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Posted on 28/03/25 09:30:07 AM
Steve Caplin
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Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
According to the sign in the Beatles Museum in Liverpool (which we've visited before), this is John Lennon's actual piano, on which he may or may not have written Imagine.

The setting is very stark, and we know from his Yoko Ono period that he was attracted to white. But even so, I find this room rather antiseptic and lacking in atmosphere. Perhaps if he had a few friends round it would help to liven things up?

High res is here.



Posted on 28/03/25 09:44:40 AM
Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
My research shows John Lennon wrote "Imagine" on a Steinway Model Z upright piano. He had this piano in his home at the time, and it was in the room where he composed many of his songs, including "Imagine." The piano itself became famous in its own right after the song's release, and it's now part of music history!

Posted on 28/03/25 10:18:07 AM
Mariner
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Posts: 2976

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
That's very quick research Ben. Your entry is timed at 09:40. My clock here says it is only 09:18 right now. Strange. In the UK the clocks don't go forward until Sunday.



Posted on 28/03/25 1:24:11 PM
Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano





Posted on 28/03/25 1:36:08 PM
Ben Boardman
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano

Thank you Michael





Posted on 28/03/25 1:56:16 PM
michael sinclair
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Ben your usually exemplary work is marred by one thing only: the Beatles have not been feathered which gives the impression that that they are cardboard cut-outs! Other than that an excellent composition.

So get it changed before the site owner sees it.

Posted on 29/03/25 4:09:58 PM
DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Somehow friends gathered around seems a bit obvious, plus I quite like the stark whiteness. So I have chosen to leave him enjoying a quiet spliff on his own.



This, on the face of it, extremely simple image proved surprisingly difficult. I think because it's so simple any wrong notes jumped straight out and I had to work very hard to get a convincing result.

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 29/03/25 4:55:21 PM
Mariner
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Posts: 2976

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
David I like what you did. It loooks authentic. I also like the stark whteness of the scene, always have. However, my effort is going to have more colour and action in it, because I like to make a mountain out of a mole hill, and spend a long time working on it.

Posted on 30/03/25 12:41:28 PM
DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Thanks Michael. I enjoyed the hard work because what I did was photographic at heart.

_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 30/03/25 3:51:18 PM
lwc
Hole in One
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Most convincing David, very nice!


Posted on 30/03/25 10:02:44 PM
DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
This one is anything but convincing. This is just plain stupid!

I am not quite sure why I bothered to even do it .......... let alone post it. I think the hole in my marbles bag must be getting bigger.



_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 30/03/25 11:50:01 PM
Frank
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Nice work David - even the gnomes.

Posted on 30/03/25 11:50:41 PM
Frank
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano


Posted on 31/03/25 2:45:53 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5476

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Lovely muted colours Frank. I see you had the same problem I did finding decent resolution source photos. I was surprised how difficult that proved.

_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 31/03/25 9:28:16 PM
michael sinclair
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Before and After

No animation in this entry. However, a necessary illustration how Feathering is important to maintain realism within a photo.








Posted on 01/04/25 11:19:11 AM
DavidMac
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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
That's all absolutely correct Michael and the colour matching is excellent. But, since you have chosen to be very critical and post a demonstration of correct technique and realistic compositing, I think it entirely fair that I may respond in kind. I would suggest it might be more convincing to remove the white fringing from Lennon and Ringo as well. It does rather jump out in an otherwise nigh on flawless cut out.



_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 01/04/25 12:44:25 PM
michael sinclair
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Posts: 1840

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Thank you again David: I really appreciate It! And i do appreciate the John Lennon sitting on his seat entry.

A new "Before and After":

I must have done something right, because they're are now smiling.

Look see for yourself:

"She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah."...Yeah! Which is remarkable as I am not a Beatle's fan!











Posted on 01/04/25 1:51:28 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5476

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Yes it really does help. Cutting out from white always looks as if it's going to be easy but it often carries horrid problems getting rid of fringing.

Now you have me puzzled. Your original entry showed some colourful originals and de-sat colour final. Now you are showing a black and white original and de-sat colour final.

Is this, in fact, a colorised image from black and white. If so you had me fooled completely I never guessed!

_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 01/04/25 2:13:41 PM
Ben Boardman
Printing Pro
Posts: 581

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano


Posted on 01/04/25 4:05:42 PM
michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist
Posts: 1840

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Re: Challenge 1047: John Lennon's Piano
Yes, David, the original was indeed the black and white photo, and then I used Neural filter which you saw in the last entry.

Though not a Beatle's fan. the black and white image was high resolution, and superb quality: it preserves ALL the detail with help from "Shadows and Highlights". I hate to say it but I really like this group shot of the Beatles... She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah... Stop it Michael...[b]Ommm, ommm...

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