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Author Topic: Under the big sycamore  (Read 8864 times)

Olivier

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Under the big sycamore
« on: October 30, 2015, 21:01:26 »
Nikon 1 V1 IR (720nm), 10-30mm lens, 33 shots handheld.

I am still debating about the contrast. It could be increased, but I like it this way.
Any critique is welcome.
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Fons Baerken

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2015, 22:33:41 »
Auvers sur Oise, i recognize the chateau in the distant back
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Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2015, 22:46:03 »
I have returned to this photo several times. It has an appeal that grows on you and perhaps the detailed rendition of the foliage and other minute components contributes towards this end. Thus it is suited for a rewarding image exploration over time.

Usually digital IR tends to be on the dull side unless one enhances local and overall contrast. You apparently are aware of this. My recommendation would be to give the picture a work-over in contrast.

The perceived slightly "fisheye"-like curving of lines is perhaps an inevitable consequence of the stitching?
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ColinM

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2015, 23:09:57 »
I'm not completely clear how you got here, but I really like the result.

Plus there are aspects that remind me of Portugese Man O'War jellyfish hanging in the water :)

Here's an example (not taken by me - just to illustrates some of the spiralling shapes)


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Olivier

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2015, 23:21:54 »
Fons, it is Méry sur Oise, the city just on the other side of the Oise river. The two castles are just 1km apart! I have shown many pictures of this one indeed.

Bjørn: thank you. I enjoy those trees very much. The endless and crooked branches never cease to enchant me...
The original shot is quite dull as you can imagine, and I have already increased contrast and "structure" (micro contrast in Nik's tools) a fair amount, maybe not enough yet. I am always worried that I overdo it so will wait and  play with that tomorrow and may post something if I am happy with it.
The tree curvature is purely artificial indeed. It had to compromize on something to get the ground more or less flat. There may be a better way to stitch and keep everything straight but I didn't find it!
The angle of view is probably near 180° horizontally and vertically.

Colin: thank you, it is so nice to read you again. I was just standing underneath the tree and shot in all directions... Obviously some people though I was more than strange...
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Akira

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2015, 00:58:49 »
Olivier, this is amazing!  How did you combine 33 shots?  Focus stacking and panorama stitching?  The fisheye-like distortion effect works to me.
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Øivind Tøien

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2015, 03:37:01 »

Colin,  that Portugese Man O'War i fantastic!

Oliver, I side with Bjørn that the  big sycamore  could benefit from a moderate increase in contrast.
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Øivind Tøien

Gary

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2015, 03:51:39 »
Very interesting and oddly captivating.  This image seems to have one foot in realty and the other in fantasy.
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Jakov Minić

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2015, 05:33:52 »
Olivier, again?
Don't change anything to the image I love it as is!
So many shades of grey, it's unbelievable. By increasing contrast I am afraid the subtleties would be lost.

Colin, that image is great. Tell us more about how you captured it, please :)
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elsa hoffmann

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2015, 09:28:21 »
I have to agree with Jakov about the contrast. Sometimes can can spoil an image by trying too hard. I think this is one of those images that will look really nice printed on good paper - big.

Colin - very interesting image!
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Olivier

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2015, 09:40:16 »
Colin, for some reason your image did not show up yesterday. It is fantastic indeed! I could spend hours watching the transparency of the aerial part, almost acting as a lens, and the starry and mysterious world under the water. Gary's comment is spot on.
Akira: nothing special, no focus stacking here. The DOF you get with the V1 is enough actually. I just shot the 33 pictures, worked them in PhotoNinja and threw the TIFs in Autopano. The hard part is then to find acceptable settings to avoid too much distorsion.

Elsa: I entertain the idea that some day I will acquire a printer, just for B&W.

Thanks everyone!
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Olivier

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2015, 10:50:34 »
Here is the picture with more contrast

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armando_m

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2015, 15:52:40 »
the different tones on the leaves are fascinating, beautiful results
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Armando Morales
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elsa hoffmann

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2015, 21:55:00 »
I prefer the first posted image. The second one becomes too busy for me and the feeling/mood in the image is lost. IMHO
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Øivind Tøien

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Re: Under the big sycamore
« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2015, 23:19:20 »

I agree that there is an overload of detail in the background with the increased contrast. Perhaps contrast enhancement could applied locally only to the foliage on the tree-trunk?
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