Posted by Brad Mangas on March 14, 2008 at 1:52 PM
I have numerous images that seem be good but in my opinion lack something. I feel many of them lack the sharpness of detail that I see in many other photographers images. So I have started going thru them in hopes of seeing them in a different way.(As per my last post trying to convert to b&w, Thank you Tim E. for your advice)Possibly post processing them differently. I recently read about a Photoshop technique described by Reyns Wim where he explained how to apply a soft focus to an image. (Invert the image, apply a soft light blend mode and adjust with high pass filtering). This works real well with many type of flora images. So that got me interested in some of my own images that my benefit from not the super sharp details but this type of soft focus feel.
This shot was taken in late Nov. '07 right across from where I live in Topeka. I thought I had missed the best opportunity to capture the full moon, but I just had to grab my camera and go see what I could quickly capture. The sky was slightly hazy and I knew I wanted to include these tall pines in my shot. I had been trying to sharpen the image up with lack luster results. So here is the result of applying the soft focus technique.
I wanted to share it and get some feedback so you comments as always are very welcomed.
Brad
Posted by Tim Buchanan on March 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Love it, Brad - really, very nice!
Posted by Randy Wilson on March 14, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Looks pretty sweet to me, and is a good example of how an image without any of the normal 3D cues can work on its own terms.
Outstanding work. It reminds me of how the studios used to paint a scene on glass and then insert it into the actual shooting to emulate a countryside etc. Of course that was before digital imaging....
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 14, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Brad, I took a quick look at this at work but wanted to wait until I got home for a closer inspection and I'm glad I did. Very nice work, I really like the mood of this shot and the soft focus processing is a home run. Quite artistic!
I really like this image and want to learn more about the technique. It appears that this is an image that might look really wonderful on metallic paper...
Tim!
Posted by Brad Mangas on March 16, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Thanks everyone for the kind comments, I believe this image will definitely find a spot on my wall.
Tim M. as for learning this technique, it is explained on Reyns Wim website. Here is the link to it. Just go to articles and he has step by step how to apply this soft focus technique. Have fun! http://www.reynsphoto.com/news.php
Discussion
9 repliesThis shot was taken in late Nov. '07 right across from where I live in Topeka. I thought I had missed the best opportunity to capture the full moon, but I just had to grab my camera and go see what I could quickly capture. The sky was slightly hazy and I knew I wanted to include these tall pines in my shot. I had been trying to sharpen the image up with lack luster results. So here is the result of applying the soft focus technique.
I wanted to share it and get some feedback so you comments as always are very welcomed.
Brad
I really like this image and want to learn more about the technique. It appears that this is an image that might look really wonderful on metallic paper...
Tim!
Tim M. as for learning this technique, it is explained on Reyns Wim website. Here is the link to it. Just go to articles and he has step by step how to apply this soft focus technique. Have fun!
http://www.reynsphoto.com/news.php
Brad