I do have three, possibly four more wedding shots that I'll post, but I thought I'd put this one up first. It's not quite a beachcoming shot, but it's of the same genre: a discarded item, easily overlooked.
The post-processing for this one was relatively straightforward. I cropped the image, added a minor amount of local contrast using Topaz Detail, then used a number of Curves to adjust both the tonal range and contrast (as described in my Tonal Range and the Curves tool tutorial), and the colour balance (as described in my Toning Colour Images tutorial). The net result, in my opinion at least, is that the final image is considerably more striking than the rather dull, flat original.
On a totally different matter: the kids and I are currently fending for ourselves out here in Bulgaria as Libby is back in the UK for the next six weeks (or thereabouts). As some of you already know, she's expecting our latest child on November 11th, so has headed back to the UK to give birth there. We did look into the possibility of the baby being born in BG but, for a whole variety of reasons, decided that the UK was probably a safer option for both Libby and the baby.
In the meanwhile, because three of our younger kids are now in nursery or school, the rest of us have stayed here. I suspect it's going to be a rather long six weeks, but at least we'll be able to keep in touch via Skype, Facebook, Twitter and so on. I'll keep you all updated and will post a shot of the baby as soon as the two of them get back :-)
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
comment bySteveO at 07:04 AM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
Nice, I would have preferred that the neck of the bottle was fully in focus too, maybe not quite enough DoF at f/2.8
comment bySamar at 09:56 AM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
The DOF, texture in the glass and tones in the pictue are excellent!
comment byJem at 10:31 AM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
All the best for you and Libby, and safe delivery of the baby :)
comment byNicki at 12:43 PM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
Good luck and best wishes for your baby - a great event in a fathers life :D. Your shot: I like the typical chromasia motive, but Topaz isn't mine. I think, your post process I see on the other beachcombined shots is much better. This one looks to overload, chromatic ... ;). My recept for mor details: 2 layers, merging the original into a high contrast b/w.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 02:34 PM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
Thanks for posting the original. I think your work is so creative... you turn what seems like a throw away shot (the original) into an interesting piece. I like the gray tones here. Glad that with your added responsibilities that you have time to post! How were you able to finish that bottle AND keep the camera steady to take a picture? :)
Praying for you guys and that baby!
Carlos
comment byBrooks at 03:44 PM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
I'm so excited for you Dave. I will keep your family in my prayers. Great image. Love the DOF
comment byRobbie Veldwijk at 03:49 PM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
Nice picture! Great colors and nice composition!
comment byJustin at 01:55 AM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
I love how the pits in the glass appear much bolder in this version than orig. Seems to make it interesting...
first time commenter...but frequent visitor...thanks for the honesty in your process of making art, it such a help to us novices!
comment byKrista at 02:04 AM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
Great shot! The colours, textures and compostion are amazing!
comment by Alexis at 12:50 PM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
The processing is unbelievable! Thanks, as always, for showing the original and discussing what you did to it.
comment byKevin H. Stecyk at 04:42 PM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
I wish Libby, you, and the rest of your family lots warmth and happiness as you wait your newest arrival. I am sure this an anxious and exciting time for you and your family.
Interesting and pleasing image, as always.
comment by Chris at 09:32 PM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
Hi Dave, Really enjoy how you were able to use Topaz to pull out all the hidden detail from the stone and the bottle. Color toning suits this image so well especially the greenish-grey coloring within the bottle. However, I am not all that keen about the shallow focus at the lower foreground. Good luck during the next six long weeks!
comment byDan at 09:34 PM (GMT) on 13 October, 2009
Congrats to you and Libby Dave, I hope everything goes smooth for you both :)
As for the shot, I personally don't love it. The post processing is certainly as always superb, but the image itself doesn't tell me a story the way your shots usually do. I also find the DOF almost distracts from the image, as though there is a line of focus on the concrete, which to me almost looks artificial (though looking at the original it's almost worse) I do really like your toning of the image, which at least makes the shot interesting to look at but honestly we know you can find more interesting subject matter to shoot.
comment byLuis at 04:29 AM (GMT) on 14 October, 2009
Just got my hands on Topaz this morning...intend to try it out soon. Really like how you work the curves in PS. Great image as usual.
comment byClaus at 09:42 AM (GMT) on 14 October, 2009
This is really a cool after party shot :-)
comment byYosef at 09:41 AM (GMT) on 18 October, 2009
Beautiful shot, so much detail.
comment bydesfocado at 04:09 PM (GMT) on 12 December, 2009
Representing: the party is over. ;)
comment by Thad Matthews at 10:56 AM (GMT) on 10 January, 2010
Neat, with 1/200th at 70mm there really can't be motion blur here but I see some interesting patterns on the wall. Looks like some genuine bokeh! I love it. Thanks to the shallow DOF, it's giving the image a swirl that makes me think I just finished off that bottle and took one more look back at that one before popping open the next. Just kidding there. But I do love the swirl and processing you've done here.
comment bydjn1 at 12:02 PM (GMT) on 10 January, 2010
Thad: the patterns on the wall, that give the impression of motion blur, were greatly exaggerated by the Topaz Detail plugin (which increase local contrast). In the straight shot the impression of motion is almost entirely absent.
I do have three, possibly four more wedding shots that I'll post, but I thought I'd put this one up first. It's not quite a beachcoming shot, but it's of the same genre: a discarded item, easily overlooked.
If you're interested, the original is here:
.../archives/closer_to_home.php
The post-processing for this one was relatively straightforward. I cropped the image, added a minor amount of local contrast using Topaz Detail, then used a number of Curves to adjust both the tonal range and contrast (as described in my Tonal Range and the Curves tool tutorial), and the colour balance (as described in my Toning Colour Images tutorial). The net result, in my opinion at least, is that the final image is considerably more striking than the rather dull, flat original.
On a totally different matter: the kids and I are currently fending for ourselves out here in Bulgaria as Libby is back in the UK for the next six weeks (or thereabouts). As some of you already know, she's expecting our latest child on November 11th, so has headed back to the UK to give birth there. We did look into the possibility of the baby being born in BG but, for a whole variety of reasons, decided that the UK was probably a safer option for both Libby and the baby.
In the meanwhile, because three of our younger kids are now in nursery or school, the rest of us have stayed here. I suspect it's going to be a rather long six weeks, but at least we'll be able to keep in touch via Skype, Facebook, Twitter and so on. I'll keep you all updated and will post a shot of the baby as soon as the two of them get back :-)
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
70mm
f/2.8
1/200
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
200
no
RAW
ACR
minor
Nice, I would have preferred that the neck of the bottle was fully in focus too, maybe not quite enough DoF at f/2.8
The DOF, texture in the glass and tones in the pictue are excellent!
All the best for you and Libby, and safe delivery of the baby :)
Good luck and best wishes for your baby - a great event in a fathers life :D. Your shot: I like the typical chromasia motive, but Topaz isn't mine. I think, your post process I see on the other beachcombined shots is much better. This one looks to overload, chromatic ... ;). My recept for mor details: 2 layers, merging the original into a high contrast b/w.
Thanks for posting the original. I think your work is so creative... you turn what seems like a throw away shot (the original) into an interesting piece. I like the gray tones here. Glad that with your added responsibilities that you have time to post! How were you able to finish that bottle AND keep the camera steady to take a picture? :)
Praying for you guys and that baby!
Carlos
I'm so excited for you Dave. I will keep your family in my prayers. Great image. Love the DOF
Nice picture! Great colors and nice composition!
I love how the pits in the glass appear much bolder in this version than orig. Seems to make it interesting...
first time commenter...but frequent visitor...thanks for the honesty in your process of making art, it such a help to us novices!
Great shot! The colours, textures and compostion are amazing!
The processing is unbelievable! Thanks, as always, for showing the original and discussing what you did to it.
I wish Libby, you, and the rest of your family lots warmth and happiness as you wait your newest arrival. I am sure this an anxious and exciting time for you and your family.
Interesting and pleasing image, as always.
Hi Dave, Really enjoy how you were able to use Topaz to pull out all the hidden detail from the stone and the bottle. Color toning suits this image so well especially the greenish-grey coloring within the bottle. However, I am not all that keen about the shallow focus at the lower foreground. Good luck during the next six long weeks!
Congrats to you and Libby Dave, I hope everything goes smooth for you both :)
As for the shot, I personally don't love it. The post processing is certainly as always superb, but the image itself doesn't tell me a story the way your shots usually do. I also find the DOF almost distracts from the image, as though there is a line of focus on the concrete, which to me almost looks artificial (though looking at the original it's almost worse) I do really like your toning of the image, which at least makes the shot interesting to look at but honestly we know you can find more interesting subject matter to shoot.
Just got my hands on Topaz this morning...intend to try it out soon. Really like how you work the curves in PS. Great image as usual.
This is really a cool after party shot :-)
Beautiful shot, so much detail.
Representing: the party is over. ;)
Neat, with 1/200th at 70mm there really can't be motion blur here but I see some interesting patterns on the wall. Looks like some genuine bokeh! I love it. Thanks to the shallow DOF, it's giving the image a swirl that makes me think I just finished off that bottle and took one more look back at that one before popping open the next. Just kidding there. But I do love the swirl and processing you've done here.
Thad: the patterns on the wall, that give the impression of motion blur, were greatly exaggerated by the Topaz Detail plugin (which increase local contrast). In the straight shot the impression of motion is almost entirely absent.