Illustrations part 2

Illustrations part 2 · 09:08 AM

The encouragement a lot of you gave me last time I posted some illustrations got me to work on the process. So I decided to use the bench as a trial image for refining my style. It is close and I went back in different light conditions, used various focal lengths, and f stops for DOF control. Processed them several ways and learned a lot. The difference between these two is just the crop. keep in mind I'm not going for technical excellence but a "feel" to the image. Got any comments?

Thanks.

Ken

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 05-15-2008, 10:05 AM

Very nice Ken, I'll take the second one it's a bit more open

**SCGushue** · 05-15-2008, 10:30 AM

Ken,

I agree with Heinrich that the second one is the stronger composition. For me personally, it is much stronger.

Stephen

momtographer · 05-15-2008, 11:03 AM

the pp is really neat looking, wanna give any tips?

**keithlester** · 05-15-2008, 11:50 AM

The second crop gives the neccesary space to the image. Without that space the view from the bench is removed, and there is no rationale for the bench to be in the shot. I vote for No. 2.

regken · 05-15-2008, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by momtographer

the pp is really neat looking, wanna give any tips?

If you have Lightroom you can start here:
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips Video - Surreal Edgy Effect
then take as many liberties as you can think of. The process doesn't work well on all images. Don't be afraid give the WB slides kick, it can make a big difference.

have some fun with it.
Ken

Damn Brit · 05-15-2008, 12:31 PM

Nice Ken, I also like the second one. The only problem I have with it is that it looks like you haven't done anything to the top right hand third of the picture. It looks, to me, a bit like a photo and a painting cobbled together.
Gary

regken · 05-15-2008, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Nice Ken, I also like the second one. The only problem I have with it is that it looks like you haven't done anything to the top right hand third of the picture. It looks, to me, a bit like a photo and a painting cobbled together.
Gary

Hmm, Interesting observation, I see what you mean. The first time I shot it I opened the aperture more and that area was blurry but got a few comments that people didn't like that. Well, it's back to lightroom for another try.

Thanks,

ken

Damn Brit · 05-15-2008, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by regken

Hmm, Interesting observation, I see what you mean. The first time I shot it I opened the aperture more and that area was blurry but got a few comments that people didn't like that. Well, it's back to lightroom for another try.

Thanks,

ken

Hey Ken, we all know practice makes perfect right, don't see it as going back to lightroom for another try, look at it as going back to learn something new.

Gary

regken · 05-15-2008, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Hey Ken, we all know practice makes perfect right, don't see it as going back to lightroom for another try, look at it as going back to learn something new.

Gary

Gary,
I added a third photo with some work done on the far shoreline and sky. Does the whole thing look more balanced as an illustration?
Thanks,
Ken

Damn Brit · 05-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by regken

Gary,
I added a third photo with some work done on the far shoreline and sky. Does the whole thing look more balanced as an illustration?
Thanks,
Ken

Much better Ken, I don't think it matters much about the sky but the trees and rocks below it look much more balanced with the rest of the picture. Have you tried printing any of them yet?
Gary

spyglass · 05-15-2008, 02:06 PM

The 3rd photo seems to have a bit more contrast. I like it. It helps give a bit more depth and detail to the shot. Once again I like where you are going with this style. I look forward to seeing your future posts.

regken · 05-15-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Much better Ken, I don't think it matters much about the sky but the trees and rocks below it look much more balanced with the rest of the picture. Have you tried printing any of them yet?
Gary

I printed up a couple of my early attempts. A friend of mine had to put down her horse after twenty years and I managed to grab a shot just before that. Printed it at 14 X11 and it was a real hit, many many tears.

I'm very impressed with Adorama. The prints came back and matched the screen image perfectly.

Ken

codiac2600 · 05-16-2008, 06:28 AM

Wonderful shots here and I have to agree that #2 is the definite winner the extra portion on the side still intact.

I know it was tough not going with the traditional 4:3 aspect, but everything in this era is going wider and 2:3 looks so awesome in landscape.

Thanks for sharing and wonderful story at the end.

daacon · 05-16-2008, 06:30 AM

Cool effect and I like it.

regken
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by regken
	Find threads started by regken
	Find threads in which regken has posted

05-15-2008, 11:50 AM	#5
keithlester Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Carradale, Scotland Posts: 301	space The second crop gives the neccesary space to the image. Without that space the view from the bench is removed, and there is no rationale for the bench to be in the shot. I vote for No. 2.

05-15-2008, 01:19 PM	#10
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit Hey Ken, we all know practice makes perfect right, don't see it as going back to lightroom for another try, look at it as going back to learn something new. Gary Gary, I added a third photo with some work done on the far shoreline and sky. Does the whole thing look more balanced as an illustration? Thanks, Ken Last edited by regken; 05-15-2008 at 01:40 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Book Illustrations	jeffkpotter	Post Your Photos!	11	12-24-2008 09:46 AM
Living history day Illustrations	regken	Post Your Photos!	7	10-09-2008 05:15 AM
Illustrations	regken	Post Your Photos!	16	05-07-2008 08:08 PM
where am I? part 2	laissezfaire	Post Your Photos!	1	12-21-2007 07:59 AM
Playing with Illustrations	regken	Post Your Photos!	5	11-24-2007 07:16 PM

05-15-2008, 10:05 AM	#2
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Very nice Ken, I'll take the second one it's a bit more open

05-15-2008, 10:30 AM	#3
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,449	Ken, I agree with Heinrich that the second one is the stronger composition. For me personally, it is much stronger. Stephen

05-15-2008, 11:03 AM	#4
momtographer Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 64	the pp is really neat looking, wanna give any tips?

05-15-2008, 11:56 AM	#6
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Originally posted by momtographer the pp is really neat looking, wanna give any tips? If you have Lightroom you can start here: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips Video - Surreal Edgy Effect then take as many liberties as you can think of. The process doesn't work well on all images. Don't be afraid give the WB slides kick, it can make a big difference. have some fun with it. Ken

05-15-2008, 12:31 PM	#7
Damn Brit Guest	Nice Ken, I also like the second one. The only problem I have with it is that it looks like you haven't done anything to the top right hand third of the picture. It looks, to me, a bit like a photo and a painting cobbled together. Gary

05-15-2008, 12:47 PM	#8
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit Nice Ken, I also like the second one. The only problem I have with it is that it looks like you haven't done anything to the top right hand third of the picture. It looks, to me, a bit like a photo and a painting cobbled together. Gary Hmm, Interesting observation, I see what you mean. The first time I shot it I opened the aperture more and that area was blurry but got a few comments that people didn't like that. Well, it's back to lightroom for another try. Thanks, ken

05-15-2008, 12:59 PM	#9
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by regken Hmm, Interesting observation, I see what you mean. The first time I shot it I opened the aperture more and that area was blurry but got a few comments that people didn't like that. Well, it's back to lightroom for another try. Thanks, ken Hey Ken, we all know practice makes perfect right, don't see it as going back to lightroom for another try, look at it as going back to learn something new. Gary

05-15-2008, 01:43 PM	#11
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by regken Gary, I added a third photo with some work done on the far shoreline and sky. Does the whole thing look more balanced as an illustration? Thanks, Ken Much better Ken, I don't think it matters much about the sky but the trees and rocks below it look much more balanced with the rest of the picture. Have you tried printing any of them yet? Gary

05-15-2008, 02:06 PM	#12
spyglass Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 747	The 3rd photo seems to have a bit more contrast. I like it. It helps give a bit more depth and detail to the shot. Once again I like where you are going with this style. I look forward to seeing your future posts.

05-15-2008, 03:03 PM	#13
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit Much better Ken, I don't think it matters much about the sky but the trees and rocks below it look much more balanced with the rest of the picture. Have you tried printing any of them yet? Gary I printed up a couple of my early attempts. A friend of mine had to put down her horse after twenty years and I managed to grab a shot just before that. Printed it at 14 X11 and it was a real hit, many many tears. I'm very impressed with Adorama. The prints came back and matched the screen image perfectly. Ken

05-16-2008, 06:28 AM	#14
codiac2600 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 2,027	Wonderful shots here and I have to agree that #2 is the definite winner the extra portion on the side still intact. I know it was tough not going with the traditional 4:3 aspect, but everything in this era is going wider and 2:3 looks so awesome in landscape. Thanks for sharing and wonderful story at the end.

05-16-2008, 06:30 AM	#15
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Cool effect and I like it.