Fortnightly Challenge Feb. 16 - March 1 :: Nature in Unexpected Places

[Keleko]

Canon 40D
EF24-70 f/2.8L USM
ISO 400
f/2.8 @ 1/45
basic post in Aperture 3
selective coloring in Photoshop Elements 8

My eye did go to the color book first, but the PHYSICS title is too prominent for me. I'm not sure if the Nature book under it would have made much difference. The font is just larger and bolder than the Nature one. It might be better if it wasn't there at all. Otherwise it is a very creative idea for the theme.

 

[Designer Dale]

OK. I cropped out a little bit of the foreground, tried to smooth out the foreground transition a bit and added a tiny bit of sepia tone. Thanks for the feedback.

I like the second version that you have done for this photo. I can't really put my finger on it, it just works better for me. More evenly distributed in the frame.

//snip//

I like the framing as it stands. My eye went to the physics book first because the bold white lettering stood out from the rest of the frame. Interesting take on the Challenge topic. I'm interested in seeing the color version.
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Here's mine. An urban stream near a busy intersection on a bad light day. I have a vertical framed shot that I will put up tomorrow.

EXIF Summary: 1/15s f/11.0 ISO100 Tamron 28-75 f/2.8@28mm

Dale

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

Many apologies for the Flickr frustrations - I am hopeful that I've resolved the problem (will speak to that in a separate thread). For now, have "fixed" my original link, and post the photo again here - just in case.

Also providing the color version, at someone's request ...

 

[fcortese]

Many apologies for the Flickr frustrations - I am hopeful that I've resolved the problem (will speak to that in a separate thread). For now, have "fixed" my original link, and post the photo again here - just in case.

Also providing the color version, at someone's request ...

I still like all of books in B&W and nature in color-draws more attention to it. I"m still out and searching for this difficult challenge.

 

[Phrasikleia]

Here's mine. An urban stream near a busy intersection on a bad light day. I have a vertical framed shot that I will put up tomorrow.

EXIF Summary: 1/15s f/11.0 ISO100 Tamron 28-75 f/2.8@28mm

Dale

Well, kudos to you for having gone out and shot something for this challenge, which is more than I have done. That said, I'm missing the "unexpectedness" here. You say there is a busy intersection nearby, but it is nowhere evident in the photo, so it doesn't exist as far as this photo is concerned. At any rate, you said yourself that the light was bad this day, so the real challenge was to find a way to add some visual interest to an otherwise dull scene. You could take a good step in that direction by softening the water with a long exposure; that would help add some contrast between textured foliage and blurry, cottony water. It would also help to have a strong point of visual resolution in the composition--perhaps a person standing at one end of the bridge. However, even if you did all of that, you'd still have the problem of bad light, and only some really clever strobist techniques could salvage the shot from such drab conditions.

 

[deep diver]

I've always had difficulty with images containing B&W and color elements such as these. I've done them but they never look as clean as these do. In PSE I will copy the section I want to be in color and make a new layer. I will then make the base layer B&W and then layer back in the color element.

I'd appreciate some advice.

 

[JDDavis]

I've always had difficulty with images containing B&W and color elements such as these. I've done them but they never look as clean as these do. In PSE I will copy the section I want to be in color and make a new layer. I will then make the base layer B&W and then layer back in the color element.

I'd appreciate some advice.

I do it in Aperture and it does a pretty good job. Simply convert the image to B&W and then use the brush away tool to remove the B&W where you want the color to show through. I'll do it quickly to see if I like it and then zoom in to 100-200% to clean it up on either the color or B&W side.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

I've always had difficulty with images containing B&W and color elements such as these. I've done them but they never look as clean as these do. In PSE I will copy the section I want to be in color and make a new layer. I will then make the base layer B&W and then layer back in the color element.

I'd appreciate some advice.

Was interesting reading JD's response - I never had figured out how to do this in Aperture.

I use PSE. I make a duplicate layer of the photo (after cropping it and doing any other post), in that duplicate layer I convert the photo to B&W, highlight the portion of the photo that I wish to return to color using the wand or lasso - and hit "delete". The original color now shows through in that selected area.

 

[Designer Dale]

AoB: After seeing the color version, I like the original post much better. The color of the physics book competes with the nature book (and wins).

Deep Diver: My approach to limited color is a bit different, but not much.
1. Copy the original and hide it. This preserves a copy in case you really mess up.
2. Use one of the Lasso Tools to select what you want kept in color.
3. Hit Command-J (I don't know the menu command for this). It copies the selection to a new Layer.
4. Select the full-color layer and use an Adjustment Layer to convert it to B&W.
You can turn the different Layers off and on to see what you like best.

*The A3 method from JDavis is simpler.

Dale

 

[compuwar]

Here's mine. An urban stream near a busy intersection on a bad light day. I have a vertical framed shot that I will put up tomorrow.

EXIF Summary: 1/15s f/11.0 ISO100 Tamron 28-75 f/2.8@28mm

Dale

The trash in the lower left is bad- it's important to look for that in landscape shots- it's only good if you're showing urban decay in the shot, otherwise it's a bad distraction. I think the framing doesn't work- the horizontal bridge with horizontal framing just has the eye go over the bridge and off the edge of the frame. The water would be a better subject with more vertical framing, but it'd probably still need more motion blur to draw the eye away from the white bridge- with some wind and plant motion blur, it might help simplify the composition as well. Overall though, I don't think the water or the bridge make a good central subject here- a bike, dog or person on the bridge might, but again since the subject is nature, I don't think that's going to save the image for the sake of this challenge. I'd still go with a vertical composition to let the water try to draw the viewer into the scene realizing some depth (as it is, it's very 2D with the bridge.) Without anything surrounding the image that's not predominately nature like a road, concrete walls, etc. I'm not sure you reach the "unexpected" goal. If the steam and plants were in a much wider-angle composition that showed a busy intersection, then we'd be in play.

I spent half the day driving around looking for a good "unexpected" subject late last week and frankly didn't find anything I didn't expect. Even my "favorite" plant growing on a steam locomotive didn't get revisited because the locomotive isn't out on display any more. Half a foot of snow overnight has me thinking there's not a lot of unexpected to be found today...

Paul

 

[oblomow]

Before posting something myself I want to (and have to, I know) react to
the post of AoB. It's an interesting find, however my eye is also drawn to the physics book first. Selective coloring doesn't help.

The result of my search (first visiting the local industrial estate near the river,
and later the center of town.

 

[Designer Dale]

The trash in the lower left is bad- it's important to look for that in landscape shots- it's only good if you're showing urban decay in the shot, otherwise it's a bad distraction. I think the framing doesn't work- the horizontal bridge with horizontal framing just has the eye go over the bridge and off the edge of the frame. The water would be a better subject with more vertical framing, but it'd probably still need more motion blur to draw the eye away from the white bridge- with some wind and plant motion blur, it might help simplify the composition as well. Overall though, I don't think the water or the bridge make a good central subject here- a bike, dog or person on the bridge might, but again since the subject is nature, I don't think that's going to save the image for the sake of this challenge. I'd still go with a vertical composition to let the water try to draw the viewer into the scene realizing some depth (as it is, it's very 2D with the bridge.) Without anything surrounding the image that's not predominately nature like a road, concrete walls, etc. I'm not sure you reach the "unexpected" goal. If the steam and plants were in a much wider-angle composition that showed a busy intersection, then we'd be in play.

I spent half the day driving around looking for a good "unexpected" subject late last week and frankly didn't find anything I didn't expect. Even my "favorite" plant growing on a steam locomotive didn't get revisited because the locomotive isn't out on display any more. Half a foot of snow overnight has me thinking there's not a lot of unexpected to be found today...

Paul

Thanks. I reshot this on a day with a bit better light, but it still didn't work at all. It just comes off as flat. Thanks for the comments. This is a difficult topic.

Dale

 

[mtnbikemama]

Many apologies for the Flickr frustrations - I am hopeful that I've resolved the problem (will speak to that in a separate thread). For now, have "fixed" my original link, and post the photo again here - just in case.

Also providing the color version, at someone's request ...

I thought I would like the color version of this better until I saw it. I definitely like the b&w/color selection version better. I do find my eye drawn to the physics book first, however, given the challenge I think that adds to the "unexpected" part.

 

[mtnbikemama]

I finally got out to take some pictures today. It's been pretty rainy around here the last several days. I took this near the business 80 freeway near downtown Sacramento, California about a half mile from my house.

 

[deep diver]

I do it in Aperture and it does a pretty good job. Simply convert the image to B&W and then use the brush away tool to remove the B&W where you want the color to show through. I'll do it quickly to see if I like it and then zoom in to 100-200% to clean it up on either the color or B&W side.

Was interesting reading JD's response - I never had figured out how to do this in Aperture.

I use PSE. I make a duplicate layer of the photo (after cropping it and doing any other post), in that duplicate layer I convert the photo to B&W, highlight the portion of the photo that I wish to return to color using the wand or lasso - and hit "delete". The original color now shows through in that selected area.

AoB: After seeing the color version, I like the original post much better. The color of the physics book competes with the nature book (and wins).

Deep Diver: My approach to limited color is a bit different, but not much.
1. Copy the original and hide it. This preserves a copy in case you really mess up.
2. Use one of the Lasso Tools to select what you want kept in color.
3. Hit Command-J (I don't know the menu command for this). It copies the selection to a new Layer.
4. Select the full-color layer and use an Adjustment Layer to convert it to B&W.
You can turn the different Layers off and on to see what you like best.

*The A3 method from JDavis is simpler.

Dale

Okay. It is what I am already doing. Maybe I just need to be more patient.

 

[rebby]

AoB: After seeing the color version, I like the original post much better. The color of the physics book competes with the nature book (and wins).

Deep Diver: My approach to limited color is a bit different, but not much.
1. Copy the original and hide it. This preserves a copy in case you really mess up.
2. Use one of the Lasso Tools to select what you want kept in color.
3. Hit Command-J (I don't know the menu command for this). It copies the selection to a new Layer.
4. Select the full-color layer and use an Adjustment Layer to convert it to B&W.
You can turn the different Layers off and on to see what you like best.

*The A3 method from JDavis is simpler.

Dale

Why not just create your B&W adjustment layer and mask what you want to keep in color? Same results but two layers instead of three. Using a mask is more flexible as well since you can constantly alter the mask to move things from color to B&W and vice-versa.

 

[Keleko]

I finally got out to take some pictures today. It's been pretty rainy around here the last several days. I took this near the business 80 freeway near downtown Sacramento, California about a half mile from my house.

This one definitely fits the theme. There's a nice contrast of nature and not nature with the flowering tree, cloudy sky and cars on the road.

However, it seems a little bland to me color-wise. I think if you had taken this at sunset or golden hour you'd have gotten some better colors. If the clouds were still there at sunset time they'd reflect some nice colors, too.

I might be biased because I'm throwing in a sunset picture for my entry here - sunset over a strip mall parking lot. I had to look up to find my nature in an unexpected place. For an outside of the box topic I had to look outside the box to find nature.

 

[mtnbikemama]

This one definitely fits the theme. There's a nice contrast of nature and not nature with the flowering tree, cloudy sky and cars on the road.

However, it seems a little bland to me color-wise. I think if you had taken this at sunset or golden hour you'd have gotten some better colors. If the clouds were still there at sunset time they'd reflect some nice colors, too.

I was actually thinking the same thing when I took the picture. We were on a family bike ride, and my options were limited. At sunset I was bathing & feeding children, and getting kids ready for school today. I was bummed when I looked outside at sunset & saw beautiful pink puffy clouds. I would've liked to go back w/ a tripod & set up to get not only sunset reflected in the clouds, but the lights from the freeway.

 

[Phrasikleia]

I might be biased because I'm throwing in a sunset picture for my entry here - sunset over a strip mall parking lot. I had to look up to find my nature in an unexpected place. For an outside of the box topic I had to look outside the box to find nature.

I really like this one. I might like it even better with a bit more of the pole in the frame, but it works how it is. The sky has so much variance of color and texture, and the presence of the parking lot light gives it a sort of ironical twist. Very well seen!

 

[Keleko]

I really like this one. I might like it even better with a bit more of the pole in the frame, but it works how it is. The sky has so much variance of color and texture, and the presence of the parking lot light gives it a sort of ironical twist. Very well seen!

After the fact I feel the same way about the pole, too. The problem is if I went down any further I had a tree line that changes the picture too much. Where I was I had a brace to use (no tripod with me). I couldn't really get closer without a tripod, so this is what I wound up with. I didn't want to zoom in any closer, either, because I'd lose too much sky. So I'd only have been able to get more pole in a good shot if I'd had my tripod. I guess I should have taken it with me because I knew I was going to take sunset pictures while my kids were at music lessons, but I was already loaded with things to carry as it was (music school is a short walk from my house).

At first I thought the sunset colors weren't going to be very interesting. The low, dark clouds were much more prominent in the sky than the higher ones with color. However, as the sun got lower they moved off some, and I was able to get some contrasting texture and color between the high and low clouds. I have several versions of this shot pulled back with more sky and the treeline I mentioned. I may upload a couple of them later today to compare. This one just stood out to me the most.

 

[Designer Dale]

Before posting something myself I want to (and have to, I know) react to
the post of AoB. It's an interesting find, however my eye is also drawn to the physics book first. Selective coloring doesn't help.

The result of my search (first visiting the local industrial estate near the river,
and later the center of town.

I had to look at this twice. The first time the dark in the foreground looked like wet beach sand. On second glance I noticed the texture of the man-made surface. I messed with the cropping because the out of focus colors along the top bothered me. I broke it down to the gull and the garbage around it. It seemed a bit more striking to me.

Dale

 

[Keleko]

I had to look at this twice. The first time the dark in the foreground looked like wet beach sand. On second glance I noticed the texture of the man-made surface. I messed with the cropping because the out of focus colors along the top bothered me. I broke it down to the gull and the garbage around it. It seemed a bit more striking to me.

Dale

I think I agree with your crop. It wasn't that noticeable, but seeing it after the crop it looks much cleaner cropped.

 

[oblomow]

I think I agree with your crop. It wasn't that noticeable, but seeing it after the crop it looks much cleaner cropped.

Thanks Dale. I certainlty looks quieter. I was too busy with the foreground and the position of the bird.

 

[Phrasikleia]

I have several versions of this shot pulled back with more sky and the treeline I mentioned. I may upload a couple of them later today to compare. This one just stood out to me the most.

Perhaps you might able to clone out a treetop or two in one of those shots?

I think I agree with your crop. It wasn't that noticeable, but seeing it after the crop it looks much cleaner cropped.

I agree too. Dale's crop is a definite improvement.

 

[mtnbikemama]

Here is my second contribution. Taken shortly after the tree/freeway picture. Again, I wish I had been able to get out a little later in the day. This would've been stunning with the sunset behind it. I took this on the American River Parkway just downstream from our house. The buildings are downtown Sacramento. You can just see the American River Parkway through the trees.

Perhaps I'll get a chance to shoot these again before the Challenge time is up.
I can always post retakes in POTD if it's too late, though!