Iwanna Iguana

[FrankMi]

Continuing with my quest to improve the three-dimensional look to certain types of images, I was able to get very close to this Iguana. Apparently he/she was expecting to get fed. I even had one go right over my leg as I was sitting on the rocks when someone offered banana to these guys!

For this image there was almost no post processing needed.

[Digital]

Frank, nice capture.


Bruce

[chauncey]

I might submit Frank that the key to that 3-D look is having the entire subject in absolutely crispy focus
as well as having a nicely blurred background...something like you have in this image.

[NorthernFocus]

Mission accomplished. Excellent. Can't get any sharper/clearer on an eye than that. Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

Wonderful image. The 3-D effect for me is due to the lighting. It's just diffuse enough that all of the detail is revealed yet the areas in shadow reveal the third dimension.

By the way, I like this one in monochrome even better than in color.

[John 2]

Nice capture Frank. Beautifully crisp.

[Dave Humphries]

Very nice Frank

There's nothing quite like getting close to cut down the PP requirement

Cheers,

[FrankMi]

Frank, nice capture.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce!

I might submit Frank that the key to that 3-D look is having the entire subject in absolutely crispy focus as well as having a nicely blurred background...something like you have in this image.

So, a sharp subject with significant DoF to blur the background helps! Thanks for the feedback William. I'm making a list of attributes that seem to contribute to the 3D 'look'.

Mission accomplished. Excellent. Can't get any sharper/clearer on an eye than that. Nicely done.

Much appreciated feedback Dan! The eye was about the only area I did any post processing and that was just to gently lighten the iris.

Wonderful image. The 3-D effect for me is due to the lighting. It's just diffuse enough that all of the detail is revealed yet the areas in shadow reveal the third dimension.

Ah! Now that is something I hadn't previously considered Mike. I can now see where, in an image like this, being able to pickup detail in the shadows contributes to the sense of image depth. Another item for my list. I'll need to see if I have any other images in the set that might benefit from these suggestions. Thanks Mike!

Nice capture Frank. Beautifully crisp.

Very much appreciated John!

Very nice Frank

There's nothing quite like getting close to cut down the PP requirement

You were right on about getting in close to increase the 3D feeling. I wonder if it is due to the level of detail that can be seen when the subject is closer to the camera? Thanks Dave, I'll play with that approach a bit more!

A great learning exercise! To summarize what we are seeing...

Keep the subject tack sharp.
Use strong DoF to blur the background.
Make sure the eyes are very sharp and detailed.
Avoid muddy shadows, make sure the detail in the shadows is clearly seen.
Get in close so that all the detail is visible and from previous comments, avoid the flat look that a zoomed telephoto lens would produce.

Thanks everyone! Time to get out and try a few more like this!

[Mike Buckley]

Use strong DoF to blur the background.

That depends on the subject. As one example, if the subject is a single object that fills the frame, blurring the background will work. As another example, if the subject is a set of railroad tracks receding into the distance, the tracks seem to be closer and closer together the farther away they are. We know they are the same distance apart from each other, but that perspective displays the three-dimensional look best when extensive depth of field is used.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[Manfred M]

Frank - an excellent capture and a great example as to how to achieve depth in a 2-D image.

In terms of what you have accomplished and how this adds the extra dimension; I suspect that the compositional choices you made are the reason for this effect:

1. The capture of the iguana is great - absolutely sharp everywhere, especially that all important eye;

2. The soft, out-of-focus background to contrast the sharply focused subject; and

3. I thing that the warm tones of the iguana against the cool toned background help differentiate the subject from the background even more, adding to the perception of depth.

[FrankMi]

Frank - an excellent capture and a great example as to how to achieve depth in a 2-D image.

In terms of what you have accomplished and how this adds the extra dimension; I suspect that the compositional choices you made are the reason for this effect:

1. The capture of the iguana is great - absolutely sharp everywhere, especially that all important eye;

2. The soft, out-of-focus background to contrast the sharply focused subject; and

3. I thing that the warm tones of the iguana against the cool toned background help differentiate the subject from the background even more, adding to the perception of depth.

Thanks Manfred! I'll add your comment about the subject/background tonal differences to my list of attributes to be aware of as I search for subjects with 3D attributes to photograph.