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SUNFLOWER MEDLEY

© Dale Hardin

SUNFLOWER MEDLEY

Uploaded: April 10, 2008

Description

On a trip to the farmer's market this evening I took a not too exiting shot of some sunflowers. I hate to delete images so decided to practice a technique I have been toying with in PSE5. No plug in filters were used. Hope you like it.

Exposure time: 1/800 F-stop: 4.5
ISO speed: 80

Exif: F Number: 4.5, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 10/8000 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 80, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 53.30 mm, Model: DSC-H2

Comments

Tiia Vissak April 11, 2008

great colors & effects! #898258

Barbara A. Madore April 11, 2008

Nice Job Dale now you know I would pick this photo didnt you lol I like how you did this one Barbara M #5773926

Dale Hardin April 11, 2008

Thank you very much Tiia. #5774790

Dale Hardin April 11, 2008

Thanks Barbara. Should have known you were a sucker for flowers and bright colors after admiring your fantastic works like "Morning Sunshine" in your gallery. #5774795

Dale Hardin May 28, 2008

Hi Barbara. I totally missed your response on this image. It got spammed somehow. In answer to your question about how I did it, I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I did not use any plug in filters as I remember, but other than that I've no clue. At the time I thought I had it memorized but that old senior moment set in.

I will try to recall some of the steps that I do remember though that I probably used. On a copy of the image I used "filter/blur/smart blur/edge only" and then in-versed this result and did an overlay blend. After that I did a multiply blend a couple of times and reduced the brightness with the "contrast/brightness" adjustment layer. That's all I can remember and the adjustments are free form per your eye and the individual image.

The bottom lines is that I'm not "absolutely sure" about all these procedures. Sorry. Dale #5990767

Aimee C. Eisaman May 29, 2008

Don't worry Dale.....I call mine blonde moments! :~) I love the effect you used.....looks like a work of art and the colors are so pleasing. This would look fantastic in my kitchen! There is one area that I would think about cloning out or smoothing a bit and it is on the sun flower with the least detail. I think the dark splotches on it draw too much attention away from the other flowers. Could just be me, but I feel it would look nicer with that flat effect in those areas. #5991929

Joan E. Hoffman May 29, 2008

Beautiful Dale. I love it when you can turn a so-so image into something you love! Well Done! #5992375

Dale Hardin May 29, 2008

I have to agree Aimee. I assume you mean the one in the lower left center. It's details like that that I really enjoy receiving. Had I noticed it I could have adjusted the contrast on that and perhaps the one to the right of it also for a more balanced look.

Another area that I missed was the bright area in the center of the image. This is what I like so much about critiques. In the future I'll notice things like this that I missed or that appeal in a different way to different viewers.

Just for grins, I've included the original image. Dale #5993399

Dale Hardin May 29, 2008

Thank you Joan. Must admit I'm an old pack rat when it comes to throwing images out. Something I'm trying to overcome. Dale #5993418

M.Christine Duncan May 29, 2008

What a great job you've done with this image Dale! So fun and fresh... it really pops now doesn't it? It's brightened my day! #5993435

Dale Hardin May 29, 2008

Thanks Christine and I just love the beautiful DOF you have with "All Lit Up" that you uploaded the other day. Lovely. Dale #5993497

Laura E. Swan level-classic May 29, 2008

Senior moments, blonde moments...I just call them MOMENTS IN TIME! Ha!

You recalled quite a bit of it Dale. I was just hoping it was called, "Stitch Quilt" or something. ~sigh~ Back out with the notebook! (smile). It really is hard to remember all that we do to an image, isn't it, unless we write it all down beside us?

I like your flowers. Before shooting do you ever take note at which ones are "looking" straight at you and does this effect the positioning you chose? I see -two- here that are facing the lens directly.

I was told once (by a seasoned photographer) that flowers that don't look at you are not worth taking but I don't go along with that.

I have one shot of two daffodils to prove it that I did some great work with in PS.

#5994409

Dale Hardin May 29, 2008

Laura, that is quite a concept. I hadn't thought of that but the overall idea seems sound. If you can become "one" with whatever your shooting and "they are looking at you" then you are more involved in the story of the shot than just the recording of it. I think that is a good thing for me to try. Thanks. Dale #5995114

Sherry McClead May 30, 2008

Nice...wonderful bunch of sunshine. Like the results you got witht he editing. Good job. #5996511

Dale Hardin May 30, 2008

Thank you Sherry. And speaking of editing, I love what you did with "Lilly of the Water" and came up with the very unusual "Lilly of the Darkness" A fascinating effect that I'd love to learn. Dale #5997221

Sherry McClead May 30, 2008

Thank you Dale... mostly I just darkened it and then painted out the sparkles in the background. Changed the red levels to get the center to glow. #5997292

Graham Robards May 30, 2008

Wooo this is clever Dale, very well done! I must try what you did! Thank you for sharing!

It's just like dog training, I tell anything I know as the person has to be able to do it don't they! ~Pat #5997679

Dale Hardin May 30, 2008

Thank you Pat. How are you two doing? Hope you're enjoying your hiatus. Dale #5999055

Tammy L. Newcomb May 31, 2008

Gosh this has to be one of the best photos I've seen here (no offense everyone and notice I said "one of") The art work is excellent and you could actually sell this photo and people could hang on their walls....

Tammy #6000919

Dale Hardin May 31, 2008

What a kind thing to say. Thanks Tammy. Want to know what I'd hang on my wall? Your "Subconscious Path of Destiny" Now "that" is art. Love it. Dale #6001302

Robert Valenzuela May 31, 2008

nice work Dale love comp on this very well done #6002227

Dale Hardin May 31, 2008

thanks Robert. I enjoyed your train series very much. Dale #6002342

Graham Robards May 31, 2008

Oh I am so busy which is why photography is on the backburner up at BP.

We got some beautiful shots of dogs at our club earlier on in the week but they get overlooked up here, not cute and fluffy enough I guess. ~Pat #6002535


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