Old burl: now for something completely different

[DanK]

I've never tried anything like this, so I am looking forward to C&C. I took some photos today of an old burl. These are mostly edited in LR, but I used the silver efex harsh structure preset at the end.

[Barbara Ponder]

Interesting shots! Remind of the ink blots Shrinks used.

[Ziggy]

Nice. I always enjoy looking for subjects like this to capture.

So many options when PP.

Jim

[Stagecoach]

Whilst I very much like the images Dan as a lover of wood I just want to see the colour.

[JBW]

put me in there with Stagecoach... colour would be nice.

[IzzieK]

Hmmm... me too I will like to see the colour version for comparison to your B/W. I like this kind of images...

[deetheturk]

Cool images Dan, I too would like to see the color versions, nicely rendered though!

[JohnRostron]

Fascinating objects though, like the others, I would prefer to see colour. I have never heard of a burl so I had no idea what these were, especially in B&W. So this added to the interest.

John

[DanK]

Thanks, all. I don't have comparable color versions because I did a lot of the processing after conversion, and I won't have time to get back to this for a bit, but I will look into this later. There wasn't much color. It's weathered wood, without much color left.

[Whistletown Wilds]

Great shot and idea!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[bnnrcn]

I love them Dan I also like the PP work. May I suggest that you should try the sliders in SEP 2 instead of using presets, because you get very nice and interesting results while improving your PP skills this way

BTW, did you use a macro lens for those shots?

[Texas Dave]

At frist look I thought it was a macro of a cigar's ash end. ...I said ash end, the lite part.

I like it and if it were mine I would most likely save it to use as a texture in one of my photo composites. Interesting details. I can see why you shot it.

[tbob]

I love weathered wood and all the intricate details. This is a great subject I would second Binnur's suggestion and ditch the preset and use the sliders. You can pull a massive amount of texture and tones from the image. The presets are tool limiting in my opinion.

[DanK]

Thanks all. Binnur and Trevor, I did use the sliders in SEF. I found that the amount of structure in the preset was about right, but I tweaked the others. I didn't use control points; I didn't see a reason to with these images. I didn't have a macro lens with me. I had just my walk-around Canon 24-105 f/4. I plan to go back to the location in the future with a macro lens and a tripod--the tripod because at that distance, the depth is a problem, and I want to focus-stack. In one of the two I posted, you can see some out-of-focus areas, even though I shot at f/11.

[Kris V]

I love them Dan I also like the PP work. May I suggest that you should try the sliders in SEP 2 instead of using presets, because you get very nice and interesting results while improving your PP skills this way

+1

[IzzieK]

Fascinating objects though, like the others, I would prefer to see colour. I have never heard of a burl so I had no idea what these were, especially in B&W. So this added to the interest.

John

According to Wikipedia...A burl (American English) or bur or burr (used in all non-US English speaking countries) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner.

[DanK]

According to Wikipedia...A burl (American English) or bur or burr (used in all non-US English speaking countries) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner.

yes. Very commonly used in making wooden bowls, plates, etc., because of the intricate grain patterns created by the deformity. Google "burl" and go to images. You can get a sense of the complexity of the grain patterns from the images I posted as well.

[Loose Canon]

These are cool Dan. What I wouldn't give to have something like this hanging out in the studio. Very interesting surfaces.

I have a Lifelong friend who was a Master Woodworker. He gave me a bowl he made from one of these. It is gorgeous. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, but the bowl has a Place of Honor in my home.

Very nice job with the processing.