As I said in my early image titled "Mailbox", I usually try to recreated the painting in my mind. But reality is sometimes there are too many distractions in the image. In a painting an artist has the freedom to exclude the busy scene and noisy background to isolate the subject, and may be even touch up with a few extra to enhance the subject, but photographer has no choice but include them all. Although DOF is one way to get rid of them, it may or may not work sometimes. Framing is one alternative to do that, timing of light is another alternative.
Here is an example I want to share with you. In it I used framing to eliminate the noise and busy background and reduce it to the purest form while the warm sunset enhances the image a little.
Thanks for viewing my image. Any comments and suggestions are welcomed.
I really like the colors here with the wildflowers in the front and a few in the hills just above the roof. I also like the light cast on it by sunset and well as the composition 'idea.'
I know you used framing to decluter the image as you mentioned. But the comp still looks cluttered and a bit too chopped in this case for me. Maybe it is because there is almost a full side of the house showing up. It is just doesn't visually flow together. When I scroll off the top of the red roof it looks a little better IMO. Otherwise my eyes go right to the red peeling paint and then out of the frame.
Hi Andre, I can see your general idea behind the capture here and think it has some merit going on for it. Hindsight is always much easier to deal with then making decisions in the field at times. Again, the idea of the framing was not a bad one, but some items of suggestion to look at would be the very upper background above the roof line and the side plant. Both of those items coming in from those areas tend to break a bit of concentration on your plan with framing the main subject of the FG flowers. The roof line area is an easy fix with a crop, however, the side plant is in the scene and would need to stay at this point.
It is hard for me to tell at this size of an image as to whether or not you have obtained clear focus from FG to at least the main wall of the building. You might review Marc Adamus' technique for web sharpening. I think if you sharpen the image correctly for the web it is easier to review overall. Another idea here, as you have some nice light working on the scene, is to use a bit of burn to tone down the highlights on the white wall especially the left window lower area. Our eyes typically have a natural tendency to focus on the lightest spots in an image, again, in this case taking our eyes and thoughts away from the main subject of the flowers in the FG.
Thanks for the advices. I cropped the top and left off and sponged the cornor of the left window. The result does force the focus on the flower in the front. Let me know what you think.
I like this second one better. Less is definately more in this case. And I like the sharpening here. I can make out the flowers more.
Just one more slight tweak might help. Something changed to the (sunset) color on the house in this version. There is a bit less saturation (maybe contrast too?) from the sun which I actually enjoyed in the first one. It told the story a little more I think. Compare the left windows in both and you will see what I mean.
Andre, the second one is much improved, I like the looks of it as well as the sharpening too. I think what Derek is stating is the adjustment to the left window which you mentioned as having sponged it a bit. Actually I think it did help with the overall brightness in that spot and keeps the focus toward the flowers. Nice work to the adjustments overall.
Posted by Andre Torng on March 3, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Hi, Derek & Paul -
Thanks for the suggestions. You guys give me a different look at my image. That starts me thinking differently. Appreciate your help.
Interesting topic. I recently stopped to observe two ladies painting a nearby seascape to see what artistic liberties they took with their pieces. I've always envied the artist's ability to modify a scene for aesthetic reasons. I kind of like what you've done here. Personally I like the overall elements captured in the first image, but I might favor a slight crop off the top to just under the bright portion of the top of the roof. I like the way the red and wood walkway frame the scene. Nice find.
Its funny that you mentined that Eric because I was think the red woudn't be so distracting if cropped were you mentioned it (under the silverly paint chipped part). Thus it would act as the upper frame of the image with a nice accent. Hmm... A lot of interesting possiblities with this one.
Discussion
9 repliesAs I said in my early image titled "Mailbox", I usually try to recreated the painting in my mind. But reality is sometimes there are too many distractions in the image. In a painting an artist has the freedom to exclude the busy scene and noisy background to isolate the subject, and may be even touch up with a few extra to enhance the subject, but photographer has no choice but include them all. Although DOF is one way to get rid of them, it may or may not work sometimes. Framing is one alternative to do that, timing of light is another alternative.
Here is an example I want to share with you. In it I used framing to eliminate the noise and busy background and reduce it to the purest form while the warm sunset enhances the image a little.
Thanks for viewing my image. Any comments and suggestions are welcomed.
I really like the colors here with the wildflowers in the front and a few in the hills just above the roof. I also like the light cast on it by sunset and well as the composition 'idea.'
I know you used framing to decluter the image as you mentioned. But the comp still looks cluttered and a bit too chopped in this case for me. Maybe it is because there is almost a full side of the house showing up. It is just doesn't visually flow together. When I scroll off the top of the red roof it looks a little better IMO. Otherwise my eyes go right to the red peeling paint and then out of the frame.
My 2c,
Derek
It is hard for me to tell at this size of an image as to whether or not you have obtained clear focus from FG to at least the main wall of the building. You might review Marc Adamus' technique for web sharpening. I think if you sharpen the image correctly for the web it is easier to review overall. Another idea here, as you have some nice light working on the scene, is to use a bit of burn to tone down the highlights on the white wall especially the left window lower area. Our eyes typically have a natural tendency to focus on the lightest spots in an image, again, in this case taking our eyes and thoughts away from the main subject of the flowers in the FG.
Thanks for the advices. I cropped the top and left off and sponged the cornor of the left window. The result does force the focus on the flower in the front. Let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Andre
Just one more slight tweak might help. Something changed to the (sunset) color on the house in this version. There is a bit less saturation (maybe contrast too?) from the sun which I actually enjoyed in the first one. It told the story a little more I think. Compare the left windows in both and you will see what I mean.
Derek
Thanks for the suggestions. You guys give me a different look at my image. That starts me thinking differently. Appreciate your help.
Andre