The third image I entered in the 2022 Iowa State Fair is titled Twirling Swinging Bridge” This image was submitted in the “Anything Goes” class, which means the image is to be dramatically computer enhanced or radically altered. This type of processing is something I do for fun. I have used this type of processing on several images, but Twirling Swinging Bridge has captured the most attention on social media.

The image was radically altered in Adobe Photoshop using the twirl filter. With this filter l find it best to use multiple layers and save the file as a photoshop file. One time, I failed to save the file with all the layers and saved it as a .jpg file after merging the layers. Oops! I wanted to change something and couldn’t. I tried to recreate the image again, but guess what? The filter never works the same way twice! I was unable to duplicate my original enhancements. Lesson learned.

Often I am asked what the original imaged looked like. Below is Twirling Swinging Bridge and Swinging Bridge in Spring.

I have photographed this scene in all seasons. Making a black and white image of this scene still dances around in my head. But the vision I have, well let’s say, it might not be so easy to get to this location to make that vision come to life.

There was an image on display for this class that the photographer had used the twirl filter in Adobe Photoshop. What was different from my image? The colors were all primary, red, blue, green and yellow. And the image was more geometric. It reminded me of patterns I made using Spirograph from the 1970’s. Did you have a Spirograph?

I’ll never know why at least one judge like the other image over mine. And yes, it stings to know that someone who used the same technique had an image on display and mine didn’t make the cut. I keep reminding myself it is a tough competition and this year only 29% of the images submitted were chosen for display.

There will be one more image for me to write about, so stay tuned! Until then, leave me a comment on your thoughts about Twirling Swinging Bridge.