Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Last One

  1. #1
    FrankMi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
    Posts
    6,294
    Real Name
    Frank Miller

    Last One

    How do you present a thin object image that is mostly out-of-focus background in such a way that it has impact and appeal?

    I like the stark nature of the lone berry and bare branch but I wonder if there are ways to make it more appealing to those that like this kind of an 'artsy' image?

    Last One

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Ontario (mostly)
    Posts
    6,667
    Real Name
    Bobo

    Re: Last One

    Nicely done.

    Making the background almost blurred out leaving only the colours but no obvious shapes might work to strengthen the isolation?

  3. #3
    FrankMi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
    Posts
    6,294
    Real Name
    Frank Miller

    Re: Last One

    Quote Originally Posted by Bobobird View Post
    Nicely done.

    Making the background almost blurred out leaving only the colours but no obvious shapes might work to strengthen the isolation?
    Let's give it a try! I also wanted to try a different crop to make the berry more prominent. Your thoughts - is this any better?

    Did I lose too much of the colour?

    Should I crop even tighter?

    Last One

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    South Devon, UK
    Posts
    14,401

    Re: Last One

    My thoughts were for a crop of the original, Frank, but perhaps not exactly how you have done it.

    I think I would try cropping below those broken white ends to the twig.

    Maybe end up with a 5 x 4 ratio. Or try something around 3 x 2 and have more blank space on the right?

    A case of try a few different crops then decide.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Ontario (mostly)
    Posts
    6,667
    Real Name
    Bobo

    Re: Last One

    Edit works for me.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Chicago, IL, USA
    Posts
    803
    Real Name
    Gretchen

    Re: Last One

    I like the crop --not what I would have done, but I like it. That's one thing I love about this forum. I am constantly seeing how perspectives other than my own work well or better.

  7. #7
    FrankMi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
    Posts
    6,294
    Real Name
    Frank Miller

    Re: Last One

    OK, maybe one more alternate?

    Took out the broken white ends at the top and added more space to the right. Went back to the original background, but reduced the saturation 20 points. At this crop I felt that the lines created by the branches were taking my eye out of the image so a bit of tilt was added. When that was done, it looked like a square crop would be needed.

    I may have been better off sleeping in this morning! Oh well, it's a learning experience...

    Last One

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    South Devon, UK
    Posts
    14,401

    Re: Last One

    You have ended up with some pleasing lines there, Frank.

  9. #9
    Nicola's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Toscana, Italy
    Posts
    1,008

    Re: Last One

    Hi Frank,
    just brain storming:
    what about a 3:2 vertical crop as the 2nd picture but with the branch "running" the frame from up-left corner to bottom-right with the berry in the low-right cross between the third lines?
    just a thought
    ciao
    Nicola

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Chicago, IL, USA
    Posts
    803
    Real Name
    Gretchen

    Re: Last One

    I still like #2. Dunno why, just do. Perhaps the extra twig gives a better idea of the size of the berry? Perspective?

  11. #11
    Kris V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Deep in the heart of Texas and Fort Wayne Indiana
    Posts
    1,629
    Real Name
    Kristianna-Marie - I listen to Kris too.....

    Re: Last One

    I like the last one. And can you tell what the berry actually is?
    I've never seen anything like it.

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    2,342
    Real Name
    Steve

    Re: Last One

    Never crop more, unless you've reached your min. focus.

  13. #13
    FrankMi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
    Posts
    6,294
    Real Name
    Frank Miller

    Re: Last One

    Quote Originally Posted by Kris V View Post
    I like the last one. And can you tell what the berry actually is?
    I've never seen anything like it.
    I don't know what the berry/plant is called. Perhaps someone can ID it for us?

  14. #14
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Windsor, Berks, UK
    Posts
    16,737
    Real Name
    Dave Humphries :)

    Re: Last One

    I like the last crop best, with the more diagonal slant.

    Nicola's idea might be worth a try too.

    Echoing what Gretchen said, this is thought provoking in the variability of options in presenting something as simple as one berry on a twig and discovering what works and what doesn't - I am wondering what it would have looked like without the 'complication' of the berry egde 'touching' the stem, or without the branches behind it - mind you, it looks like one of them may be supporting it.

    Cheers,

  15. #15

    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC
    Posts
    19,064

    Re: Last One

    I didn't take the time to read the posts in the thread, but...

    Nice side lighting that conveys the texture of the berry! Great color also!

    Consider placing a black background behind the subject, whether shooting in the field or clipping the plant and taking it into a studio situation.

    Consider using a polarizer to eliminate the glare, which in my opinion is a distraction and adds nothing to the shape or color of the berry.

  16. #16
    FrankMi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
    Posts
    6,294
    Real Name
    Frank Miller

    Re: Last One

    Thanks Dave and Mike. I'll need to take these ideas into the field with me next time I shoot something like this. Every day I learn something new is a good day.

    I had my CP filter with me that day but wasn't thinking about the glair off the berry when I was shooting this!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •