For the month of March I have chosen this photo for Robyn’s challenge at Captivate Me.
The last few days have seen me tearing my hair out literally. On Saturday I decided that it was time to bite the bullet and install Lightroom and Photoshop. I have windows 7 but there was no indication that I needed to install any special version of Adobe. So I went ahead and installed Creative Cloud. Not a good idea. My computer started to go crazy and froze. So I gave up for the day.
On Sunday my computer was ok so I heaved a sigh of relief. I even managed to do some edits, including this one. But I couldn’t use Photoshop – Windows kept shutting it down. But my relief didn’t last long. My computer just froze again.
Yesterday I couldn’t even do anything. The mouse was on strike. But I managed to start up in safe mode with networking, which meant I could check my emails and do my blog. Afterwards I then unistalled Creative Cloud and all it’s apps.
Then, holding my breath I restarted Windows. Phew, it was working. So I reinstalled Creative Cloud and Lightroom. This time I didn’t have any problems with the install and Lightroom works like a dream. I haven’t tried to do Photoshop yet. When I googled this problem, it seemed that there were a lot of others in the same boat as me. Adobe are not exactly helpful either. I have read that I needed to reduce my CPU out put or something weird like that, but I don’t want to fiddle around with my computer too much.
Anyway onto this image. I have had this on my computer for a while and wanted to do something with it. It was taken during the golden hour in the evening. We had just had a great sunset with really strong colours. I tried to increase the clarity and sharpen it. There is not a lot more I could do in that direction. But I want to go down a more creative path with this one, which is why I want Photoshop. But it is also a good one to learn more about Lightroom as well. This means playing around with saturation and colour hues and not just what I normally do. If I can’t get Photoshop then I have to try with GIMP.
As usual any constructive criticism is welcome. Any advice is really welcome.
https://robynsfineart.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/one-four-challenge-march-week-1/
https://lensaddiction.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/one-four-challenge-march-wk-1/
https://bastetandsekhmet.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/one-four-challenge-week-one-march-2-2015/
https://aperture64.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/one-four-challenge-winter-fork-in-the-road/
One Four Challenge – March Week 1
Thanks for visiting.
decocraftsdigicrafts 
What a nice choice to be captivated with.
LikeLike
Thanks. It is a thorny problem for me at the moment.
LikeLike
I’m reading about that. 😦 You did a new WP theme?
LikeLike
Yes. But not really happy with the colours. Still thinking about it. Toooooo pink.
LikeLike
But I like the wider writing space.
LikeLike
Yes, the photos are larger too.
LikeLike
Did you get my link to you…just now? lol
I know….it’s not funny 😦
LikeLike
No, what have you done?
LikeLike
https://ladysighs.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/does-this-look-familiar/
LikeLike
Thanks so much. I had a good laugh and it has given me a much needed lift.
LikeLike
Sometimes that’s all we can do.
LikeLike
I just have to laugh, before I throw the computer out of the window.
LikeLike
Wow I have been using Photoshop for 10 years and never heard of any problems like you have had.
The photo has potential maybe with photoshop’s blur reduction filter some of the softness can be tightened up. Looking forward to the different versions in the coming week.
LikeLike
There is definitely potential in this photo. This is my daughter’s old computer. It is about 2 years old. She got a Mac after it refused to accept Photoshop. I will keep at it though. The older versions of Photoshop are not a problem. The problem is with Photoshop CC for some unknown reason. That is what I have found with googling it.
LikeLike
If CS6 could run then CC should from the specs but CS4 may have run on the comp without problems because the specs were less taxing. CC needs 2 gig ram and 2ghz processor minimum. Lightroom needs less power but that may change in march with the upgrades planned.
LikeLike
That is interesting. I have 4 gigs RAM. But only 1.9 ghz processor. Maybe that is why.
LikeLike
Possibly could be why, the only option (and I would only do this if you feel comfortable) is to over clock your processor.
LikeLike
I saw that on one of the blogs. Will wait for my son to do something with it. He seems to know where all the tutorials are.
LikeLike
Hi Raewyn, Good luck with LR… I am about to take the plunge too!
On my screen, your image seems a bit out of focus. If it is, then not sure what you can do to reduce the blur. But it could just be my laptop!
LikeLike
Yikes! That sounds so frustrating. I think your image turned out nicely and I like the title you have it. It seems appropriate, especially after reading your struggles 🙂 I look forward to what you are going to do next with this image!
LikeLike
A nice choice for this challenge!
LikeLike
A lovely image and a great edit .. love the golden hour it’s always so rewarding!
I’m so sorry you had all these problems with the computer … I had a similar problem when i tried with GIMP … not quite as bad but I guess I had to tweak or maybe the edition I tried was just too heavy for my computer .. thing is I didn’t really want to spend hours on a forum trying to figure what was wrong so … I’m not using it just now .. but will certainly give it another whirl, once i get over the trauma.
LikeLike
Great colours and textures to be working with! Looking forward to various versions 🙂
LikeLike
Gosh Raewyn, you poor thing – sounds like a massive conflict going on in your computer. They’re great when they work aren’t they?! Hoping you can sort it out and I’m glad you at least have LR to work with.
Can’t wait to see what you do with this image – the tones are so lovely and I definitely think this image lends itself to an artful approach. Looking forward to the journey!
LikeLike
Nowadays I almost dread getting a new program with all the problems it can cause (and dread a new computer with all the problems it causes with the older programs). My current decision is to stick with CS5 while I’m on my current computer and will only upgrade when I decide to get a new computer which probably won’t be for another four years.
Really like your prickly image, especially the pinky orange colouring. You can definitely get pretty artsy with this one!
LikeLike