3 pics - 3 styles
Discussion
I went for a short drive yesterday, took the camera with me and came back with these shots. They were taken within 15 minutes of each other and I think they span quite a range in style (if not in subject....). There's some correction and layer work in Photoshop but no filters.
This one almost looks like a painting to me with a little texture and details at the front and very soft and blurred in the background.
Much more "techy" with high contrast and sharpness with the super saturated green background.
Black and white seemed to suit this much more subtle image.
What do you think, which style do you like best?
/Magnus
>>> Edited by esprit87 on Tuesday 6th July 15:06
This one almost looks like a painting to me with a little texture and details at the front and very soft and blurred in the background.
Much more "techy" with high contrast and sharpness with the super saturated green background.
Black and white seemed to suit this much more subtle image.
What do you think, which style do you like best?
/Magnus
>>> Edited by esprit87 on Tuesday 6th July 15:06
2 and 3 for me. I like the way 2 gets you looking at the individual blades of grass, and I like the DOF treatment in 3, though the background clouds it a bit IMO.
It's funny how some photos work best in colour and others in monochrome. Sometimes colour gets in the way, sometime it helps. I suppose it depends whether the main aspect of your photograph lies in colour, or in texture and contrast. Only now, in digital-land, am I figuring this out!
It's funny how some photos work best in colour and others in monochrome. Sometimes colour gets in the way, sometime it helps. I suppose it depends whether the main aspect of your photograph lies in colour, or in texture and contrast. Only now, in digital-land, am I figuring this out!
Nice shots!
What did you do to no. 1? Was it this blurry out the camera? It's an interesting effect. It's a shame it wasn't a nice sunny day though, as a deep blue sky in the background would have really made the shot I think!
2 is interesting - the first thing I thought of was that it would make a good image for a table mat! It's surprising how a bit of grass can make such an interesting photo.
3 doesn't really do it for me to be honest - there's a bit too much space on the right IMO, but I reckon a vertical shot would have been much more interesting.
What did you do to no. 1? Was it this blurry out the camera? It's an interesting effect. It's a shame it wasn't a nice sunny day though, as a deep blue sky in the background would have really made the shot I think!
2 is interesting - the first thing I thought of was that it would make a good image for a table mat! It's surprising how a bit of grass can make such an interesting photo.
3 doesn't really do it for me to be honest - there's a bit too much space on the right IMO, but I reckon a vertical shot would have been much more interesting.
Thanks for the comments guys!
I was really surprised with the way the first one came out of the camera. I didn't expect it to be so soft and "painterly" - I think the effect is because the DOF is so shallow and the focus is a little bit into the field, the foreground blurs the bottom of the picture - I don't think the shot would have worked if the foreground had been in focus.
To enhance the effect I used Photoshop curves to increase the contrast (especially in the section thats in focus) and adjust the colors. I also blew out what little tone there was in the sky. To boost the saturation I duplicated the background layer and set its blend mode to "overlay". To finish it all off I sharpened it up using unsharp mask.
It's virtually impossible to see in this small picture but on the strands that are in focus you can see drops of water that reflect the light sky and gives the image a little extra "twinkle".
Looking at it now I think it would also benefit if the red triangle (the top of the barns facade) was a bit brighter.
Sorry about the long post but I really enjoy Photoshop and working on the little details in my images....
Not the same picture obviously, but something similar.....
/Magnus
ehasler said:
What did you do to no. 1? Was it this blurry out the camera? It's an interesting effect. It's a shame it wasn't a nice sunny day though, as a deep blue sky in the background would have really made the shot I think!
I was really surprised with the way the first one came out of the camera. I didn't expect it to be so soft and "painterly" - I think the effect is because the DOF is so shallow and the focus is a little bit into the field, the foreground blurs the bottom of the picture - I don't think the shot would have worked if the foreground had been in focus.
To enhance the effect I used Photoshop curves to increase the contrast (especially in the section thats in focus) and adjust the colors. I also blew out what little tone there was in the sky. To boost the saturation I duplicated the background layer and set its blend mode to "overlay". To finish it all off I sharpened it up using unsharp mask.
It's virtually impossible to see in this small picture but on the strands that are in focus you can see drops of water that reflect the light sky and gives the image a little extra "twinkle".
Looking at it now I think it would also benefit if the red triangle (the top of the barns facade) was a bit brighter.
Sorry about the long post but I really enjoy Photoshop and working on the little details in my images....
ehasler said:
Actually, 3 is growing on me, but I'd still like to have seen what it looked like vertically.
Not the same picture obviously, but something similar.....
/Magnus
I like the new B&W one even more.
It lacks detail at the very top but this is actually quite good as it could almost make it look like a tree.
I think it would be improved if the background grass/branches were removed and the ground shown at the base. This was probably not all possible when taking the shot but IMO simplifying it and adding to the height/framing in this way would be perfect.
It lacks detail at the very top but this is actually quite good as it could almost make it look like a tree.
I think it would be improved if the background grass/branches were removed and the ground shown at the base. This was probably not all possible when taking the shot but IMO simplifying it and adding to the height/framing in this way would be perfect.
what's bokeh?
"Bokeh is simply a way to describe how out-of-focus points of light are rendered." according to www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
Do I win?
Do I win?
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