Project 52 by Frank Miller

[Letrow]

I was out looking in the Devil’s Shop window and came across a few Saturday Afternoon Delights that caught my eye so I thought I’d try my hand at capturing the essence of Chocolate, Caramel, and Nuts.











Your thoughts?

Would you tend to pick a favorite based on what you like to see? - or what you like to eat!

Like to see in this case. The second one looks great Frank, very appetizing!

[FrankMi]

Thank you Chuck and Peter for your feedback!

It takes some serious resolve to take the time to get the image first, then devastate the arrangement!

Six shoots to go and only 3 weeks left. Seven if you count the 53rd Sunday in December!

[Kris V]

Send me whatever is on #3!

[FrankMi]

Send me whatever is on #3!

LOL! I watched them make some of these Kris. For #3 they took a tray of walnuts and used a funnel to spread hot caramel, then hot chocolate. As it was cooling they added a sprinkling of rock sugar. Yummy-licious!

[FrankMi]

Continuing on with the food theme and adding a dash of Art and the Christmas spirit, this is Anne Bailey’s entry and the first place winner in the Grove Park Inn’s Gingerbread House Competition.

The halogen lighting was very harsh and I had to shoot through the glass window of the display case. The exhibit was on a rotating platform and surrounded by mirrors so that you could see it from all sides but this also meant that I couldn’t avoid showing up in the mirror either!

There was obviously a bit if post processing required to get my reflection out of the image but I thought the display was worthwhile to photograph even if it has technical ‘issues’. This image definitely crosses the line from reality to art. None the less, I hope you enjoy seeing how someone can raise their love of cooking to an art form!



The second arch in the background was added from a second shot and is what you would have seen in the mirror of the display case.

[CLK]

Great shot and PP, the detail in the creation is astounding.

[jprzybyla]

Superb, detail, color. Frank your post processing allows one to see what is possible and to strive for. Maybe someday...

[Letrow]

Nice work Frank, this must have been a difficult photo to PP. The difference in lighting is something that shows up between the two arches, that is the only thing that catches my eye really.

[FrankMi]

Thank you for the kind words Connie and Joe.

Good catch Peter!

I should have remembered that from making the same mistake on previous images. I was paying more attention to trying to get the door detail, particularly the door latch, to be visible and forgot about the shadow. I guess, given the multiple halogen light sources in the case, that both shadows could have been visible. In reality though, I was more interested in beings to show the detail on the back of the arch than in making the image realistic.

This is what it looked like SOOC for one of the three shots I was able to get. You can see reflections and glare that would ruin the enjoyment of this beautiful piece of edible sculpture.

[FrankMi]

I have wanted to do a ‘real’ HDR image for some time where the EV range was large enough to require tone-mapping techniques. My choice for this project was the 380’ long Buck Springs Tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. This is what I started with and from here I took several images at different exposure levels trying to capture the correct exposure for each part of the scene as I saw it.



The 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway has a total of 26 vehicle tunnels. The majority of the tunnels were designed to avoid scaring the mountainsides that open cuts would have produced. They are used in areas of steep terrain where ridges run perpendicular to the roadway alignment.

The tunnels were started in the 1930’s and when concrete lining was done during construction to control tunnel cave-ins, the lining was also discovered that it enhanced the tunnel’s interior lighting. The lining also eliminated most of moisture entering the tunnel in the winter that would cause ice problems.

The tunnels are not illuminated so this image is done entirely with natural light. I would have liked to get a some motorcycles leaning into the curve while exiting the tunnel but their appearance was extremely random so I didn’t have the camera configured properly to capture them as they flew by in the darkness. Mainly I was trying to avoid getting hit!

After merging the images in post processing, the result came out looking like this...



My goal was to capture the exposure range, but more importantly to me, to try to get a pleasing composition. I hope you like it!

[Donald]

As others have referred to, it's the fact that you can get that image out of the situation you had to work with, that is truly amazing. The artistry of the lady who created that thing is also, indeed, something to be astounded by.

[CLK]

I think you have done an incredible job with the tunnel. It would have been a really tricky task to keep yourself safe while photographing.

[FrankMi]

As others have referred to, it's the fact that you can get that image out of the situation you had to work with, that is truly amazing. The artistry of the lady who created that thing is also, indeed, something to be astounded by.

It was a challenge Donald, that’s for sure. I don’t think it would have been practical without the availability of masks and layers.

[FrankMi]

I think you have done an incredible job with the tunnel. It would have been a really tricky task to keep yourself safe while photographing.

Thank you Connie! I think I spent a lot of time hugging the tunnel wall as there wasn't enough clearance to set up a tripod, so the images were hand-held while 'hugging the wall' to get camera stability!

[Donald]

Mainly I was trying to avoid getting hit!

That seems a reasonable enough objective!

What you have done here is demonstrated to us all just what true HDR work is about and how it can be used to creatre realistic images rather than the very over-tonemapped images that many associate with the application of HDR principles and techniques.

[Cantab]

...After merging the images in post processing, the result came out looking like this...



My goal was to capture the exposure range, but more importantly to me, to try to get a pleasing composition. I hope you like it!

Wow! A great picture.

[FrankMi]

I agree Donald. To me it is the final result that counts but there are times when I am still learning that the result just isn't all that good!

[FrankMi]

Thank you for the encouragement Bruce!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Now that I've started delving into PhotoShop and playing with masks and layers I have an even greater appreciation of your talent Frank. Great job!

[FrankMi]

Now that I've started delving into PhotoShop and playing with masks and layers I have an even greater appreciation of your talent Frank. Great job!

It wasn't that long ago that I knew less about layers than you do now. You'll get there my friend.

Thank you for the kind comments Malcom.