Friday, July 21, 2023

[Dave]

Here's another from my archives (October of 2017). I probably posted it on WetCanvas, most likely in that site's version of the WhatIzIt? thread, but I doubt anyone here would remember it. Maybe I should post it in the WhatIzIt? thread here.

Anyway, I completely reworked it last night: a new crop, rotated, and several layers to tweak the values here and there. It kinda looks to me like an alien creature in a low budget SF movie or like one of the lurid cover illustrations found on early Sci-Fi books.

   

So far the Women's World Cup games have been rather low-scoring, but exciting nonetheless. And there have been a couple of results that surprised me. I'm looking forward to tonight (6:00 PM my time), when the USA has it's first game, against Vietnam. Should be an easy win to get the two-time defending champions off to a good start.

I forgot to add my prediction for the game. This is Vietnam's first trip to the WWC and their World ranking is #32 - not bad but several notches below the elite teams. They appear to have 2 or 3 very good attackers, so they might score against the USA. But the return of Ertz really strengthens the US defense. And I think Vietnam's defense will have trouble against the US offense. I'm calling it a US win by a score of 7 to 1.

[Man From Ironbark]

That's a big call, 7 to 1.
Spain are looking good but Norway failed to?

[Adamphotoman]

Interior from our last house in the Maritimes    

[Rich]

Dave, I didn't want the sun to set in HB before you had company but Grant beat me to it! Good manip and I think you are right, other worldly! I have been watching a show on the history channel called SkinWalker Ranch....they are with us!

Grant, awesome home. Did you use a camera with tilt and shift? Nice and square!

[Dave]

MFI,

Yes that's a large differential, so why am I being so daring?

I think the US coach wants to accomplish some specific things in this opening game:

1) Get the win, of course; IMO that is almost assuredly gonna happen. But Vietnam has 3 talented scorers, so a shutout might be hard for the USA to pull off.
2) See how new personnel work with Alex Morgan, who is without her accustomed co-attackers this time. Rapinoe (hampered by an injury) will see limited playing time, but could still make a big impact. This year the US has a number of young, relatively inexperienced, but very skilled attackers, and I think the coach wants to give them the confidence of an easy and big win.
3) Lastly, the coach wants to confirm how strong the defense is. Not as good as their offense, but likely capable of yielding few goals. And the return of Julie Ertz, a dominating and physical midfielder, to the defense is huge.

Given these three goals, I expect the US to try for a dominating win with multiple players scoring multiple goals and the defense yielding zero goaals.

I agree that Spain looked good and that Norway pretty shaky, as did Canada. The converse of this is that Nigeria was impressive too.

And it's great to see both co-hosts win. I see both advancing out of group play; with both having a good chance to finish #1 in their respective groups.

12 minutes to game time - gotta check that the snacks are ready and the beer is cold.

[Man From Ironbark]

Very nice, Grant. Wish I could afford to do it.

Dave, yes I see the game plan but I;m more a wait and see spectator.
The Kiwis are doing well but the Aussies will need Sam Kerr to be fit for play fairly soon if she can. Because as they go up the ladder they'll really need her striking ability.

I don't know what to make of your manip, in regard to whatizit. Maybe a car tail light?
But it is a great manip.

[Dave]

Hi guys.

Grant, that's a very pleasant interior - open and airy. I love the white vs gold color scheme.

Thanks Rich. Skinwalker Ranch does sound eerie.

MFI, well I was pretty far off on my game prediction. Still it was a welcome win to get things off on the right foot, but not all the objectives I posited were achieved.

The Kiwis play Switzerland next, I believe. That should be a good match, and the Kiiwis should advance easily with a win, or maybe even a draw. Yes, I read about Sam Kerr's injury status; I understand she may be back playing by the Aussie's third game against Canada, and I think they have a good chance of advancing to the knock-out rounds. Wouldn't that be something? To have both host nations advance?

England plays Haiti in less than 30 minutes. Despite a rash of injuries to 4 key starters, England should have no problem beating Haiti

My "other-worldly" photo is not a manip; just a photo of an common item shot in unusual lighting conditions. I applied typical processing steps (crop, tweak values, sharpen), but I don't think these make the photo manipulated.

So I think I will cross-post it in the WhatIzIt? thread.

[Adamphotoman]

Grant, awesome home. Did you use a camera with tilt and shift? Nice and square!

I used shift. First all the way left then all the way right. Then stitched together. It took some work but the Realtor said it was important to do it.