Inspiring Photo: Illumination #4035746

Illumination

Uploaded: June 16, 2007

Description

On this one, no filters were used.

Exif: F Number: 6.3, Exposure Bias Value: +0, Exposure Time: 5/1000, Flash: flash did not fire, ISO: 100, White Balance: auto white balance, Focal Length: 77mm, Camera Model: DMC-FZ30

Comments

Steve M. Harrington June 17, 2007 0

Ok, Mitch, give it up! How did you do this? It's quite striking.
Steve #675000

Mitch Spence June 17, 2007 0

Oooookay, twisted my virtual arm. :) Actually, it wasn't very esoteric. This started out as a reflection of these flowers in a pool at the St. Louis Arboretum. The black on the bottom was the edge of the pool. There were all kinds of duck feathers floating around too. At first I thought they were interesting but then not, so cloned them out (later). Straightened. Cropped. Basic editing--levels, color balance, etc. Selective color enhancement hue/sat for the flowers. (The dark ones were nearly black, deep deep purple, to begin with.) Selective sharpening. Then, I decided to enhance the blue of the pool only and instead messed around with all the hue/sat controls for that color, which didn't affect the flowers at all. Saturated the whoops out of it, changed the hue entirely, and fooled with lighten/darken too. Ended up with this, which I just really got a kick out of. I'll put up the original picture here if anybody wants to see it. It's really kind of goofy looking. #4405890

Steve M. Harrington June 17, 2007 0

I toast your perseverance and skills, Mitch! Now it's even more impressive.
Steve #4406300

Cheryl Meisel June 18, 2007 0

Well you turned it into a work of art lol. Wall PRETTY!
Cherylm #4406639

Mitch Spence June 18, 2007 0

Hi, Cheryl. I'm delighted you like it. Thank you! #4409527

Dianna Hauf June 19, 2007 0

Can you hear me oohhing and aaahhing??? This is quite exquisite Mitch! Whatever you did, (and I read it ALL), you did it sooo well! I would definitely hang this on my wall!! JUST beautiful!! :) #4413184

Mitch Spence June 19, 2007 0

Dianna, hi and thank you. This one did rather surprise me, and that was fun, so it's pretty neat that you like it. And thank you for the suggestion about printing it. I just haven't done much of that lately and really should sometimes I guess. #4413224

Patricia A. Stalter June 22, 2007 0

My, haven't you been busy. As a suggestion, you might think about having this one printed as a gallery wrap on canvas. I just did that with my Coldspring Tavern and I just love it.
#4425090

Mitch Spence June 22, 2007 0

Pat, thanks for the suggestion. The only place I've seen something that sounds like this is on Mpix. Is that where you had it done? I've never had anything done there. #4425128

Patricia A. Stalter June 22, 2007 0

I have dealt with Mpix and they are good, but this time I went with myphotopipe.com They are a little cheaper. (As am I). I was pleased with the quality and the service. Pat #4425151

Jenny Bosmans June 26, 2007 0

Fantastic work and beautiful image, Mitch! Looks super! :) #4437716

Mitch Spence June 28, 2007 0

Pat, thanks for the recommendation, and, Jenny, my thanks to you. #4454298

Susie Peek-Swint July 08, 2007 0

Many congrats on POTD Mitch ~ what a great shot! #4483707

Pat Gamwell July 08, 2007 0

WoooHooo! WTG, Mitch! Gorgeous POTD! #4483726

Karen Engelbreth July 08, 2007 0

Wonderful image - big congrats on your POTD, Mitch! #4483750

Mary K. Robison July 08, 2007 0

A lot of PS work, but it paid off Big Time ~ Congratulations on your well-deserved POTD, Mitch! #4483766

Arlene Krassner July 08, 2007 0

POTD: Congratulations Mitch. #4483802

Laurie Daily July 08, 2007 0

The first thing I saw this morning after being away from civilization for a week was this beauty... Congrats Mitch! #4483947

Nikki McDonald July 08, 2007 0

Couldn't be happier than I was to see this POTD on your fascinating creation, Mitch. All that work--or should I say play?--paid off. CONGRATULATIONS! #4483962

Jeff Robinson July 08, 2007 0

Congrats Mitch on your Excellent POTD!! Jeff #4484038

Joy Rector July 08, 2007 0

congrats on the POTD #4484084

Dr Silly July 08, 2007 0

WTG Mitch. Congratulations on your neat POTD. :O)
#4484093

Sherri Gorman July 08, 2007 0

Congratulations on your beautiful POTD!!! #4484106

Patricia A. Stalter July 08, 2007 0

Looks like you will HAVE to print this now! How wonderful to see it on POTD! My very fav person! Celebrate girl. #4484177

Dianna Hauf July 08, 2007 0

Oh MITCH!! I am dancing with joy this morning for you as I see this beautiful image of yours making POTD!!! Well deserved my friend!! (as I said earlier, you rock! :) CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Have a fantastic day!! #4484216

Kaye Burazin July 08, 2007 0

Bravo for you Mitch. POTD is awesome! #4484270

Katarina Mansson July 08, 2007 0

Wow - I guess the heat is on even more now! My warmest (or do you rather want them cool?) congratulations on this fabulous POTD Mitch! #4484408

Kara L. Hendricks July 08, 2007 0

Woohoo... Go Mitch... Go Mitch!!!

Congrats on the coveted BP POTD!!!! #4484413

Michelle R. Kovach July 08, 2007 0

Congratulations Mitch! WTG! #4484451

Nancy (Peaches) Harker July 08, 2007 0

OH so very cool and pretty...Congrats Mitch on your WONDERFUL POTD!!! #4484582

RC Fritz July 08, 2007 0

Big Congratulations Mitch!! Great POTD!!! #4484680

Datha Y. Thompson July 08, 2007 0

CONGRATULATIONS Mitch!!!!! WTG :0) #4484690

Colleen Farrell July 08, 2007 0

Fantastic floral, Mitch--so creatively executed and presented! And of course you have to have the eye to see the potential to begin with! I'm finally taking a PSE course--would like to be able to do what you've done without having to rely on a filter for every effect. Oh, almost forgot--CONGRATULATIONS on your POTD!! :D #4484706

Steve M. Harrington July 08, 2007 0

YES! I am over the top delighted that your talent, attention to detail and artistic vision have been recognized, Mitch. This has made my day! I am picturing you working for hours on this image, Madame Cloner. :)
Steve #4484842

Susan Fox July 08, 2007 0

Congratulations Mitch on your wonderful POTD! #4484881

Cheryl Meisel July 08, 2007 0

BIG CONGRATS on your POTD Mitch with this sweet works.
By the way how does one GET a POTD on Better Photo, they just pick them from entries? Just curious!
Cherylm #4484898

Donna La Mattino Pagakis July 08, 2007 0

Beautiful and artistic, huge congrats on your potd!! #4485071

Mitch Spence July 08, 2007 0

Well, my goodness. I could just pretend to be blase about it and say "oh, thank you" and like that. But I am EXCITED! Never had one of these before, and it has just made my day, or maybe month, or maybe longer. :) It's energizing and delightful, and I do truly, truly thank each of you for taking the time to congratulate me on this. BP has kept me involved in photography in a way that I'd never sustain otherwise I think, and all of you and your comments and inspiration are highly valued. #4485122

Jenny Bosmans July 08, 2007 0

Congratulations on this beautiful POTD, Mitch! :) #4485380

Judy A. Lawhon July 08, 2007 0

Way to go, Mitch...a beautiful POTD! Congratulations, I would be thrilled, too!!! #4485401

Lindley Johnson July 08, 2007 0

Mitch, this is very neat, thanks for sharing your methods, which paid off big time! I'd love to see the original. Congratulations on your POTD! #4485627

Mary Clarke July 08, 2007 0

Congratulations on POTD Mitch, lovely image #4485655

Nancy Donnell July 08, 2007 0

Great photo. Congratulations! It is just delightful. I was curious how you achieved the speckled background?
Did you say it was The Arboretum, or was it Missouri Botanical Garden? I would love to see the original just for fun. I live in St. Louis, and love both of those places. And love your image! #4485697

Jon Kolstad July 09, 2007 0

Congratulations on POTD Mitch, great image! -jon #4488605

Mitch Spence July 09, 2007 0

Thanks once again to everyone. Let me see if I can get the original up here, as a couple of you have asked to see. As I said, it's kind of goofy looking, or as they say in one of my favorite movies, "Fargo," "he was kinda funny lookin'" :)

Before I do that though, Nancy, you're absolutely right. It was the Botanical Gardens, not the Arboretum. We were spending a weekend in St. Louis for the zoo, the Botanical Gardens, and Grant's farm, just for fun. And you asked also, about the speckled background. That was simply the result (suprising as it turned out to be) of selecting the background only, and then the extreme saturation and hue change of that portion only. You wouldn't think that would do it, but it did. OK, the original now . . . #4488674

Nancy Donnell July 09, 2007 0

Hi, Mitch. Thanks for the post of the original. That water at MO. Bo. is usually a mess with fluffy stuff that shows up in the photos, and a huge job to clone out. I think they add something on purpose to make the water really dark, which usually helps the water lillies and things to pop visually. I love your colors, and your treatment. If you can come back, that place is always changing from season to season. There is an arboretum affiliated with the Botanical Gardens, although it is some distance away. It is wonderful as well, but completely different. ~ Nancy #4489469

Laurie Daily July 11, 2007 0

I just had a chance to check out your original. Really makes me appreciate the efforts that went into your finished piece, Mitch. Wonderful work!!! #4496389

Mitch Spence July 11, 2007 0

Nancy and Laurie, thanks for stopping back to look at the original, and Nancy, thanks for your input about the Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. Hope I can get back there one day soon. #4496915

JO ANN CLEVELAND July 13, 2007 0

Very interesting! Bet we see this again!

jo ann c. #4505342

Mitch Spence July 13, 2007 0

Jo Ann, thanks for looking and for your comment. I don't know. We'll see. :) #4505555

Carol Teal July 16, 2007 0

Mitch, I missed this wonderful POTD!! I was just going thru old emails and deleting them when I saw your name on the POTD image that I receive in the newsletter. I clicked on it and read all about how you did it and saw the original. Great work you did with this one! What a transformation! And WTG with your POTD! #4514914

Mitch Spence July 17, 2007 0

Hi, Carol. Thank you. I get so far behind trying to see all the neat stuff, you know. Got family company this week, so I'm kind of sneaking into my workroom, which my granddaughter is inhabiting, to quickly check on email. :) #4519100

Phil Stith July 21, 2007 0

Hey, Mitch! Congrats on your POTD. I gotta' say that you are putting up some really cool captures! Very nice work!!!
Phil #4534711

Mitch Spence July 21, 2007 0

Hey, Phil, thank you. I gotta say back that you're doing some pretty cool stuff yourself! #4536019

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