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The Diamond [+edit]
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The Diamond [+edit]

by John Williams

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 11, 20173,118 views18 comments

Last month I went backpacking with my niece and nephew. I don’t get to see them very often and we were only able to do a quick overnighter. When in the “zen” of scouting, composing, and capturing images I tend to be pretty focused and isolated from those around me, so I purposefully left my cameras at home so I could spend quality time with them.

The good news is, I almost succeeded. I did happen to have my phone with me, however, and couldn't resist this little scene as we made our return hike off the mountain. On the other hand, it only took a couple minutes and I caught right back up with them.

LG G5 Handheld

Comments

18 comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 11, 2017 at 1:16 PM
Beautiful! Kind of a shame you did not get it with a big camera, but at least you got it. Most enjoyable!
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 11, 2017 at 1:46 PM
Nice results for not hauling out the big guns, John. This reminds these days that cell phones can get impressive results, should try it once in a while.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 11, 2017 at 3:04 PM
Absolutely beautiful John.  With a cell phone, huh?  Still absolutely beautiful.  No nits whatsoever.  I only wish you had your big stuff so this could enlarged a bunch.

Thanks fo your hurricane comments.  We're fine here in Pensacola, but my oldest daughter and her family in Winter Haven suffered pretty extensive damage to their house, but everyone is OK.  Houses can be replaced, but people can't.  So sorry to hear about the Gorge; I know that's heartbreaking.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 11, 2017 at 5:07 PM
Great job for a phone, or any type of camera for that matter!  Does the camera capture in RAW?  Could see adding a bit more contrast - looks a little hazy to me.  The shadows could go a little darker on the leaves, maybe add a more 3d feel to the plants.  Really well done.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 11, 2017 at 5:38 PM
John, this is a wonderful scene. The ones we rarely find when were working hard out there with all our normal gear......cool
Well, you still got a really neat image here with the phone setup......enlightened
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 11, 2017 at 7:04 PM
LG eh?  Is that an upgrade from a LF camera? blush Couldn't resist.

Amazing capture, detail etc. with a phone. As they always say, it's the photographer behind the glass, and you've proved that here.

My technical critique is along the lines of Harry's comments.  Maybe some micro contrast adjustments? Additionally, you could bring down the whites/brightness of the little cluster of flowers; you may or may not have more detail there.

I really like your centered comp as well.  Nothing to suggest in that regard.  I'll be your glad you stopped for a moment - otherwise you might always be regretting why you didn't.

Beautiful.

Lon


 
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 11, 2017 at 9:42 PM
Amazing image John.  Love the light regardless how you captured this.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on September 11, 2017 at 11:25 PM
Thanks for the feedback all! Harry, the G5 does shoot in raw and that's the file I worked from for this.

Here's a version with a bit of tweak to the contrast, both overall for the green and more for the white flower as suggested, but I've tried to not go so far that the image becomes too dark overall. (As usual, best to click on the image and view large on a darker background.)
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on September 11, 2017 at 11:46 PM
It is pretty much all about the light...
The comp is all about the photographer,
The technology matters and in this instance this is probably not a printable photograph at any real size.
It still looks very nice...
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on September 12, 2017 at 12:19 AM
I appreciate the comments Dan! I certainly won't argue that technology doesn't matter, and I don't get to print often enough to consider myself a master printer, but here's a 1024 x 768 100% crop for food for thought. (It needs to be clicked on to see actual size.) It would take very careful sharpening (and likely a touch of noise added in the way that Floris van Breugel recommended here on NPN back in the day), but I think I could get a decent 20" x 30" print out of this image, especially if it were on a forgiving medium like canvas? On the other hand, those more experienced with prints than I might be properly horrified at the result. enlightened

Those of you who print a lot, what do you think? The original is 4482 pixels x 2298 pixels. (The G5 takes a longer image, but I cropped it to a 3x2 format.) Looking at this 100% crop, how large do you think it would print and look okay?? 
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 12, 2017 at 8:04 AM
That looks pretty phenomenal at 100%.  I think a large print is possible, very impressive.  Looks a lot better than many of my slide scans.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 12, 2017 at 12:53 PM
John, I prefer the original because it is more open. Perhaps something between the two? The composition is excellent, and I love the color. You did a nice job on this.
--P
 
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on September 12, 2017 at 1:02 PM
I like the original more as well. I think the composition could be better. I would suggest a vertical with the left side on the bottom and a crop of the right side so that the flowers are not centered. That's how I would have done it so that's my suggestion.

PS. Another option might be a square format with the flower centered.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 12, 2017 at 8:17 PM
I marvel at your consistency in composition and light, regardless of the capture device, John. 

Also, you might as well switch to the phone camera at this point.  You've transcended the camera.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on September 13, 2017 at 6:16 PM
Stunning image, John. The centered composition works great. Beautiful processing. Hard to believe this was captured with a cellphone!
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 13, 2017 at 9:58 PM
John: A terrific find, great light and a superb capture. Just goes to prove that its not the gear that counts but the eye. 2 thumbs up! >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on September 14, 2017 at 2:13 PM
Really cool composition.  The centered flower works well vs the high energy flow of the leaves.  I like the original a bit better.  The quality demonstrated in the 100% crop is food for thought.  
Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 20, 2017 at 2:33 AM
Lovely! What a powerful statement this photograph makes. 
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments