Up Close and Personal - RE-POST

Gallery: FloraPosted July 15, 2014597 views7 comments

This lovely spray of Orchids was a house gift not long ago.

It's been godawful hot and I've enjoyed being indoors in the afternoons shooting.

I'm contemplating getting a Katz Split Prism and decided to see what I could do if in fact, I send my Nikon off to get the prism. This is the result. The image was taken with a small Leica P&S camera that I have; the noise level is high but the small camera permitted me to get closer to the Orchid spray.

This image was taken with a Leica D-Lux 4 2 1/60 second hand-hod, f/4, ISO 80, Spot metering with a flash.

On Zenfolio, you can see the results of an image shot with the D700 and a 105mm lens at 6/10ths s, ISO 200, pattern mattering, manual focus, f/10. The image is simply called, An Orchid.

Now, if I could only combine these two images. . . I like the focus on "An Orchid"; I like the composition on "Up Close and Personal."

Feedback on the images, Katz Split prisms, techniques for eliminating noise on the D-Lux 4 would be very welcome.

Regards to all,

Carol

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on July 16, 2014 at 7:07 PM

Carol - For me Image Making needs to be simple, as simple as possible. I have no issues focussing through traditional screens. I personally doubt Katz will do any difference to my images. But I could be wrong.

I personally like the photo shown here than the one linked (An Orchid). "An Orchid" has out of focus areas that I find somewhat distracting. I do not know if the background was intentional here, if not, I'd have preferred something without the objects seen currently

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 16, 2014 at 7:39 PM

Carol, I would be a lot happier with this in better light. The flash is too harsh, I think, for the delicate subject, although I do see some detail in the larger image. I agree with Ram on the background. As for noise, I use NIK define 2, the best I have seen of all the ones, including Photoshop, that I have used. On a photo like this it would work admirably by selectively using it, either on a masked layer or applied with a brush.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on July 16, 2014 at 10:26 PM

Carol, I can't offer any opinion about the filter since I don't know what it is. As to noise reduction, I'm such a PS illiterate that I do everything possible in the field to make sure noise is as minimal as possible. I also find the BG elements a little distracting.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 17, 2014 at 8:08 PM

The center of the larger flower has nice detail. The light seems a bit drab and there are some things in the background that are distracting.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on July 17, 2014 at 8:24 PM

Thank you for your comments. I've re-posted this image after masking the flower and modifying the light, just a tad. I can see the background on my own computer but can't see it here on the 'net. You guys have better eyes than mine, but I think the masking has handled that problem.

Sorry that no one has any experience with Katz split prisms.

Best wishes,
Carol

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

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on July 19, 2014 at 6:46 AM

Can't comment on the technics, Carol, but like both images. An Orchid is simply gorgeous - beautifully focused and with fine tonal range. I love the drama of this image - the slightly mysterious quality about the hints of background furniture and the powerful contrasting shades of light and dark. The comp is excellent.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 23, 2014 at 12:00 PM

Hi Carol

The lighting and BG. adds another dimension to this image. there is a mysterious mood that you have projected here..

Albert Darmo
Canada

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