Posted by Lon Overacker on August 6, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Finally got my film back and here's my first scan. This is the image I was focused on in the LF Geeks comical image Harley posted last week.
I had envisioned a b&w from the start and I think it works pretty well. The color isn't too bad either. I took two images, one at f/64 for depth and the other wide open at f/9 focusing just on as many leaf tips as I could get. This I think works better than the other one with more dof.
Disclosure challenge: A somewhat significant area of this image has been cloned in. It's about a triangle's half of a 250 sq pixel chunk of the 1100px total; somewhere in the frame. Can you find it? Rather than actually use the clone or healing tools, I duplicated the background, transform>rotate and moved the bg to "fill" part of the image. Then masked/painted it all to smooth it in. Fortunately because of the soft focus and shallow dof, it blends in pretty well, but somewhat obvious once you find it.
Ooh...love those contrasty edges...gives the same impression as a long exposure in the dark of someone moving a flashlight to leave patterned light trails1
Lon,
OK, so although I get the idea behind rotating the BG, I have no idea how to do it, and I cannot detect the conversion you mentioned. So, I would think that's a good thing then.
Beyond the technical it just makes for a wonderful piece of work to me. I truly think the shallow DOF works best here, but not seeing the other one or the color version I would have to assume that was your feeling as well. The perspective along with the shallow DOF seems to keep one looking throughout the scene, which is again a good thing IMO.
This is very cool, Lon! I like the way the bright edges mimic the sharp focus and the darker areas go soft. Very well done. You are thinking more and more in B&W, based on your posts.
I think it is a fabulous image. The contrast between the sharp focused fronds and the blurry ones really works. Great job. My only suggestion is to see what it would look like if you selectively lightened up (ever so slightly) the dark recesses of the fronds on the top part of the image, which are lighter than the bottom. It might not work, but I'd be curious...
Wonderful imagemaking, Lon. Fine results. I respectfully decline your offer to examine this close enough to find a clone spot, since I'd rather enjoy it at it's full initial impact. I, too, clone small areas of images to fix holes and repair places that need to be uniform for me to achieve my photographic vision. Once I do, I rarely ever go back and try to find that spot, and hope to forget all about it. And, I don't think it's necessary to disclose your techniques, although I do respect your willingness to do so.
Hey Lon,
Very intriguing image. I like the sharp focused fronds and then they drop out of focus. Keeps my eyes wondering throughout the image. Great job on the cloning, I can not see it. Nice work.
Discussion
8 repliesI had envisioned a b&w from the start and I think it works pretty well. The color isn't too bad either. I took two images, one at f/64 for depth and the other wide open at f/9 focusing just on as many leaf tips as I could get. This I think works better than the other one with more dof.
Disclosure challenge: A somewhat significant area of this image has been cloned in. It's about a triangle's half of a 250 sq pixel chunk of the 1100px total; somewhere in the frame. Can you find it? Rather than actually use the clone or healing tools, I duplicated the background, transform>rotate and moved the bg to "fill" part of the image. Then masked/painted it all to smooth it in. Fortunately because of the soft focus and shallow dof, it blends in pretty well, but somewhat obvious once you find it.
Larger 1100px version here.
Anyway, would love to hear your comments on this image.
Thanks!
Lon
4x5, 300mm racked out to about 22", V100, f/9 @1s
OK, so although I get the idea behind rotating the BG, I have no idea how to do it, and I cannot detect the conversion you mentioned. So, I would think that's a good thing then.
Beyond the technical it just makes for a wonderful piece of work to me. I truly think the shallow DOF works best here, but not seeing the other one or the color version I would have to assume that was your feeling as well. The perspective along with the shallow DOF seems to keep one looking throughout the scene, which is again a good thing IMO.
--P
Very intriguing image. I like the sharp focused fronds and then they drop out of focus. Keeps my eyes wondering throughout the image. Great job on the cloning, I can not see it. Nice work.
Simply a fantastic image. Flipping and free transforming... just amazing. Thanks for sharing and best regards.