Paper White

Gallery: FloraPosted January 8, 20114,533 views9 comments

This potted narcissus paper white is located in a bay window in our kitchen. Since the weather is overcast and the contrast manageable, I attempted this shot.

The camera is facing out the window with the flower back lit. I decided to use HDR to level out the contrast. This is the result of 5 exposures using my Canon 50D, EF 100/2.8 USM Macro set at ISO 100, f/4. The camera was mounted on my Bogen 3221 tripod with RRS ballhead and I used a remote release.

Once the 5 exposures were processed in Photomatix, I imported the file into PS CS4, ran the Noise Ninja plug in and then processed in my usual fashion.

Thanks for taking a look and commenting!

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 8, 2011 at 8:34 PM

Has a somewhat surreal mood to it Jim and I like that. I also like the glow surrounding some of the bg flowers. The HDR work is appropriately subdued for my tastes and I like that too. I'm having trouble with the image though and I'm trying to figure out what it is. In general I think the bg is too busy for the subject, not over poweringly so but enough to compete with the subject flower and be a distraction to it. In particular the shape of the grey areas and the brown sepal? leading off to the left and beneath the subject are drawing my eye away from the bloom. May just be me though. I'll be interested in the comments that come in. I do like your processing and the back lighting a lot.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Lori Kincaid on January 8, 2011 at 8:59 PM

Interesting--I never would've thought to do HDR in this situation. The processing looks quite good--better than a lot of landscape HDR I see--but I wonder if you could've had as good or better results by simply bouncing some light in with a reflector. Regardless, I really like the delicate texture in the foreground flower.

Lori

Registered on November 15, 2003, 90 Posts, 2033 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on January 8, 2011 at 9:40 PM

Thanks for the comments!

I too had thought of using a reflector but decided to give HDR a try. I'll try this shot again with a reflector and see what I can do about the BG.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on January 8, 2011 at 11:24 PM

Jim, I like the context that the bg provides, but I, too, am having a little difficulty with this image. I think it is because the bg is brighter then the main bloom. If the brightness were reversed, I think that would really enhance this shot. A reflector could be the answer. The focus is dead on! Great job on the HDR, excellent idea!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

Jim:
The thumbnail did not reflect the image and I glad I opened it. It such a surprise to see the details in the petals with the sparkles and radiating lines. Great HDR work. Actually I tried the HDR today but did not end up with anything like this. The bg here is a little distracting and I am wondering if darkening it may help.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 9, 2011 at 1:19 PM

Jim, I like your subject flower very much--delicate and translucent. I think the BG is somewhat busy and distracts the eye from the subject.

Thanks for including info on your processing techniques.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 9, 2011 at 8:48 PM

Hi Jim

love the beautiful soft B.G.. But it competes a bit with the main subject.. The petals are marvelous with their color and luminescence.

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 10, 2011 at 12:29 PM

I really like your choice of pof and dof with this one, Jim! Great lighting as well.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on January 13, 2011 at 2:31 AM

Very nice POV Jim, i agree with Anne bout switching the brightness i think it'll make this a stunner

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments