This was the shot I was working on for our mentor group's b&w natural light theme. I couldn't figure out how to make it work yesterday as I wanted the bokeh to be coming up from the stack. I'd taken several 'triplet' shots for using HDR and converting to b&w in Silver Efex or just within Photomax. Tonight I went back to it and figured out it needed to be vertical. And the stack had to be 2/3 of the verticality to not have the bokeh and stones fighting one another.
Group...what do you think?
@golftragic, @888rachel, @newbank, @pamknowler, @jgpittenger
Not sure if it actually works but hope so...I got in my head that natural light looking out to the lake would create bokeh so that was what was behind my creating the stack to begin with and trying to get the stack balanced with the bokeh (which is why I didn't even think to clone it out of the color version where it had no point).
I really like the bokeh, it really works. I think I would like more space on the left of the shot, perhaps the crop is a little tight. I'm not sure that the focus is sharp, or are you going for the soft focus look?
I love the bokeh breath Taffy - lovely idea which works. I agree with Rachel about the tight crop - I feel it just needs,a bit more space on the left. This version doesn't have the clarity of the colour version.
@pamknolwer@888rachel Im liking the bokeh. Agree with the ladies that the crop is a bit tight. Not sure if its all a bit grey. Though I get the idea is calmness. The colour version the muted colours really work just not sure here... Thats not too harsh is it!!
Very effective bokeh. Must confess that I feel that the rocks need just a little more room to breathe, but honestly, what would I know? It's still a great shot, with a wonderfully calm air.
Okay thought I commented on this but maybe I got called out to the cookout about that time. It is wonderful. Oh I see you did it in bw and color. I probably commented on the color.
I definitely prefer it in black and white... But I think I actually liked the more minimalist approach to composition you had yesterday... Dark bits and all ;p The overall softness of the tones kind of nag at me, but I think that's a personal preference thing... My eyes need high contrast - I have trouble focussing without it (and that's mostly physiological, I think... Aging eyes and all...)
@taffy the crop is much better to my eye Taffy but I think I would prefer it not quite as soft - just personal preference as Rachel @888rachel had said.
I saw this briefly this morning as I was leaving...for me the softness worked in color but not in b and w. It makes me feel as if my vision is blurry. Re the crop, I like the flicker version better
@jgpittenger@pamknowler@888rachel
Thanks all! I tend to agree...but think I'm done with this image for a bit. I had converted to b&w while within Photomatix, instead of doing this in Silver Efex. Lesson learned...to go in and fix the structure/clarity, I'd have to start over with the three individual image, try to recreate what I did in Photomatix before losing the structure in softening the image, and in the end, while I like it in b&w, I prefer the color version anyway. This has been a really useful exercise for me!
I'll be off the radar for a bit -- meetings all day tomorrow (mmm..thought I was semi-retired, must be because it's my only day at work!), and then leaving to visit my mom on Thursday for the weekend. Not sure what time I'll have...I'm planning to bring only my 50mm and shoot sooc for the challenge that someone started...so that means b&w in camera, natural light. Should be interesting! Less equipment to carry!
I've thought long and hard about this shot Taffy. I like the fluid lines and shapes and the sort of zen feeling of this stack. But I too feel it's too tight on the left which tends to unbalance the shot. Must confess I like the colour version much better.
I agree with all above about the softness of the rocks and the tightness of the crop, but otherwise a lovely image! More sharpness in the rocks would provide a nice counterpoint to that luscious bokeh in the background.
September 10th, 2015
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Not sure if it actually works but hope so...I got in my head that natural light looking out to the lake would create bokeh so that was what was behind my creating the stack to begin with and trying to get the stack balanced with the bokeh (which is why I didn't even think to clone it out of the color version where it had no point).
Hi friends! I worked on a better crop with more space and put it on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffyraphael/21258789155/in/album-72157640179172166/
I think it's better with the additional space, but now am wondering about the softness. I was going for soft as contrast to rocks.
Thanks all! I tend to agree...but think I'm done with this image for a bit. I had converted to b&w while within Photomatix, instead of doing this in Silver Efex. Lesson learned...to go in and fix the structure/clarity, I'd have to start over with the three individual image, try to recreate what I did in Photomatix before losing the structure in softening the image, and in the end, while I like it in b&w, I prefer the color version anyway. This has been a really useful exercise for me!
I'll be off the radar for a bit -- meetings all day tomorrow (mmm..thought I was semi-retired, must be because it's my only day at work!), and then leaving to visit my mom on Thursday for the weekend. Not sure what time I'll have...I'm planning to bring only my 50mm and shoot sooc for the challenge that someone started...so that means b&w in camera, natural light. Should be interesting! Less equipment to carry!