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 This image was disqualified from the Tribute challenge.
el`e·men'tal : John Paul Caponigro
el`e·men'tal : John Paul Caponigro
Rikki


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Tribute (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Location: Half Moon Bay, California
Date: Jan 22, 2006
Aperture: f22
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Landscape, Seascapes
Date Uploaded: Jan 24, 2006

 Last minute entry again!

John Paul Caponigro usually saturates his images and I thought what a cool concept as I have never tried anything this saturated before.

RAW conversion through RSE. Masked the sky and changed the colors after adjusting levels and curves. Ran the original image through velvia vision. Layers again. Dodge and burn. Ran through NI several times hence the look in the waves. Sharpened and saved for web.

IMG_0836.CR2

-----------------

Woohooo! A ribbon in back to back weeks! And it's a BLUE! I am so excited and thrilled about this accomplishment! I am again humbled by my peers and it has been a great reward personally being part of this wonderful community.

-----------------

Shot in RAW and converted using RSE. I used mostly masks and layers for this image.

STEP 1:
Duplicated the background image. The sky was extracted using Extract Option in CS. I changed the color balance to bring out the reds, yellows and browns (mostly in red and yellows for midtones and shadows). I then used levels and curves to create the additional contrast for the sky. I then used the burn tool to bring out the clouds using the shadow levels and midlevels (10% exposure). Applied a slight blur to the sky to create the softness as the curves made it harsh.

STEP 2:
Duplicated the background layer again. Then I applied a velvia filter to the background copy image to bring out the warm tones in the rocks and the grass and sand. Adjusted levels to bring out the midtones. Burned some areas to vignette the image. Adjusted color balance. USM.

STEP 3:
Duplicated the sky layer and adjusted colors to bring out browns. With the layer blend command, I created a layer blend using hard light and overlay to merge the duplicate sky layer with the original sky layer. Set at lower opacity of the blended layer.

STEP 4:
Duplicated background layer. With the magic wand, I selected the water. With color balance, I adjusted blue and cyan to saturate colors of the water. Burn in the waves to bring out depth and shadow of waves. Sharpen.

STEP 5:
Merged and flattened the image. Healed the sensor dusts and specks with the healing brush.

STEP 6:
Bring the entire new image into Neat Image. I ran it through 4 times to soften the look of the image (varied percentages). Used the remove noise and sharpen option.

STEP 7:
Opened the image in PS and rotated to align horizon. Sharpened.

STEP 8:
Created 620x460 canvas and pasted the new image into the canvas and resized. Applied a 2 pixel stroke width and increased the canvas size to 640x480.

STEP 9:
Bring the small image and ran it through NI again but just to remove noise and specks.

STEP 10:
Applied USM in PS just slightly to sharpen a bit then saved for web.
Disqualification Details
Any attempts to alter the point totals in any way for any photograph will result in immediate loss of account and a ban from the site. Photographs by any participating parties may also be removed from past or current challenges.

Statistics
Views since voting: 16590
Views during voting: 677
Comments: 139
Favorites: 129 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/25/2006 10:13:54 AM
that is just absoulutly wonderful love all the colors great job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2006 04:08:28 PM
amazing shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2006 11:42:52 PM
I have been viewing this photo for some time now trying to think of something more powerful and unique to say besides,Awesome or Amazing....how about Absolute Major Imagination Overload ! Congrats !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2006 01:02:48 PM
Wow, this is a great job on PPing a shot and making it so much better then the original, thanks for sharing (in detail) your process.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2006 09:04:41 AM
Absolutely stunning picture. (I am going to use your information and try to learn :o)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/31/2006 09:37:05 PM
This is definitely a mind blowing edit! The saturations are perfect ;) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2006 01:24:30 PM
I can't get over this image. Its mindblowing! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/09/2006 01:43:11 AM
Amazing!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/08/2006 11:15:27 PM
This is absolutely stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2006 07:17:53 PM
Excellent photo. COngrats and well deserved Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2006 01:57:06 AM
Excellent - no wonder it was a winner. Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2006 11:53:11 PM
Originally posted by Pug-H:
This looks really awful on a Japanese elementary school's computer monitor. ;-)


David. Stop taking time from a child's computer hour and go get your own :P
 02/06/2006 11:50:48 PM
This looks really awful on a Japanese elementary school's computer monitor. ;-)

Message edited by author 2006-02-06 23:51:05.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2006 08:14:11 PM
My first time on this site and what do I see but my hometown! Lived there all my life and I love the way you took a already beautiful scene and made it spectacular. Great work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2006 07:02:15 PM
Yahh, thats what we all like to see on this site! love your idea, and think you pulled it off verry nicely!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2006 05:35:34 PM
It's Nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2006 10:57:51 PM
i absolutley love the photo!!! I'm in sunnyvale, ca so not far from half moon bay, and i don't think i'll ever look at it the same!!! Awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2006 08:29:50 PM
OMG Rikki!! Killer.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2006 08:20:44 PM
Love the surrealistic feel of the image. A well deserved blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2006 02:44:05 PM
very nice shot, why is this in the black and white gallery?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2006 11:26:10 AM
Rikki, many congratulations! Those are some unreal colours in this image, really wild - love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2006 09:26:22 AM
Beautiful!!!!!!!!! well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 09:54:22 PM
Wow, this looks like paradise as seen on another world.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:36:06 PM
Rikki's on a roll! Beautiful stuff. Can you show us the original?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 05:59:18 PM
Congrats Rikki, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 03:40:06 PM
wow i didnt get to see this but i would have given it a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 03:16:29 PM
you need to teach me how to do those "last minute entry,again" i hate you no i am only kidding congrats-i gave it a ten-i don't know who the heck would give this a one(a troll)-beautiful picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 02:50:21 PM
Terrific homage, I see 2006 is gonna be a colorful/beribboned year for you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:01:52 PM
Great job Rikki! Congratulations on your blue, one of my favorites in the challenge :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:49:05 PM
Surreal and really nice PP, congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 11:32:10 AM
Good grief - what a shot! I have been to Half Moon Bay a few times but this is a vision that supercedes all others: stunning composition and process work.

Congratulations on the well-deserved blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 09:54:46 AM
yes rikki! congrats kabayan. sobra ganda ng blue mo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 09:28:43 AM
Congratulations on your blue Rikki!!!! This turned out awesome!!! :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 09:12:30 AM
WTG Rikki!!! Whoa dude! Slow down, some of us are trying to catch up! ;-) Beautiful shot & certainly ribbon-worthy. Great job & congratulations! That blue ribbon finally arrived!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 09:12:10 AM
This is amazing stuff, Rikki. I love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 08:55:59 AM
Wow - congrats Rikki! I see the Blue has arrived. It's a magnificent photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 08:40:03 AM
Fantastic photo, congratulations on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:53:34 AM
HOLY SMOKES DUDE! I didn't have time to even look at the entries in this challenge, so seeing how awesome this photo is has quite taken me by surprise! It's simply beautiful! Congrats, Rikki!!! WOW!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:33:46 AM
Congratulations. Truly a stunning image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:23:10 AM
Congratulations on your wonderful ribbon. It is an awesome image. For a last minute entry, this was amazing. I hope you plan on placing it in dp prints. I think it will sell a lot of images.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:21:18 AM
Congrats Rikki on your Blue! Love your entry - sure nice to see this one on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 07:07:11 AM
Congratulations! Awesome picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 06:59:21 AM
Wooo-hooo... a Blue for You!!!! GREAT JOB RIKKI!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 05:54:24 AM
Rikki congrats on your second ribbon and your first blue!!! You go boy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 05:09:43 AM
Wowsers!!! Geez, Rikki, I guess ya liked the feel of that ribbon, huh?
;-)
I didn't vote this challenge, but man, I would have given this absolutely stunning image a top vote! This is just awesome, straight to favs. Well done, oh, and congrats man :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 04:18:10 AM
well done dood!!! congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 03:57:37 AM
super super image!!!...congrats on the blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 02:47:45 AM
absolutely breathtaking. Caponigro would be proud :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 02:36:46 AM
Fantastic job Rikki. Job well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 02:36:20 AM
Wow Rikki! What a totally awesome shot you have here. One of my top pick and in challenge with many outstanding shots. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 02:01:02 AM
This means you are officially on a roll!!! keep it up!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:54:32 AM
You the man
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:40:01 AM
Damn!!!...this is GOOD!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:18:27 AM
Oh WOW Rikki mate you nailed a BLUE rthis time, this image is F-king AWSOME brilliant well deserved now i have a brown nose.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:17:35 AM
Rikki baby is on a roll. Great work kabayan. A star is born.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:16:23 AM
Cograts! I gave you a 10. This is going straight to my favorites! The colors are lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 01:00:44 AM
Great idea on this one and congratulations on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:58:50 AM
Big Rikki! Represent, represent!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:55:37 AM
Awesome effort, Rikki. I guess pm-ing for all those high votes paid off (jk). I didn't vote or view this Challneg ... so will have a look when I have time. But, way to go!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:52:38 AM
Congratulations, Rikki, on a splendid image. Wow, Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:47:28 AM
I think there might be an issue here. Rikki goes to Japan and returns a ribbon winning machine! Time to check the basment for pods!

congratulations who ever you really are.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:47:13 AM
Rikki, Rikki, Rikki ... Gratitous use of color will get you everywhere... Awesome shot, my man. Congrats :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:44:58 AM
YOU"RE ON FIRE Rikki! AWESOME!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:39:16 AM
nice job rikki. mucho congrats... o...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:38:39 AM
Look at you!!! Dude, you're rolling now!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:36:11 AM
Hey Rikki: Congratulations on this mesmerizing image that elevates the senses of the viewer to untold heights. What a great accomplishment.

Congratulations on your BLUE!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:32:59 AM
Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:32:55 AM
Holy cow Rikki! Another one already and a blue! Great work on this and big congrats on your win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:29:37 AM
I knew this one would win =) CONGRATS!!! Let me know if you're going to sell prints... I Love It!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:29:30 AM
You dog, you! Caponigro, eh? Nice work, Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:28:25 AM
congrats. Thought this might ribbon and you just missed having two on the front page at once! outstanding!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:27:50 AM
See rikki going to japan wasn't so bad after all. I see lot of good luck, two ribbons as you returned. Alas i could go to japan (if only i were not living it japan).
Great photo BTW.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:27:13 AM
woohoo..again. Good on ya Rikki.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:25:07 AM
Incredible color! Congratulations, Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:25:01 AM
Whawhooo! You did it! You da man Rikki!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:24:16 AM
sheeesh! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:24:15 AM
Last minute entry, yeah right. Excellent job. Congrats. You're the ribbon machine now!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:24:04 AM
Very nice job Rikki. Congrats on a great entry and the blue :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:23:46 AM
GO RIKKI! You've been replaced by fotoman on the couch now! :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:23:34 AM
Nice Rikki! Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:22:22 AM
Wow Rikki...This is a truly stunning scene...great job! You almost had more 10's than any other vote...crazy. I love the colors here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:22:17 AM
Wow, it's like an epiphany. Look out, Rikki has the magic formula to win!

;)

Seriously, really beautiful shot, congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:21:47 AM
hahahah i am so dumb!
Here i am in my skin
go chook!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:20:20 AM
Serious 'grats, Rikki! This is such a lovely shot and very well duplicating Caponigro's style. Well deserved ribbon! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:19:14 AM
Yayyyyyy Rikki!!!!

Congrats man! A beautiful, deserving win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:18:53 AM
no surprise to see this here :)
great score, man, you rock the town.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:18:26 AM
way to go rikki! this image in phenominal
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:18:08 AM
you go man! Blue for Rikki...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2006 12:17:53 AM
I looked and looked and looked for this and i couldnt find it all challenge hahahah

YAY BLUE

You owe me a flight to cali dude!!

Umm youre going to think this a very strange msg hahah I forgot i wasn`t on my pc and therefore not logged in with my username - This is mesmeraj! OOPS!!

Message edited by author 2006-02-01 00:19:06.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/31/2006 11:52:42 PM
Wow! Just absolutely stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2006 11:06:30 PM
Beautiful color & detail. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2006 09:26:52 PM
Great Job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2006 11:20:00 AM
wow
-10-
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2006 09:08:08 PM
very nice colors.
they almost clash too much, but I think they work.
At least that is my opinion.
good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2006 08:57:50 PM
Lovely colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2006 04:11:36 PM
Wonderful colors and gradients, marble-like patterns on the shore, hard and soft textures. Just lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2006 04:08:31 PM
Wow! Just stunning display of Mother Nature ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2006 07:02:31 AM
Stunning colours, I love the contrast of the yellow/orange and the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2006 04:05:55 PM
Ouhh, that looks unrealistic, but in any events, bravo. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2006 07:24:43 AM
Supreme, "WOW","WOW","WOW",factor in this bright colorful landscape.....I have decided that you deserve a "TEN"....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2006 06:51:06 AM
Stunning view. The sky is just too weird for me.. hope there will be an edit with the original (?) blue sky. The bottom half is 10, upper 6.. so 8 it is.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2006 07:26:38 PM
this is an incredible photo. all I can say is wow, what did you use? something like a tobacco filter? I wonder how you pulled this off, the colors combat each other amazingly 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 11:14:26 PM
Ummm... wow. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 06:44:58 PM
breathtaking! the colors are wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 06:34:08 PM
Soooooooo serene! Love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 05:08:56 PM
Amazing photograph. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 04:11:56 PM
wow! such radiant colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 12:38:36 PM
Wow! Just a loss for words.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 12:27:03 PM
i suggest a lot less saturation of colors. is this a photograph or a work of digital art?? hmmm. too fake for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2006 02:40:23 AM
Very BEAUTIFUL!! Im giving this a 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 11:56:42 PM
Wow. thats all....Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 11:01:08 PM
I'm not that familiar with this photographer, but it is a stunning, striking photo!!! The colors are so rich! The scene so powerful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 07:05:22 PM
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I love the combiniation of colors! A definite 10 =)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 04:03:29 PM
This takes the cake in my opinion. Fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 02:58:11 PM
Very surreal. Almost like the movie "What Dreams May Come"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 02:38:02 PM
A joy to see this work, thank you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 02:25:15 PM
Stunning photograph, brilliant colors and tones. Amazing job of breaking the "don't center the horizon" rule. One of the rare occasions where a centered horizon looks incredible. Looks like another photographer I'm going to have to learn something about. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 01:56:23 PM
excelle3nt tribute 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 12:11:06 PM
Nice work on the colours. Maybe a little heavy on the yellow in the middle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 09:39:37 AM
Nice work, definitely Captures John's style, and it is a beautiful photo to boot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 03:06:02 AM
Such power and beauty.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 11:40:15 PM
Absolutely breathtaking!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 09:27:07 PM
Unusual treatment to bring out this latent beauty. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 08:33:57 PM
I found my ribbon! This is just mind blowing. I am just at awe looking at this image. Congrats in advance. In my faves. Please post a photo for printing later (and into wishlist).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 06:32:04 PM
Edited: :) great picture, arresting color and composition. I like the touch of green plant/ice plant in the foreground.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 05:59:55 PM
suddenly I think I found Rikki's picture.
jesus christ, the young padawan cuts the jedi master in half

edited to add - damn 10-22 :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 05:59:37 PM
Great! thou it{s very bright (which I consider amazing) it has some of the surrealism of him... 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 04:55:59 PM
Wow!This image is one of the best in this challenge. The colors are wonderful! I love the scenery that this image conveys! If this doesn't ribbon or place high, I will be utterly disappointed. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 04:16:55 PM
if this doesn't place top 10, i'll be surprised.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 02:14:27 PM
This is beautifully intense. The blue in the sky's a little distracting to me, but I love the water capture. Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 11:29:06 AM
could this finally be a ribbon?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 11:13:19 AM
Amazing collection of colors and a great composition. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 10:05:42 AM
Beautiful, almost surreal sky. Great color, excellent composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 09:55:45 AM
Absolutely beautiful. I need to look up his work. This is gorgeous with the oversaturated colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 07:42:31 AM
just like a painting :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 02:42:18 AM
This seems to me to be a nice tribute photo to the photographer but representative of only a small part of his work. I like the drama, and I like the contrasty nature of the photo. Otherwise, it's a bit overprocessed for my taste. Don't let my POV trouble you. It's a great photo and I hope it does well inthe voting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 01:51:22 AM
Quite Awsome, great processing.. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 12:59:24 AM
It looks like it could be on a post card. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2006 12:45:05 AM
Very nice shot. As I look at the gallery of Elemental pictures from JPC I note that his pictures are a lot more simple, very basic, not much going on in the picture. Your pic has a LOT going on - however, no points off for that (just an observation, seeing as we are supposed to be "inspired" by the photographers work). Nice choice of photog and nice execution!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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