Snowdrop

Snowdrop · 03:58 AM

This grows in my front yard, and there are such masses of it in early spring, it looks like it snowed. We don't know whats it called, so we just simply call it snowdrop. Still bravely flowering on into autumn. Anyone know what it is?

mtnbearhug · 03-11-2008, 08:03 PM

Selar,

This is a really nice pic but it seems little dull... Those flowers are beautiful... Can you process it to brighten then up a bit more..

If not let me know and I can see what I can do with them....

Thanks for sharin.. Kim

selar · 03-11-2008, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by mtnbearhug

If not let me know and I can see what I can do with them....

I'd like to see what you do with it, and please share your technique, if thats okay. I don't know much about post processing.

mtnbearhug · 03-11-2008, 09:55 PM

Here you go... This is a quick fix.. and if you dont like.. its ok.. I will try to spend more time on it tomorrow or Thursday..

Let me know what you think..

Processing....

1. Cropped it.. (sorry, I like to crop)
2. Adjusted my curves (RGB levels)
3. Boosted the contrast a bit
4. Used the magic wand to highlight the flowers... then sharpened them to about a 10)

I would still take out the leaf on the top left and the little one on the right of the flower.. but that is just me... I also might have tried to reduce the noise on it a bit looking back at it now... that would soften it a bit as well..

I encourage you did get into your processing program and just play with it.. That is the easiest way to learn how to use it....

Let me know what you think... Kim

Kim

Last edited by mtnbearhug; 03-11-2008 at 10:26 PM.

Alefone · 03-12-2008, 03:43 AM

I like the original much better then what you've "tried" to do with it,on my screen your's looks kind of greenish...

.The original picture has a certain mood of innocence that I like....
Thanks for posting

selar · 03-12-2008, 05:32 AM

I find these flowers very difficult to shoot correctly. Its hard to avoid blowing the highlights with these tiny white petals.

At the same time the picture does lack some "pop". I am interested in way to make the flowers stand out more from the background without losing any detail. I don't think more sharpening would help, but thats me, I like the smooth film look from Pentax. I also don't want to "hurt" the bokeh.

Peter Zack · 03-12-2008, 05:56 AM

I agree with Alefone. It's a very nice shot as is. If you did want to change it in some way, I gave it a try. I tried curves and several other effects but the process ended up being very simple since the shot is nice to begin with.

Isolate the flower with the magic wand.
Reverse the selection (so the flower is left alone)
increase the saturation +10
Increase contrast +5
Reduce brightness -10
here's the result:
[Image removed to save space]

If you really want the flower to pop from the background you could try this:
[Image removed to save space]
The tool is called Focus Point blur in my software. It allows you to select the sharp area and blur the background even more.

What software do you have?

Last edited by Peter Zack; 06-14-2008 at 06:40 AM.

selar · 03-12-2008, 06:01 AM

How does this attempt work?

Basically did what Zack suggested except didn't use the magic wand, as I'm not familiar with it - should learn it.

selar · 03-12-2008, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

I

What software do you have?

Photoshop CS2

mtnbearhug · 03-12-2008, 06:11 AM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

I tried curves and several other effects but the process ended up being very simple since the shot is nice to begin with.

Isolate the flower with the magic wand.
Reverse the selection (so the flower is left alone)
increase the saturation +10
Increase contrast +5
Reduce brightness -10
here's the result:

If you really want the flower to pop from the background you could try this:
The tool is called Focus Point blur in my software. It allows you to select the sharp area and blur the background even more.

Nice job Peter.. that is what I was trying to do.. but got carried away detailing the flowers.. (shrugs shoulders, atleast I gave it a whirl !! ).. I haven't tried the focus point blur yet... I will have to play with that..

Originally posted by selar

Basically did what Zack suggested except didn't use the magic wand, as I'm not familiar with it - should learn it.

I was a bit scared of the magic wand as well Selar, but it is actually alot easier that you think.. Especially on this picture since the only white is the flower.. Just select the wand and click on the flower. You may have to push down you ctrl key and click a couple spots to highlight the whole flower... it is much easier then using the lasso for sure....

daacon · 03-12-2008, 06:11 AM

Not sure what the flower is called but I like the shot you took. There are many PP exerpts here they can help ya out - although the original looks pretty good.

Peter Zack · 03-12-2008, 07:02 AM

Looks pretty good Selar. It's a very nice shot to begin with so you don't have to do much with it. BTW it's called a European "Snowball" bush. Of course a Canadian would know that name!!

channeler · 03-12-2008, 08:53 AM

I like the original shot Selar. Don't think there was anything wrong with it. But it's interesting to see what people can do with some PP. I think I like Peter's first PP out of all the variations.

Paul

Rickster · 03-12-2008, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by mtnbearhug

Here you go... This is a quick fix.. and if you dont like.. its ok.. I will try to spend more time on it tomorrow or Thursday..

Let me know what you think..

Processing....

1. Cropped it.. (sorry, I like to crop)
2. Adjusted my curves (RGB levels)
3. Boosted the contrast a bit
4. Used the magic wand to highlight the flowers... then sharpened them to about a 10)

I would still take out the leaf on the top left and the little one on the right of the flower.. but that is just me... I also might have tried to reduce the noise on it a bit looking back at it now... that would soften it a bit as well..

I encourage you did get into your processing program and just play with it.. That is the easiest way to learn how to use it....

Let me know what you think... Kim

Kim

Whoa Kim! You did exactly what I did to the image yesterday. Right down to the crop.

Great minds, eh?

selar · 03-12-2008, 07:38 PM

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments, Kim and Peter for their PP lessons and I'm specially thrilled to know the real name and that I was pretty close to the real name.

I'll freely admit that the shot was nothing special, except to me and my daughter who wanted it for a background for her desktop on the computer. She's pretty pleased with it.

Okay, at the risk of sounding like a gearhead, is anyone interested in guessing the lens?

selar
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03-11-2008, 08:03 PM	#2
mtnbearhug Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Emmett, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,351	needs..... Selar, This is a really nice pic but it seems little dull... Those flowers are beautiful... Can you process it to brighten then up a bit more.. If not let me know and I can see what I can do with them.... Thanks for sharin.. Kim

03-11-2008, 09:55 PM	#4
mtnbearhug Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Emmett, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,351	Here you go.. Here you go... This is a quick fix.. and if you dont like.. its ok.. I will try to spend more time on it tomorrow or Thursday.. Let me know what you think.. Processing.... 1. Cropped it.. (sorry, I like to crop) 2. Adjusted my curves (RGB levels) 3. Boosted the contrast a bit 4. Used the magic wand to highlight the flowers... then sharpened them to about a 10) I would still take out the leaf on the top left and the little one on the right of the flower.. but that is just me... I also might have tried to reduce the noise on it a bit looking back at it now... that would soften it a bit as well.. I encourage you did get into your processing program and just play with it.. That is the easiest way to learn how to use it.... Let me know what you think... Kim Kim Last edited by mtnbearhug; 03-11-2008 at 10:26 PM.

03-12-2008, 06:11 AM	#10
mtnbearhug Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Emmett, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,351	I tried... Originally posted by Peter Zack I tried curves and several other effects but the process ended up being very simple since the shot is nice to begin with. Isolate the flower with the magic wand. Reverse the selection (so the flower is left alone) increase the saturation +10 Increase contrast +5 Reduce brightness -10 here's the result: If you really want the flower to pop from the background you could try this: The tool is called Focus Point blur in my software. It allows you to select the sharp area and blur the background even more. Nice job Peter.. that is what I was trying to do.. but got carried away detailing the flowers.. (shrugs shoulders, atleast I gave it a whirl !! ).. I haven't tried the focus point blur yet... I will have to play with that.. Originally posted by selar Basically did what Zack suggested except didn't use the magic wand, as I'm not familiar with it - should learn it. I was a bit scared of the magic wand as well Selar, but it is actually alot easier that you think.. Especially on this picture since the only white is the flower.. Just select the wand and click on the flower. You may have to push down you ctrl key and click a couple spots to highlight the whole flower... it is much easier then using the lasso for sure....

03-11-2008, 09:03 PM	#3
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042 Original Poster	Originally posted by mtnbearhug If not let me know and I can see what I can do with them.... I'd like to see what you do with it, and please share your technique, if thats okay. I don't know much about post processing.

03-12-2008, 03:43 AM	#5
Alefone Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 326	I like the original much better then what you've "tried" to do with it,on my screen your's looks kind of greenish... .The original picture has a certain mood of innocence that I like.... Thanks for posting

03-12-2008, 05:32 AM	#6
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042 Original Poster	I find these flowers very difficult to shoot correctly. Its hard to avoid blowing the highlights with these tiny white petals. At the same time the picture does lack some "pop". I am interested in way to make the flowers stand out more from the background without losing any detail. I don't think more sharpening would help, but thats me, I like the smooth film look from Pentax. I also don't want to "hurt" the bokeh.

03-12-2008, 05:56 AM	#7
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	I agree with Alefone. It's a very nice shot as is. If you did want to change it in some way, I gave it a try. I tried curves and several other effects but the process ended up being very simple since the shot is nice to begin with. Isolate the flower with the magic wand. Reverse the selection (so the flower is left alone) increase the saturation +10 Increase contrast +5 Reduce brightness -10 here's the result: [Image removed to save space] If you really want the flower to pop from the background you could try this: [Image removed to save space] The tool is called Focus Point blur in my software. It allows you to select the sharp area and blur the background even more. What software do you have? Last edited by Peter Zack; 06-14-2008 at 06:40 AM.

03-12-2008, 06:01 AM	#8
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042 Original Poster	How does this attempt work? Basically did what Zack suggested except didn't use the magic wand, as I'm not familiar with it - should learn it.

03-12-2008, 06:10 AM	#9
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042 Original Poster	Originally posted by Peter Zack I What software do you have? Photoshop CS2

03-12-2008, 06:11 AM	#11
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Not sure what the flower is called but I like the shot you took. There are many PP exerpts here they can help ya out - although the original looks pretty good.

03-12-2008, 07:02 AM	#12
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Looks pretty good Selar. It's a very nice shot to begin with so you don't have to do much with it. BTW it's called a European "Snowball" bush. Of course a Canadian would know that name!!

03-12-2008, 08:53 AM	#13
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009	I like the original shot Selar. Don't think there was anything wrong with it. But it's interesting to see what people can do with some PP. I think I like Peter's first PP out of all the variations. Paul

03-12-2008, 10:53 AM	#14
Rickster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SE Idaho - Rocky Mtns Photos: Gallery Posts: 580	Originally posted by mtnbearhug Here you go... This is a quick fix.. and if you dont like.. its ok.. I will try to spend more time on it tomorrow or Thursday.. Let me know what you think.. Processing.... 1. Cropped it.. (sorry, I like to crop) 2. Adjusted my curves (RGB levels) 3. Boosted the contrast a bit 4. Used the magic wand to highlight the flowers... then sharpened them to about a 10) I would still take out the leaf on the top left and the little one on the right of the flower.. but that is just me... I also might have tried to reduce the noise on it a bit looking back at it now... that would soften it a bit as well.. I encourage you did get into your processing program and just play with it.. That is the easiest way to learn how to use it.... Let me know what you think... Kim Kim Whoa Kim! You did exactly what I did to the image yesterday. Right down to the crop. Great minds, eh?

03-12-2008, 07:38 PM	#15
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042 Original Poster	Thanks to everyone for their kind comments, Kim and Peter for their PP lessons and I'm specially thrilled to know the real name and that I was pretty close to the real name. I'll freely admit that the shot was nothing special, except to me and my daughter who wanted it for a background for her desktop on the computer. She's pretty pleased with it. Okay, at the risk of sounding like a gearhead, is anyone interested in guessing the lens?