Wushen, do you have Photoshop?  If so, there is a very easy workaround.  Loading DEM data into Vue is a pain.  It's better to use the GeoTiff as an image map for your terrain in the terrain editor.

The problem is that the original GeoTiff is a 32 bit image that has to be converted to a 16 bit image.  I know that PS can do it.  Not too sure about other image editors though.

I did a couple of video tutorials about the process if you are interested.  Youtube compressed the heck out of them, so the quality isn't the best and there is no audio.  But it should give you an idea of how the process works.

Downloading and converting DEM data

Loading GeoTiff data into Vue 6

HTH,

Mike

I like a lot of the ideas everyone has come up with.  I have to admit that I do this all the time.  If there is a shot that I personally think can be improved, I save it and process it.  (I don't show it to anyone or try to pass it off as my own!  I just do it to help me improve my own processing techniques.)

Great shot, btw!

Mike

Very interesting.  Thanks for the link.

I have to agree with the writer of the article.  I don't think that that image is prize-worthy.  I went and looked through the gallery linked by MGD first, to get my own impressions of the image without reading what the author thought.

My opinion?  I've spent a lot of time the last couple of months studying up on how to take good portraits, and I do understand that in certain cases, rules can be broken.  This does not come close.  The children are not the main subject.  They look very uncomfortable.  The lighting is poor.  The BG adds nothing to the image.  The cones, while by dint of color associate themselves with the younger boys flippers, add absolutely nothing to this shot.  The doorknob on the far right of the frame is a distraction.  The use of the edge of the pool as leading lines directing your eyes towards the children does work and was used well.  (Although, its really kind of sad that that is the only good thing that I can say about the photograph as a whole.)

When I look at the image, I ask myself what the point of the photo is, and I just can't figure it out.  What is the subject of this photo?  Is it the kids?  The pool?  The austere background?  The cones (they are the point of highest contrast in the shot)?  Everything in the shot is given equal weight (even the distracting doorknob).  If everything in the shot has equal weight, then everything is supposed to be important, which means that nothing is. 

Are the cones there to represent that they are in a construction zone?  If so, why was that not made more apparent?  Is it the pool in unusual circumstances (a plain white room with a couple of cones in it)?  The kids in an unusual room with a pool in it?

I personally do not get this image, nor do I understand how this shows a father's love for his children, and I would also have deleted it from my memory card if I had shot it.  If this is what an award-winning portrait looks like, then maybe I should stop now, 'cause I don't get it.

My opinion; this shot that I took of a little girl having fun at an event at the local mall is a much better shot than that one.

Thanks for reading my two cents.

Mike

Why do I keep hearing the bishop from "The Princess Bride" every time I look at the title of this month's challenge?  lol 

"A fwame wifin a fwame."

Great idea, count me in again!

Outstanding shots, everybody! 

Piet, that was what I was hoping when I posted this.  That maybe someone would go out and try something new.  (Like painting with light.  I still need to get off my butt and give that one a try.) If you ain't pushin', you ain't learnin'!

Mike

Those are awesome!  Love the first one the most.  Great shots.

Joe,  I think that your idea is a good one.  I've seen a lot of people here talk about wanting critical feedback on their photos.  This would be one heck of an opportunity to get one. 

And I don't know about anyone else, but I would keep dogging it until I got one in!  At least then I would know that I'm improving.  Of course, after that I would work even harder to get my approval rating up.  :a_wink:

Congrats to everyone selected.  There are some awesome shots in there. 

And I love that you guys take the time to do this every week.  Many, many kudos and thanks to you.

I've just realized that I do belong to a photo club.  It's the Renderosity Photography Forum.  The beginning of every month, the theme for that month is chosen.  After that, members can meet and discuss twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  Once a week, the best photos are shared by all.  And you can pop in at any time to talk about whatever you want.

It's a great club.  I highly recommend it!  Lol!

Piet, here ya' go!  My third one.  I have now successfully completed the challenge.

I'll tell you, you guys have got me running around at two o'clock in the morning with a camera.  If I get arrested, I'm telling the cops it's Rendo's fault!  Lol!!

BTW, this is my first successful attempt at merging multiple exposures into an HDR.  What fun!

Can't wait for next month's challenge.

Mike

To be honest, if I'm looking for a real critique of my stuff, I post the image in the appropriate forum and ask for one.  I've found that its the best way to get an in-depth crit.  'Cause even if you ask for one in the galleries, you'll still get a lot of the 'This is great' comments.

Joe, returning to that spot will be very easy.  I can walk across the street and be there in less than a minute.

Tom, out of frame is a golf course on the left, so no issues there.  It's wide open.  On the right, on the other hand, is a line of apartment buildings.  I'll have to come up with creative ways to frame it.

Thanks again for the suggestions.  I will certainly be out there to shoot that tree again.

Mike

Don't get me wrong, the other shots have not been deleted yet.  Just in case, lol!

Jodie, that's an outstanding and moody shot.  I like!

Okay, here is my second one for the challenge.  I know, it's already been done, but I wanted to see what I could get with low light and playing with the WB.

Funny thing is, this is the last shot out of about 10 that I took. (And let me tell you, it was getting hot in that kitchen! lol!).  As soon as I saw this one on the display, I thought, 'That's it!  That's the one!'.  I love that feeling.

Mike