Dirty lens

[QNormal]

Several questions:
1. What can I do (using GIMP) to get rid of the lint objects that were on my lens?
2. If I don't have a lens cleaning kit (which I don't), what is a safe, effect method of cleaning my lens?
3. Other than the lent, what is good or bad about this picture?

[jallas]

Originally Posted by QNormal

Several questions:
1. What can I do (using GIMP) to get rid of the lint objects that were on my lens?
2. If I don't have a lens cleaning kit (which I don't), what is a safe, effect method of cleaning my lens?
3. Other than the lent, what is good or bad about this picture?

1. Hmm not sure about GIMP, I've never really used it - do you know if it has a cloning tool like in photoshop? If not, you can copy a small section of the colour you want it to be and paste over, then some blurring or something to blend it in

2. I believe you can get your camera/lens cleaned at a camera store, and I think it's free... If not, hmm I just did a quick google for maybe some "home cleaning tutorial" but I couldn't find anything really, everywhere says the same, cleaning fluid, cleaning cloth etc etc. It might be best to take it to a camera store and ask their advice, how it's done, what you need etc. They'll probably do it for you and show you how it's done, which is helpful. It is expensive but I guess it's worth it, a clean lens is important

3. The sky is amazing! I might even say, perfect I reallly like how blue it is, and the clouds look so soft and pretty! I don't know if it's been edited in any way, but to me the whiteness of the clouds looks just on the edge of being blown-out (ie, if they were made any more white it would have ruined it) but because it's not gone over, it looks so great.

The composition is good and it's a lovely photo, however if we're suggesting stuff, I would suggest that it might look better with the tower straight? At the mo it's kind of leaning towards the right, but it looks a bit unnatural. There should be a straightening tool in your image editing software to sort this

[jaydubyasee]

QNormal,

There is a clone tool within Gimp which should allow you to remove unwanted areas of your photo. It's the icon which looks like a rubber stamp (at least under Linux). Allow your cursor to hover over the icons to find it. There should be plenty of help to describe how to use it.

[Jamesc359]

The GIMP has a clone tool. It's the stamp looking icon with the tool tip "Paint using Patterns or Image Regions", you can press the c key with the main window active to jump right to it.

Anyways, find a similar looking region on the image to the area your about to replace. Hold the control key and click. Then you can paint over the lint. I'd recommend using a "Circle Fuzzy" brush so you blend/feather the edges.

Somethings a single dab (or click) will cover. Other things will require you to make smooth brush strokes, and may even require you to make another pass and/or blend the edges with another stroke.

Tips:

• Make note of the cross hairs that appear. That's the area of the image that you're cloning from.
• It also helps to zoom in to your image. Depending upon your screen size/resolution 400-800% is usually good.
• Be sure to fiddle around with the tool for a little bit. Once you've gotten used to it, it'll be second nature.
• Don't worry about making mistakes. If you don't like what you've done there is always the undo.
• Sometimes it helps to use another section of the image to blend the borders of the area you just cloned.

[gjtoth]

You can always use the "color chooser" (eye-dropper) then airbrush tool. Works for me.

[clockdoc]

From the larger image in flickr, it appears that you have dust on your camera's sensor inside the camera body and not on the lens. Use Google to search for "sensor cleaning". Nice sky. Did you use a polarizing filter?

[QNormal]

I think you are right. I have tried to clean my lens before, to no avail. I thought I might not be doing it the right way.
As for the shot, I used no filter. I adjusted the curves, and put on dodge and overlay layers.

[baseballboy828]

Like clockdoc said, it's not your lens. It's dust on your sensor. Always be sure to the camera off when changing lenses. When the camera is on, there is an electrostatic charge that attracts even more dust. Also, buy yourself a good Giottos rocket blower if you don't have one.