Update: I had hoped to find some time to shoot some new material today, but it didn't happen ... and nor did the birth of our daughter. She was expected on Monday, so is now four days behind schedule, and still shows no signs of arriving any time soon.
On which note: if there are a few thousand of you out there who believe in the power of positive thinking, now would be a good time to use it to start Libby's labour – preferably some time during the next 24 hours, but any time over the weekend would do :-)
--- original entry follows ---
This is the second smoke shot I mentioned yesterday, and I much prefer this one.
A couple of people asked how these are done so, if you're interested, take a look at my description for this shot where I explained the basic process.
What I didn't mention in my previous description is that I use a rather odd curve to adjust these images. Rather than a standard S curve, these use a slightly cursive V curve as follows:
What this does is remap the blacks to white, the mid-tones to black, and the highlights remain as highlights. And if that doesn't make sense, just try it. It takes a bit of tweaking to get it right, but it's an interesting effect.
Oh, and the title was my choice this time, though I won't be in the least offended if nobody else thinks that this one looks like a psychedelic guitarist ;-)
captured camera lens aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
9.37pm on 17/4/07
Canon 5D
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
f/18.0
1/50
manual
n/a
evaluative
100
580EX and 420EX
RAW
C1 Pro
1x1
comment bymikelangelo at 07:46 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
I like this one as well. Very interesting. Almost has a sensual feel towards the bottom left and it becomes more chaotic as it rises. Very cool.
Posting quickly... I'm first...
comment by Si Goodchild at 07:46 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
Still no babby!
comment bydjn1 at 07:48 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
Si: no, still no baby. She'll arrive when she's ready ... I guess.
comment by Jennifer at 07:50 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
Love this one and can see where yr coming from with the title - we prob both had the same mushrooms for tea ;-)
Oh Dave, you need more sleep! It's clearly an athlete sprinting for the line! lol
Great image. mal
comment byJaynee at 08:35 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
Your smoke series from a long time ago is how I discovered your website, chromasia! I'm happy to see a return, as I think these types of photos are amazing to look at with all the nuances due to the processing.
I like this one a lot and think "Jimi Hendrix" is the perfect name for it!
comment byMark at 08:44 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
Looks more like Vanessa Mae to me!
comment by si at 08:51 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
thanks for shedding some light on your technique. i never would have guessed that you made a V out of the curves. i really love the two yellow toned images from a couple days ago. i'd love to know how you achieved that effect. i thought it might be cranking up the white balance to like 50,000K, but it's just an amateurish guess.
comment by swoozyq at 09:35 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
I see more of a fiddle than a guitar, but otherwise I love your smoke shots!
Also, you should know I have been checking in a lot more than normal, waiting to see if there is any baby news!
comment by m at 09:42 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2007
I haven't been at Jimmi's stuff when I say I see mother and child. It's good to see the tips above. Will call re msg 2moro - busy at work at mo, Cheers
comment byHamish at 12:00 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
looks like a dancer or skater perhaps?
inventive either way :) nice
comment byThomas at 12:55 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
I love these smoke shops. I'm going to have to find a blank wall and give it a shot.
I don't see Jimi Hendrix - but the crazy energy of rock is definitely something I thought of when I saw it. So I guess that works too- stunning shot.
comment byArtepp at 09:39 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Are You Experienced ??? ;)
comment by Henrietta at 11:37 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Love this photo. I'm 13 days from my due date now.... hoping this little one won't take after his/her sister and be 14 days late!! Fingers crossed your little girl turns up soon!
comment byLightseeker at 01:41 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Great shot and great title!
comment byYETi at 02:22 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Thanks for sharing the processing tips, very helpful. Also I really like these smoke shots.
I would like to see you may be trying to create something recognisable out of smoke? I'm not quite sure what though:) . I do remember reading an article about a guy creating a figure of a woman from smoke and smoke in a sphere.
comment byao tomato at 02:47 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
This one is a dancer! Such fabulous movement
I thought you might be using a v-shape yesterday... I use u-shapes sometimes to play around with sky shots - to crank sillhouetted foregrounds (trees, buildings) into white, but keep some of the sky tones:
http://withclouds.blogspot.com/2007/03/blog-post_7900.html
http://withclouds.blogspot.com/2007/04/did-you-miss-me.html
comment byao tomato at 02:50 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Whoops! Here are the above shots (u-curves in post-prod) with clickable links: waiting and storytime
comment byNate at 04:11 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Very awesome look with these last 2. Thanks for the tip.
comment by cy at 04:46 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
i love these shots. the motion and grace that is captured it great. i am a bit surprised that you have not posted a negetive with color lab.
comment bydjn1 at 11:38 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2007
Thanks all.
comment byAlice at 03:39 PM (GMT) on 22 April, 2007
Awesome shot! Very nicely done.
comment bynavin at 07:32 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2007
This is so damn cool
comment bymykodachrome at 01:06 PM (GMT) on 26 April, 2007
I have to tr this - thanks for the explanation
comment bygaryx at 06:27 AM (GMT) on 27 April, 2007
This is one of the best smoke shots I've seen about for a very long time. I'm sure Jimi would luv it
comment byJeremy at 12:13 PM (GMT) on 16 May, 2007
I saw Jimi the second I read your title. Effective processing!
comment by Mark Rebuck at 02:33 AM (GMT) on 18 May, 2007
Fantastic! I've used V-shaped curves before, but not on my smoke pictures. It's a wonderful effect, and one that works surprisingly well on smoke.
comment byCarlos de la Rua at 02:47 PM (GMT) on 3 September, 2007
Bravisimo. I love your work. Congratulations for the baby. If you have some free time I would like to share with you my blog: www.carlosdelarua.blogspot.com
Update: I had hoped to find some time to shoot some new material today, but it didn't happen ... and nor did the birth of our daughter. She was expected on Monday, so is now four days behind schedule, and still shows no signs of arriving any time soon.
On which note: if there are a few thousand of you out there who believe in the power of positive thinking, now would be a good time to use it to start Libby's labour – preferably some time during the next 24 hours, but any time over the weekend would do :-)
--- original entry follows ---
This is the second smoke shot I mentioned yesterday, and I much prefer this one.
A couple of people asked how these are done so, if you're interested, take a look at my description for this shot where I explained the basic process.
What I didn't mention in my previous description is that I use a rather odd curve to adjust these images. Rather than a standard S curve, these use a slightly cursive V curve as follows:
What this does is remap the blacks to white, the mid-tones to black, and the highlights remain as highlights. And if that doesn't make sense, just try it. It takes a bit of tweaking to get it right, but it's an interesting effect.
Oh, and the title was my choice this time, though I won't be in the least offended if nobody else thinks that this one looks like a psychedelic guitarist ;-)
camera
lens
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 5D
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
f/18.0
1/50
manual
n/a
evaluative
100
580EX and 420EX
RAW
C1 Pro
1x1
I like this one as well. Very interesting. Almost has a sensual feel towards the bottom left and it becomes more chaotic as it rises. Very cool.
Posting quickly... I'm first...
Still no babby!
Si: no, still no baby. She'll arrive when she's ready ... I guess.
Love this one and can see where yr coming from with the title - we prob both had the same mushrooms for tea ;-)
Oh Dave, you need more sleep! It's clearly an athlete sprinting for the line! lol
Great image. mal
Your smoke series from a long time ago is how I discovered your website, chromasia! I'm happy to see a return, as I think these types of photos are amazing to look at with all the nuances due to the processing.
I like this one a lot and think "Jimi Hendrix" is the perfect name for it!
Looks more like Vanessa Mae to me!
thanks for shedding some light on your technique. i never would have guessed that you made a V out of the curves. i really love the two yellow toned images from a couple days ago. i'd love to know how you achieved that effect. i thought it might be cranking up the white balance to like 50,000K, but it's just an amateurish guess.
I see more of a fiddle than a guitar, but otherwise I love your smoke shots!
Also, you should know I have been checking in a lot more than normal, waiting to see if there is any baby news!
I haven't been at Jimmi's stuff when I say I see mother and child. It's good to see the tips above. Will call re msg 2moro - busy at work at mo, Cheers
looks like a dancer or skater perhaps?
inventive either way :) nice
I love these smoke shops. I'm going to have to find a blank wall and give it a shot.
这张具像了一些，虽然不错，但是比起很久以前的系列，这两张总觉得不匝地，可能是“先入为主”吧。
Now this is surreal... :-)
I don't see Jimi Hendrix - but the crazy energy of rock is definitely something I thought of when I saw it. So I guess that works too- stunning shot.
Are You Experienced ??? ;)
Love this photo. I'm 13 days from my due date now.... hoping this little one won't take after his/her sister and be 14 days late!! Fingers crossed your little girl turns up soon!
Great shot and great title!
Thanks for sharing the processing tips, very helpful. Also I really like these smoke shots.
I would like to see you may be trying to create something recognisable out of smoke? I'm not quite sure what though:) . I do remember reading an article about a guy creating a figure of a woman from smoke and smoke in a sphere.
This one is a dancer! Such fabulous movement
I thought you might be using a v-shape yesterday... I use u-shapes sometimes to play around with sky shots - to crank sillhouetted foregrounds (trees, buildings) into white, but keep some of the sky tones:
http://withclouds.blogspot.com/2007/03/blog-post_7900.html
http://withclouds.blogspot.com/2007/04/did-you-miss-me.html
Whoops! Here are the above shots (u-curves in post-prod) with clickable links:
waiting and storytime
Very awesome look with these last 2. Thanks for the tip.
i love these shots. the motion and grace that is captured it great. i am a bit surprised that you have not posted a negetive with color lab.
Thanks all.
Awesome shot! Very nicely done.
This is so damn cool
I have to tr this - thanks for the explanation
This is one of the best smoke shots I've seen about for a very long time. I'm sure Jimi would luv it
Great, I like the curves explanation as well!
I saw Jimi the second I read your title. Effective processing!
Fantastic! I've used V-shaped curves before, but not on my smoke pictures. It's a wonderful effect, and one that works surprisingly well on smoke.
Bravisimo. I love your work. Congratulations for the baby. If you have some free time I would like to share with you my blog: www.carlosdelarua.blogspot.com
Love and Peace. Carlos.