Dalmation ?

[Kaye Leggett]

Here is another of my project for this year to photograph flowers grown in my garden. Snowdrops are passed their best and now is the season of the hellebore - I cut a few last weekend and was really struck with their spots - hence dalmation and the conversion to B&W. I wanted a high contrast look to emphasise the spots so would welcome comments on whether you think I've achieved this - I personally think it still needs a little more punch but am not sure how to manage this - so tips/ideas and other C&C appreciated.



Thanks for viewing

[Shadowman]

Very nice, only a hint of shadow.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice Kaye,may be a bit too bright.

[Kaye Leggett]

Very nice Kaye,may be a bit too bright.

Thanks for your comment - Is this better ?

[bnnrcn]

Yes Kaye,details can be seen better and less eye tiring

Thanks for your comment - Is this better ?

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Kaye,

I prefer the second version.

If you want more pop/contrast (on almost any subject), have you tried Local Contrast Enhancement (LCE)?

I might have left a little more space across the top edge if I'd taken this, just so there is a touch more 'above' than 'below' the subject - although I might change my mind when I saw it, perhaps you did too

Cheers,

[Bobobird]

Both versions look good to me.

[Kaye Leggett]

Hi Kaye,

I prefer the second version.

If you want more pop/contrast (on almost any subject), have you tried Local Contrast Enhancement (LCE)?

I might have left a little more space across the top edge if I'd taken this, just so there is a touch more 'above' than 'below' the subject - although I might change my mind when I saw it, perhaps you did too

Cheers,

Thanks for the tip Dave - I will give that a go.

Thanks for viewing Bobo

[Mike Buckley]

I prefer the second one also.

To address the question you asked about whether the high-contrast treatment emphasizes the dots, yes it does. The suggestion Dave made pertaining to using LCE will probably take that to yet another level.

The thing that I find missing is that the lighting doesn't display the shape of the subject. If you create soft shadows, the softness of the shadow wont be a distraction though the shadows will make the subject appear more three-dimensional.

You liked the lighting in my photo of a wine bottle. Imagine how two-dimensional the bottle would have looked if the label and foil had been lit with no shadows. Indeed, to perhaps make the bottle appear even more three-dimensional, I could have added a a white reflection to the glass part of the bottle, which in effect would have somewhat rendered the other parts of the glass to be in shadow.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Mike. We have a rainy day forecast again tomorrow so I'll go and grab a couple more flowers and experiment more with the lighting then.

[Kaye Leggett]

Got a chance this afternoon before the rugby...and here is a sample of the latest shots, trying a little more shadow and local contrast enhancement - its getting there but I still want a little more black without overbrightening - so any more thoughts welcome please...

[Mike Buckley]

The easiest way to make the blacks darker without affecting the mid-tones and bright tones is to adjust the tone curve so only the dark tones are affected. If your software allows you to use control points on the curve, that will be possible.

I see in this last one that the petals are at least somewhat translucent. Experiment with back lighting.

[Downrigger]

Awfully good now, to me, Kay. Better being the enemy of the good and all that. The black spots seem almost to have come forward of the petals as is.

[Mike Buckley]

I agree with Mark's comment about the dark tones. It just now occurred to me that you can make the dark areas of the flowers look darker by using a lighter frame. The black part of the frame will make anything look lighter that isn't as dark as it is.

[Kaye Leggett]

Experiment with back lighting.

And so today I did - thanks for the suggestion...

[Mike Buckley]

This last image is by far my favorite because it has the best three-dimensional look without sacrificing any strengths of your earlier versions. Also, unlike your previous frames, this one complements rather than competes with the subject.

I wonder if you have considered using exactly the opposite post-processing that emphasizes the delicacy and fragility of the flower rather than the pop and detail. That would be accomplished using less sharpening and greater emphasis of the mid tones. Just a thought.

[Wavelength]

I really like this flower and how you saw it; in the first image, she has an attitude
second one is simpe and equally nice

[Kaye Leggett]

This last image is by far my favorite because it has the best three-dimensional look without sacrificing any strengths of your earlier versions. Also, unlike your previous frames, this one complements rather than competes with the subject.

Thank you and for your suggestion on the frame - as you surise it is something I am playing with also

I wonder if you have considered using exactly the opposite post-processing that emphasizes the delicacy and fragility of the flower rather than the pop and detail. That would be accomplished using less sharpening and greater emphasis of the mid tones. Just a thought.

Interestingly I had that thought this morning but decided not to get side tracked. I dabbled with the technique last spring and do need to revisit it - so watch this space.....

[Mike Buckley]

Interestingly I had that thought this morning but decided not to get side tracked.

If rendering a completely look has the potential to sidetrack you on whatever you happen to be pursuing at the moment, I encourage you to stick with that pursuit. You can always try a different look weeks or months from now.