Friday, October 30, 2009

Playing with the possibilities

Black Walnut leaves, California  2009

Black Walnut leaves, California 2009


5 sec at f/16, focal length: 135mm, ISO 50, Aperture Priority, -2/3 EV,
- October 3, 2009 at 10:04am PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, Tripod Mounted


Take the time to explore and play with your post processing, as well as your capturing techniques for that matter. Don't be afraid, or self-conscious. No one has to see your efforts if you don't want them to. But you may find that it will stretch your mind creatively and inspire new thoughts about how to approach your subjects. Push yourself too far, then come back. Try new directions. You'll know when to stop, then realize it wasn't time and keep going. Have fun and play with the possibilities.

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful capture John. Great lighting, form, pattern and texture. Bravo

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  2. Very engaging image John. We all need to spend a little more time in the playground!

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  3. Jim, Juan, and Mark,

    Thanks all for stopping by and for your comments! I developed a few new techniques through exploring with this subject and with this image in particular. It was a very enlightening session!

    Cheers,

    John

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  4. This is excellent, John! I really like the composition, textures and the play of light and shade. Was it shot "as it is" or was it shot of only 1 or 2 leaves and then "composed" during post processing? According to the name of this post I guess that the latter option. It's interesting, it reminds me female body. Thanks for reminding that post processing is a powerful part photo creation process. I hurry from one photo to another too much sometimes.

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  5. Hey Tomas,

    Thanks for joining in! You were right in assuming that the composition was created in post. I should have made that more clear. The bottom row of leaves is the original compostion. Then the center two leaves were duplicated (the center-right one was duplicated twice, so it appears three times). Pretty simple composite but there were quite a bit of layers used to acheive the look.

    It was a pretty involved process, but worth it as I've developed some new post techniques and I like the resulting image!

    Thanks again,

    John

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  6. Indeed, one of my favorites so far. Classic o'con style.

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  7. Adrian Roland DavisAugust 21, 2010 at 5:45 AM

    Beautifully lighted and composed. Sensual, almost human-like quality about it.

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