Help With A Gnarly Cactus

EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
edited January 13, 2012 in Landscapes
Of course I pick the gnarliest cactus in the desert to photograph with the moon but aside from that.... how do you guys handle saguaros? I always seem to get banding or fuzziness around it. Can you see it here? Thanks for help!

Desert-Moon-12-01-08b23-X2.jpg
~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe

Comments

  • CrokeyCrokey Registered Users Posts: 195 Major grins
    edited January 9, 2012
    Hi Eia,
    I'm new here so I'm just doing the rounds and checking out what everyone is up to. I might be the wrong person to give advice for this as I'm Irish and I don't believe I've ever seen a cactus other than on T.V. before(scrap that, I'm definitely the wrong person) but I can't see much going on here in terms of fuzziness. Perhaps what you are seeing is a bit of chromatic aberration or a result of sharpening. Or, as I have just discovered, sometimes it's just in your head...I'm actually starting to convince myself I can see what your on about! There's a weird thing with the human visual system, if you stare at a sharp contrasting edge(such as one would do when trying to discern fuzziness around a cactus silhouette!) the eye bounces back from one side of the edge to the other and there's no way to stop it. Sometimes perceived blurriness with an edge is because of this.

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/
    Regards,

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/
  • CornflakeCornflake Registered Users Posts: 3,346 Major grins
    edited January 9, 2012
    Eia, I think the image looks very good. I don't see whatever problem you're seeing, maybe because I'm not on my calibrated monitor at the moment.

    As for fuzziness with saguaros, I always get it. It's because of the spines, which create a somewhat translucent halo around each cactus. Big changes in contrast or luminosity seem to make it worse.
    Don
    Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited January 9, 2012
    Eia, this image is fine. The only haloing effect I can think of that you would get could be the sunlight being reflected by the spines on the cactus. I believe it would lighten the edge just about all around depending on the light. A way maybe you could tell would be to look at the detail at 100-200% to see what's exactly going on. Possibly a polarizer would work to help reduce the effect? Two other ways to deal with something like this would be to either work with it to make a better photo or try to make a composition that blocks it. Third option, pass and wait for better indirect light. I've only photographed them 2-3 times though, and nothing more than snapshots so I may just be wasting electrons typing this in.

    On this particular photo, unrelated to your question, I would suggest filling in the spot at the bottom where the horizon drops below the edge and off the image. In my opinion when shots do this it nearly alway looks like the photographer was avoiding something in the foreground and trying to shoot over it. Continuity of the low horizon could make the shot look like it was creatively purposeful and can be corrected by cloning in a bit of brush.
    Anybody can do it.
  • CornflakeCornflake Registered Users Posts: 3,346 Major grins
    edited January 9, 2012
    By the way, I had the same thought as Walter about the crop.
    Don
    Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited January 9, 2012
    Cornflake wrote: »
    By the way, I had the same thought as Walter about the crop.

    I probably should have said I had the same thought as you about the haloing. :)
    Anybody can do it.
  • CWSkopecCWSkopec Registered Users Posts: 1,325 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    I'm on my iPad, so I can't really comment on fuzziness, but I think this is a lovely image, Eia. Very nicely captured!
    Chris
    SmugMug QA
    My Photos
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    Eia,

    Fuzzy halo inspiration for you -- (the banner part).
    http://visionarywild.com/workshops/vision-catalina-mountains-arizona-ii/
    Anybody can do it.
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited January 10, 2012
    I don't see no stinkin' halo. Make a vertical crop out of the left side of the photo which would put both the cactus and moon at intersections of thirds and call it done. :D
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    Crokey wrote: »
    Hi Eia,
    I'm new here so I'm just doing the rounds and checking out what everyone is up to. I might be the wrong person to give advice for this as I'm Irish and I don't believe I've ever seen a cactus other than on T.V. before(scrap that, I'm definitely the wrong person) but I can't see much going on here in terms of fuzziness. Perhaps what you are seeing is a bit of chromatic aberration or a result of sharpening. Or, as I have just discovered, sometimes it's just in your head...I'm actually starting to convince myself I can see what your on about! There's a weird thing with the human visual system, if you stare at a sharp contrasting edge(such as one would do when trying to discern fuzziness around a cactus silhouette!) the eye bounces back from one side of the edge to the other and there's no way to stop it. Sometimes perceived blurriness with an edge is because of this.

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/

    Well - after laughing from your first sentence I do thank you for the advice. I think you are partly correct- I magnified it and I think part of it is from sharpening; though... I tend not to mess with the saguaro too much just because they always seem to look fuzzy edged. which brings me to Cornflake's comment....

    >Cornflake • Jan-09-2012 09:40 AM
    Eia, I think the image looks very good. I don't see whatever problem you're seeing, maybe because I'm not on my calibrated monitor at the moment. As for fuzziness with saguaros, I always get it. It's because of the spines, which create a somewhat translucent halo around each cactus. Big changes in contrast or luminosity seem to make it worse.<

    I've noticed that on quite a few photographs (of a saguaro) and not just on mine. I'm glad you verified it. But I do need to rework the sharpening. thank you very much!!!
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    wfeller wrote: »
    Eia, this image is fine. The only haloing effect I can think of that you would get could be the sunlight being reflected by the spines on the cactus. I believe it would lighten the edge just about all around depending on the light. A way maybe you could tell would be to look at the detail at 100-200% to see what's exactly going on. Possibly a polarizer would work to help reduce the effect? Two other ways to deal with something like this would be to either work with it to make a better photo or try to make a composition that blocks it. Third option, pass and wait for better indirect light. I've only photographed them 2-3 times though, and nothing more than snapshots so I may just be wasting electrons typing this in.

    On this particular photo, unrelated to your question, I would suggest filling in the spot at the bottom where the horizon drops below the edge and off the image. In my opinion when shots do this it nearly alway looks like the photographer was avoiding something in the foreground and trying to shoot over it. Continuity of the low horizon could make the shot look like it was creatively purposeful and can be corrected by cloning in a bit of brush.

    Thanks Walter - and I appreciate your electrons as it teaches me! I would not think about the lighting affecting it. I have another photo I took awhile back where the sun was coming in on the side. It's the only photo I have of a saguaro that looks tack on so you may be correct. I'm sure all this information suggested in this thread makes a difference with what I am seeing. It does look like I purposely avoided some foreground but there is a wash between me and the photo so it was quite difficult to position to get the shot. I have another that I will work on...composition is better but without the moon...on nice flat ground! :D I'll have to think about cloning...if I were a bit more savvy with computer imaging I would give it a go but that is a 'creative' idea! Thanks so much for the lesson!
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • OldGuyOldGuy Registered Users Posts: 301 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    Hi Eia, I agree with Kdog about the vertical crop. The moon and the cactus are the strongest element of the composition. clap.gif
    John Walker


    http://www.walkerimages.smugmug.com
    http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=10076
  • CrokeyCrokey Registered Users Posts: 195 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    You could plonk the moon over on the right hand side of the frame that way balancing out the photo, filling some empty space and killing whatever remains of artistic integrity all at once. Three birds in a bush....and you kill them all with...emmmm, something to do with a stone but it could have been a basket. Anyway, you get the point.
    Regards,

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2012
    Crokey wrote: »
    You could plonk the moon over on the right hand side of the frame that way balancing out the photo, filling some empty space and killing whatever remains of artistic integrity all at once. Three birds in a bush....and you kill them all with...emmmm, something to do with a stone but it could have been a basket. Anyway, you get the point.

    Laughing.gif....got it! Actually once upon... a time I used to do that sort of thing when I was doing graphics. :D
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited January 11, 2012
    kdog wrote: »
    I don't see no stinkin' halo. Make a vertical crop out of the left side of the photo which would put both the cactus and moon at intersections of thirds and call it done. :D

    I agree. Nice shot Eia!
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 12, 2012
    A cropped version as suggested:




    Desert-Moon-12-01-08e23-X2.jpg
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited January 12, 2012
    WOW!! That cropped version is gorgeous, Eia.
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 12, 2012
    redleash wrote: »
    WOW!! That cropped version is gorgeous, Eia.

    Thanks much! I dunno - ...
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited January 12, 2012
    Eia wrote: »
    Thanks much! I dunno - ...

    Obviously you'll be going back out. :):

    Fill the frame.
    Anybody can do it.
  • CrokeyCrokey Registered Users Posts: 195 Major grins
    edited January 13, 2012
    Dear God! The haloing around that cactus is horrendous! :D
    Regards,

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited January 13, 2012
    If you'll permit me, I was thinking a bit tighter, like this.

    i-Jt6TKP2.jpg
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited January 13, 2012
    kdog wrote: »
    If you'll permit me, I was thinking a bit tighter, like this.

    wish you would have done that to begin with! mwink.gif I so appreciate it and I do like the tighter best. Thank you soooo much.
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • shawncshawnc Registered Users Posts: 718 Major grins
    edited January 13, 2012
    My first thought when reading your post was, "Totally Gnarly Cactus, Dude". The way I handle a Saguaro? very carefully...
    Once I saw your shot, my second thought was, crop the entire right side out and make a portrait image. Well, looks like Joel beat me to it. What an improvement. Wonderful shot. I would almost try to crop a little more to put the cactus & Moon on thirds, if there is enough room to work with. Nice work Eia.
    http://www.shawncarden.smugmug.com/
    https://www.flickr.com/people/scardenphoto/
  • shawncshawnc Registered Users Posts: 718 Major grins
    edited January 13, 2012
    Wow, Well Joel beat me to it again. Never mind...Laughing.gif
    Much better
    I should look at the last page of the post prior to making a comment, Huh?
    http://www.shawncarden.smugmug.com/
    https://www.flickr.com/people/scardenphoto/
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited January 13, 2012
    Eia wrote: »
    wish you would have done that to begin with! mwink.gif I so appreciate it and I do like the tighter best. Thank you soooo much.
    No problem at all, Eia! I'd be hanging that one on my wall. nod.gif
    shawnc wrote: »
    Wow, Well Joel beat me to it again. Never mind...Laughing.gif
    Much better
    I should look at the last page of the post prior to making a comment, Huh?
    Howdy Shawn. wave.gif Sorry I was too quick on the draw for ya. rolleyes1.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
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