I realise this is an older topic but I found it interesting, I have some old software on my PC which sometimes comes to the rescue of an image like this one. The software I used on the image is “Photo Lemur 3”, if I remember correctly it was given free at some point and was used to promote the AI in their software. All I did was used the “Send It” to function in Windows to “Photo Lemur 3”, it automatically processed the image in the default settings and created this result:
Just a couple of problems with that solution - this is a discussion about using DxO PhotoLab and Mike uses a Mac ![]()
Nonetheless, it does show what can be extracted from the image
Actually, I saw only two opportunities to get a 3-boat photo, but both were far away. I already knew the composition I wanted. The camera was in landscape mode as it didn’t matter, as I don’t have a 600mm lens. My “subject” quickly became the front boat, because of the fellow working on it near the bow. I focused on the front boat, and the two other boats are not as sharp. I fully expected to have all the boats in bright sunlight in another ten minutes, but when I came back to check, the closest boat was sailing away. Drat!
Your interpretation was completely wrong. I viewed the scene just the way I created it, and the orientation of the camera was irrelevant as I had to crop it regardless to get what I wanted.
(The second photo was just to get a closer look at what the guy was doing. Looking through the viewfinder, I couldn’t tell.)
First I have to find a suitable image to be captured. I have two choices, Biscayne Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. In either case, 300mm is probably not adequate without a lot of cropping. Or, I can search through my photos of fishing boats in India.
Welcome to the forum, and thanks for posting. I never heard of “Photo Lemur 3”, but I got curious and found this:
https://www.photoworkout.com/photolemur-3-review/
I’ve given up on all my image editors other than PhotoLab, but I do have friends who would love a simple solution to enhancing images. Apparently it works on Mac now as well. I am impressed by how well it worked on my trolley photo. Thank you again for posting. I do have Luminar, but the “AI” version I never looked into.
PhotoLab has the ability to send images off to other editors - I’ve used this before, but the results were no better than what I could accomplish in PhotoLab. Do you still use it? Have you tried PhotoLab?
So why did you bother doing anything more?
I don’t understand why you would do that since the it was so far away and the tonality of the distant boats far outshone it. Why on earth would you make something (the man on a boat in the shade) which only occupies about 1% of the frame area, the “main” subject? There are simply not enough pixels in that subject to make it worthwhile., even as a screen-only image.
Then look for something else that fulfils the criteria of two to three objects surrounded by negative space, not necessarily on the water. Unless you were conscious of these constraints when you were in India and you took the image specifically, I personally would not be interested.
From my perspective it is yet just another boring static boat picture, the most recent of way too many that Mike posts here. I know he can do much better than this but he persists on giving us one forgettable image like this after another. I am not sure why.
Mark
If they were too far away. no one forced you to take the shot.
Mark
Indeed. Then @Wolfgang turns out his wonderful shot and really lifted my day.
My point exactly.
All he’s doing is wearing his memory cards out.
I expected in another ten minutes all three boats would be in the morning sunlight. Never got the chance to do so.
Good reason to place the order for that 600mm lens…
…won’t happen. Too many lenses already.
I don’t consider the above photo to be forgettable, along with the other image I took. I enjoyed going through all the details and finding out what all the “stuff” was on the boat closest to the camera. Some of the images most of you like are quite boring to me. This photo I find interesting, even if nobody else does. I like the composition, and I like all the colors, and I like the reflections, and I like trying to figure out what the things are that are spread around the rear of the boat. Stern. I’m taking images to be viewed on a computer screen, not printed.
OK Mike, I’m sorry but I’m going to bow out of further commenting on your images in this thread. You have asked for help end rejected a lot of it, only to continue posting the same old, same old. You are no longer even asking for help with PL, just seeking approval on your mainly press snapshots. Should you have problems with PL, by all means start an appropriate thread and I will be only too happy to respond.
This is another image from Grounds for Sculpture near me in New Jersey. I am not sure if this works but I liked the shapes and textures, and the way the light and shadows played off this sculpture on a recent warm and sunny day just before Christmas. It was captured at f/1.2 since I wanted as much separation as I could get given the relative closeness of the sculpture to the background. Captured with my Voigtlander 23mm f/1.2.
Mark
I think the problem is for a while now, you are bored with the images I like, and I am bored with the images others are posting perhaps as examples for me. It’s like we are talking different languages.
I’m used to capturing image like what’s in my SmugMug gallery, and lately I’m trying to follow ideas which don’t really interest me. You want me to take a photo, perhaps of two boats off in the distance, but there is no place near me where I can do that, so I did the best I know how. I like that last image I posted. I like details. I like what I consider to be “reality”. I like colors. To me, “empty space” means I should have printed things larger.
I’m not “rejecting” your suggestions, but I don’t understand what you mean. What I enjoy with photography is very different. It’s like we are talking two different languages, and I read your words, but have no idea how to capture something that you will like, that is also something that I like.
We should let this discussion go back to PhotoLab, and the tools that come with it. What you and others have suggested I can relate to, and learn from. I’m probably just too old to learn a whole different style of photography especially one that I have no interest in. I don’t do still-life. I don’t do portraits.
I’m not an “artist”, and will probably never be one. What I come to this forum for, is to learn how to better do the things I like to create, using PhotoLab. If I gave any indication that I want to change, I apologize. I will try anything, including things I have no interest in. I even went along with placing my M10 in a drawer, and only using my D780. There is a big difference - I “use” my D780. I “enjoy” my M10. If photography isn’t fun and enjoyable, what’s the point?
How (and why) did we get from “how to use PhotoLab” to “how to create art”?
Yikes! I think this image is playing with my brain. It took a while to sort out what I was looking at, and the colors were so similar it made that difficult. I especially enjoy it when I made it larger - wow, all the detail that showed up. And in a larger size, the blurry background is much more separated from the sculpture. Photo is great. The sculpture??? I’m not sure what to think…
I don’t think anyone really wanted you to stick your M10 in a drawer. Take it out and use it if you want to, or better still give it to me.
I think @Joanna’s goal was to have you expand your horizons and focus on increasing your skill and comfort level with the D780 as well as to gain greater framing possibilities with the longer lens.
Mark
Whether the picture succeeded or not is still an open question in my mind. What is becoming clear to me though is that you are uncomfortable with abstract art. This is evident by your response when you said, "Yikes! I think this image is playing with my brain. It took a while to sort out what I was looking at, and the colors were so similar it made that difficult. "
You made similar comments regarding the café ceiling in an earlier post. That is fine, not everyone has an interest in, or an understanding of abstractions. You goal is the recording of actual events as you saw them with your own eyes. Nothing wrong with that if that is your preference and it gives you satisfaction. However, in recent months I have noted a sameness to the images you post, mostly uninteresting images of static boats, which has frankly become boring. As I’ve said before many of your SmugMug images are far more interesting. I thing you need to seek out new subject matter.
Mark
Maybe I should give you the D780? ![]()
More seriously, someone can create a new thread about adancing horizons and increasing skill and comfort levels, and framing. Lets leave this thread for discussing PhotoLab.
Yes, and uncomfortable is an understatement.
I don’t understand them, and have no interest in them.
Absolutely!!! That’s been my goal for as long as I can remember.
I agree with you. Will do so. I feel like I’m trapped in a rut.
Perhaps some street photography in South Beach along with some of its array of interesting characters. A perfect use for your M10 and a fast prime.
Mark
I was thinking about this earlier today. I certainly wouldn’t use the D780. The two recent holidays would have been great timing. Also, an upcoming trip to a country-side home, with trees, a pond, critters, and lots of green.
… or get / use binoculars, saving you the effort to post it here. That’s the right tool to watch details in selective view.


