5128569

Steve M. Harrington November 26, 2007

Thanks so much, Lisa, Cassie, Kay and Peter.
I didn't get a chance to use your technique on this image, Peter, since it was already entered. However, I have used it continuously since and find it invaluable. Thank you again.
Steve #5128920

Philippe Vieux-Jeanton November 26, 2007

Congratulations Steve!! #5129010

David Pratt November 26, 2007

Way to go Steve! Awesome work! #5129490

Steve M. Harrington November 26, 2007

Thank you, Philippe and Dave. I appreciate it!
Steve #5129705

Donna La Mattino Pagakis November 26, 2007

Excellent finalist Steve!! Congratulations!! #5130276

Tammy Espino November 26, 2007

Congrats~ #5130335

Crystal L. Craig November 26, 2007

Wahoo Steve! Congratulations on making finalist! Soooo glad to see this get attention :) #5130696

Steve M. Harrington November 26, 2007

Thanks so much, Donna, Tammy and Crystal.
Steve #5130773

Ellen Powell November 26, 2007

AWRIGHT, Steve!! WTG on this! Well deserved!! (Even though there's no purple in there....) #5132073

Steve M. Harrington November 26, 2007

Thanks, Ellen. Actually, if you look closely, there is a hint of it or magenta on his collar that I should have gotten rid of. :)
Steve #5132116

Ellen Powell November 26, 2007

Haha! Warrior magenta. #5132372

Phil Stith November 27, 2007

A most worthy finalist, Steve...best of luck in the next round!!! #5134640

Emile Abbott November 27, 2007

Excellent finalist and well deserved, Steve. #5134687

Marta J. Baldwin November 27, 2007

A huge congratulations on this wonderful finalist Steve!!! You deserve a win with this one!!! #5134695

Gail Vitikacs November 27, 2007

This is amazing!!! WOW! Congratulations! #5134804

Kimi A. Phillips November 27, 2007

Yippee! Finally some recognition for my favorite guy (no Steve, not you, silly...Mr. Wisdom!!!! JK!). Congrats! #5135535

Steve M. Harrington November 27, 2007

Thank you all for your wonderful wishes! I really do appreciate them!
Partial to older men, Kimi? :)
Steve #5136355

Kimi A. Phillips November 27, 2007

No, just men with wisdom. #5136891

Steve M. Harrington November 27, 2007

That does narrow the field considerably. :) #5137029

Jeff Robinson November 27, 2007

Great job Steve; congrats on your Finalist! Jeff #5137659

Steve M. Harrington November 27, 2007

Thanks a lot, Jeff.
Steve #5137704

Mitch Spence November 27, 2007

Steve, this is a great portrait of a memorable time and place and, especially, the individual. I'm so pleased to see it with its finalist button. #5139210

Elizabeth A. Marker November 27, 2007

Yeah Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is very well deserved!!!!!!
So very happy for you!
Liz =^..^= #5139987

Steve M. Harrington November 27, 2007

I really appreciate you good wishes, Mitch and Liz. Thank you.
Steve #5140065

David Pratt November 29, 2007

Steve, this one really should be a winner! Its a winner in my book! #5149324

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

Mine too! #5149334

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

Thanks, Dave. I really appreciate that. I can't even buy an EP right now. :) #5149348

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

Just missed you, Crystal. Thank you. You guys are the ones who really count with me.
Steve #5149367

David Pratt November 29, 2007

I'm with you on that one Steve.. #5149417

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

Oh, me too! do you think we've angered the ... you know. #5149423

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

Thuuppp! to the you knows! :) #5149434

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

LOL! I knew you'd know who the you knows were, ya know? #5149445

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

Yeah, I knew that you'd know that I knew that you'd know that I knew who you know is, you know! :) #5149472

David Pratt November 29, 2007

You can give the you knows a thuuuppp, a pfffft and any other sound you would like. #5149474

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

You knew too! We're kindred spirits. We could send a THWAP, I think. I'm still not certain what it means, but it sounds right. :) #5149489

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

I soooo knew you were going to say you knew that I knew that you'd know ...

Dave! How about "Thhhwap"?

Okay, I think I need some sleep. Mwwa! Goodnight guys :) #5149491

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

LOL! You beat me! #5149492

Crystal L. Craig November 29, 2007

Wow, I must really need sleep. I'm actually thinking like you! *flail!* #5149500

David Pratt November 29, 2007

The Thwappp, a Mwwawwwawwahahahah, a growl or two and maybe a gesture as well.... #5149509

Steve M. Harrington November 29, 2007

Thinking like a man! That's very good! :) #5149510

Kimi A. Phillips November 30, 2007

The you knows DON"T KNOW!!!!!! #5152039

Steve M. Harrington November 30, 2007

I know! :) Thanks, Kimi. #5152231

Susan Jane Allen June 14, 2009

Great capture and work! You might try entering the re-re-re-edited one and see what happens! #7628606

Steve M. Harrington June 14, 2009

I just might have another go at this image; it's one of my favorites. Thank you, Susan.
Steve #7629827

Dick Jenkins March 11, 2010

Can you imagine what experiences this man has to share with us? I just love it Steve. It has taken me a long time to ask permission to photograph a stranger. You seem to have been in many places around this world. Thanks for your comments on my work. Too bad we could get together. I've spent time in the Far East and some of Europe while being involved in nuclear power plant construction but photography was not a prime interest then.

Your work is excellent! #8448246

Steve M. Harrington March 11, 2010

Thank you, Dick. I am pleased you chose this image to comment on. It is one of the most memorable photographic experiences of my life. No words were exchanged because of the language barrier. We simply looked into each other's eyes and had a "long" conversation in a brief moment.
He does seem to have a calm balance that I hope to achieve one day.
Steve #8448260

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