<<< o >>>owl telescopes 16 comments + add yours
chromasia.com

I've photographed these telescopes on many occasions – they're dotted all along the Fylde coast – but up until this shot I haven't been especially happy with any of them. This one though, I'm pleased with, mostly because the original lighting was beautifully diffuse.

If you're interested, the 'before' shot is here:

.../archives/owl_telescopes.php

captured
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
2.35pm on 28/9/07
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
58mm
f/2.8
1/1000
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
minor rotation
 
3x2 + fylde coast
comment by owen-b at 07:25 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

It's a lovely bold coloured shot, but the slight tilt of the telescope itself is driving me crazy.

Also, did you do any selective colouring here? I'm interested in how you used colour (or lack of) to separate the foreground from background more than the depth of field already does.

comment by owen-b at 07:26 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

Sorry, I should add that by tilt of the telescope, I meant the top unit, not the actual tube. ;)

Just one of those things. I suppose you could say it gives it character...

comment by craig@id7.co.uk at 08:02 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

Thats a marked increase in quality over the original. I really need to just trim up my contrast technique and use of the histograms to get to this quality tonally speaking. I am not as subtle in my control as you, and this shows in the end results.... So simple, yet so effective. Craig@id7

comment by Mindy at 08:10 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

I like the 'slight tilt' to which owen-b refers. the perspective adds power and interest to the relationship between the cube and cylinder. Good, fun shot.

comment by Lightseeker at 08:11 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

This one certainly grabs my attention with the contrasts of colour and focus between the subject and background.

comment by owen-b at 09:23 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

I didn't notice the 'original' before. I think what fascinates me about chromasia shots is how the processing appear to be lighting the subject so much. It genuinely looks as though it's been 'lit' by flash or whatever in the processed version.

Also, the colouring of, say, the metal key slot doesn't appear to match the general toning, which makes me really want to sit down with you, Dave, and watch how you process a whole bunch of images. I'm keen to see what the general order of your processing is, and whether you have 'stock actions' that create a certain look to work from.

comment by jasonf at 10:59 PM (GMT) on 30 September, 2007

So is this a B&W conversion with some colours brought back? I'd love to see a mini-tutorial on this one. Spectacular post processing as always.

comment by Malcolm at 12:10 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

I do like this - very striking. I was surprised to see the original. I did not expect it to be so different. The processing has turned a mundane shot into somehing very much more interesting. The gold tint on the metal is inspired, and the saturated blue works well. I interpreted the grey background as sea, not grass. Oh, and I think I would slightly prefer it without the 'tilt' - sorry!

comment by Navdeep at 03:47 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

Nice shot !

comment by owen-b at 06:29 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

Yes, I thought it was sea as well!

comment by Josef Renklint at 08:42 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

Amazing colors! I love the depth of field that you utilized here in a neat way.

comment by fernando at 08:55 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

nice shot! the blue is great!

comment by Jan Exner at 10:22 AM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

Great shot!

I did a very similar one when I was still living in France: http://www.jan-exner.de/Berichte/bilder/?num=126

comment by Nigel at 06:01 PM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

These colour / mono hybrids don't always work, I am sure you will agree. This one does and I think it's because it is believable. The background doesn't jar with the subject and as mentioned above one assumes it is part of the sea / muddy estuary on a grey drizzly day. Lovely toning on the metalwork.

comment by jelb at 06:37 PM (GMT) on 1 October, 2007

Bonjour,
Nice shot..Good dof..Bravo!

comment by hanok at 08:32 PM (GMT) on 4 October, 2007

amazing! good shot! the blue color is fantastic