2017 Project 52 - 2nd QTR - Sandy(Skitterbug)

[skitterbug]

Both of the edits are looking good.

Thank you Geoff! Maybe one of these days, I'll actually be able to move into a newer camera with more gadgets and settings! <grin> In the meantime, I want to see if the pear tree blossoms have opened. The apples won't be far behind!

[skitterbug]

We have so many plants blooming currently in our landscape. I’m sorry I can’t share the wonderful perfume that these blossoms are producing. Here are a few pics that I like but I would appreciate any help for improvement.

1. Tulip
f/6.3 – 1/4000ss – ISO1600 – 109mm





2. Redbud
f/6.3 – 1/800ss – ISO1600 – 60mm



3. Magnolia bud
f/5.6 – 1/4000ss – ISO1600 – 55mm




I decided I wanted to play a bit with the following two photos. Not sure if these will appeal to anyone, but it was fun doing a bit of experimenting. I really do need to learn how to process photos. For the most part, I like my stuff as realistic as possible but there are times when a different approach is fun to try.

4. Crabapple in color
f/5.0 – 1/4000 – ISO1600 – 55mm




5. Crabapple in B&W

[Shadowman]

Week 16, nice series.

[Geoff F]

Some potentially tricky exposures have been nicely handled with these images. Good focus as well. Worth viewing with the Lightbox setting.

The background in #1 is possibly a bit distracting but what else could be done? I have some printed backgrounds which I sometimes place behind the main subject to hide any problems but they can be awkward to use at times. On occasions I have draped a coat over unwanted items but that usually seems to end up as a recognisable coat!

At least this mesh is in soft focus and a plain colour.

With #2, I wonder if there is too much in the scene? Would a crop from the left side ending up with a 4 x 5 ratio image concentrate more clearly on the main subject? Or lose a fraction from the bottom and left side to retain the current size ratio? A nice crisp focus on a potentially difficult subject.

Plenty of fine detail in #3. Maybe a bit of 'noise' in the background area but not a serious issue.

I'm rarely keen on vignettes and for me that rather strong and obvious working around the Crabapple blossom has spoilt an otherwise excellent image. The bottom area does work but the sky area now looks unnatural. Vignettes, in my opinion, work best when they aren't obvious.

When applying this sort of effect I work with masks on layers and gently brush in the adjustment so it blends unnoticed into the scene.

[skitterbug]

Thank you John! I appreciate hearing from you!

[skitterbug]

Some potentially tricky exposures have been nicely handled with these images. Good focus as well. Worth viewing with the Lightbox setting.

The background in #1 is possibly a bit distracting but what else could be done? I have some printed backgrounds which I sometimes place behind the main subject to hide any problems but they can be awkward to use at times. On occasions I have draped a coat over unwanted items but that usually seems to end up as a recognisable coat!

At least this mesh is in soft focus and a plain colour.

With #2, I wonder if there is too much in the scene? Would a crop from the left side ending up with a 4 x 5 ratio image concentrate more clearly on the main subject? Or lose a fraction from the bottom and left side to retain the current size ratio? A nice crisp focus on a potentially difficult subject.

Plenty of fine detail in #3. Maybe a bit of 'noise' in the background area but not a serious issue.

I'm rarely keen on vignettes and for me that rather strong and obvious working around the Crabapple blossom has spoilt an otherwise excellent image. The bottom area does work but the sky area now looks unnatural. Vignettes, in my opinion, work best when they aren't obvious.

When applying this sort of effect I work with masks on layers and gently brush in the adjustment so it blends unnoticed into the scene.

Hi Geoff ~ I appreciate your feedback! And the encouragement! Thank you!

Not much can be done about the latticework behind the tulips. I suppose I could drag a black backboard out there but I went for what my landscape would give me. Seeing it is a bit distracting but not horrible I suppose. I liked your comment about a coat – still looking like a coat! LOL

It sounds like I am better off leaving vignettes alone. I haven’t learned enough about “masks on layers or brush use” yet to try it. I work in LightRoom mostly and I don’t remember seeing these options in my “work area”. Maybe they are offered and I haven’t picked up on them yet.

I did go back to #2 – the redbud and give it another go. The results are perhaps better?



I am going to be really sad when the trees and spring flowers drop their blossoms. Our landscape is beautiful at the moment.

[Urbanflyer]

Some simple post processing on #1 can make a vast improvement. One of the problems is the high contrast between the black and white of the lattice. By using the magic wand and selecting for the black area, one can replace that color with a neutral gray or something close to the white. The effect retains the texture but is not nearly so distracting. Of course with more work one can replace the background altogether but KISS can work for this one quite nicely.

[Geoff F]

That crop of #2 looks a lot better to me; now there is a definite intended subject.

[skitterbug]

Some simple post processing on #1 can make a vast improvement. One of the problems is the high contrast between the black and white of the lattice. By using the magic wand and selecting for the black area, one can replace that color with a neutral gray or something close to the white. The effect retains the texture but is not nearly so distracting. Of course with more work one can replace the background altogether but KISS can work for this one quite nicely.

What is KISS????

There has to be an easier way then the path I took..... Many hours later and several applications explored:Gimp, Affinity, Luminar, Aurora, LightRoom and the NIK stuff. None of it makes this a couple of steps job. OH and Snapheal which is where I "erased the black holes" and turned the background into something that was more consistent. Then finally back to Affinity where I could grab a tool like the magic wand but called flood selection tool. Next came the flood tool with the color I wanted. Some more touch up and finally this is the result. I thought I'd share it but I don't believe I like it all that much. And I see I missed a tiny bit on the edge of the tulip petal.
I think it would have been easier using Geoff's coat!

[skitterbug]

That crop of #2 looks a lot better to me; now there is a definite intended subject.

Thank you Geoff. I do agree that the crop did bring out my subject -the red-bud tree - as it should.

[skitterbug]

So since I was "photo editing" the tulip, I decided to go back and try again. This probably still isn't professional quality but I've learned a bit more about replacement techniques. Now I have a more natural look since I could be on the ground looking toward this flower seeing only the blossom rather than the lattice work, weeds, etc.
Opinions are welcome!

[Geoff F]

Creating a perfect selection around an object is definitely an art which requires a lot of practice and patience, Sandy. I have seen professional results where they have created a selected object from a portrait, including fine hair!

Putting that sky behind the flower is similar to the results which I have achieved by inserting a printed paper image behind the subject.

[skitterbug]

Creating a perfect selection around an object is definitely an art which requires a lot of practice and patience, Sandy. I have seen professional results where they have created a selected object from a portrait, including fine hair!

Putting that sky behind the flower is similar to the results which I have achieved by inserting a printed paper image behind the subject.

I can see uses for this technique especially when I want to make greeting cards! But it is going to take practice. And patience is a must! This tulip probably took me a full day of "fiddling"! LOL
Thanks for checking it out! I always appreciate your comments!

[skitterbug]

Last full week of April and the honey bees are out working on all the blooms. I tried to catch one in action and after many attempts, feel that this pic isn't too bad. I do believe that I may have ended up focusing more on the leaf behind and to the right of Mr. Bee. But I like that I did catch him in action, had a bit of light in his eye and over all was fairly pleased with the results. So now to see what the group thinks of this one. Suggestions and comments are always appreciated.

Week 17 - ISO1600 - 55 mm - f/22 - 1/125ss

[skitterbug]

I found another one that may show the honey bee a bit better? And now I'm wondering which works best or if they both need to be redone, tossed or okay?

[Geoff F]

For me, Sandy, the second image has more natural colours; they seem a bit harsh in the first image.

And the composition is slightly different with the second one which has a little more space to the left of the main flower with less of the right side leaves. That makes a better balance for me.

Bees of all types are tricky to photograph because they usually flit around faster than I can focus.

[Wavelength]

I really liked the Tulip with that original man-made background..and that crabapple flowers against that blue is so lovely

[skitterbug]

Hi Geoff ~ I cropped the second a bit tighter and got rid of some of the unnecessary foliage that was starting to fade anyway. And I did work with it a little bit in LightRoom and in Viveza 2 but I didn't push it as much as I did in the 1st bee photo. It seemed more natural. You are right about trying to focus on that little worker! He just wouldn't hold still. I'd wish for a bit sharper looking bee! Over all thought, I enjoyed the attempt. You ought to see all of the messed up ones! <chuckle> Or maybe not..... they are in the rubbish bin now!
Thank you for your comments!

[skitterbug]

I really liked the Tulip with that original man-made background..and that crabapple flowers against that blue is so lovely

Hi Nandakumar ~ Thank you for your comments. The tulips were a treat this year. I wasn't sure how they'd hold up where I'd planted them since there is a lot of west wind that smashes into them most days. But they are still beautiful even after blooming for more than a week! I am especially glad you liked the first one I posted because it was my first choice. I am always game to try out new ideas that are suggested, but over all, I like my pictures to represent what I see.

Our sky has been beautiful this spring. No storms to deal with so far so being outside is very nice! And I can't begin to show how lovely all of the blooming trees, flowers, and bushes have been. But the white blossoms against the blue are lovely! I tried to capture that sight so I'm glad you like it!

Thank you!

[skitterbug]

We decided to visit a nature preserve for a day trip. Not a lot going there since it is very dry. I have pictures but of course, most of them ended up being only so so. I did like the following two however.


Bracket fungus


ISO1600 – 79mm – f/5.6 – 1/4000ss



Five Turtles


ISO1600 – 154mm – f/5.6 – 1/1600ss