Wildflower...

Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
edited October 5, 2006 in Wildlife
...from a local prairie. Masked flower and used extreme gaussian blur for effect. The gold background is real from a stand of grass. This is not my thing...but I kind of like it.

99636800-L.jpg

There is even a bonus bug on the upper bud!:wink

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2006
    I like it too Ric. The blur worked pretty good on this shot. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2006
    iloveyou.gif lovely flower Ric
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    I like it too Ric. The blur worked pretty good on this shot. thumb.gif

    Thanks, Harry.:D

    I was just going to apply a little blur to smooth the background, and just for the hell of it I moved the slider to an extreme and stumbled on to something I will use again. All that masking is a pain though!
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2006
    Very nice Ric. Great to see some of your "other" work also.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    great shot and effect ric!wings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • RogersDARogersDA Registered Users Posts: 3,502 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    Ric,

    Nice shot & nice editing. I like the background, too. clap.gif
    David
    GreyLeaf PhotoGraphy
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    Nice Ric! Are you doing your post in photoshop?
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Nice Ric! Are you doing your post in photoshop?

    Thanks, Glenn. :D

    I use Corel PhotoPaint X3 which is part of Corel's Graphic Suite X3. I also use iCorrect EditLab Pro as a plugin extensively for exposure comp...shifting, desat and sat, brightening or dimming of specific (clickable) hues...shadow detail...midtones... and highlight recovery.

    If I want to correct wide angle shots I use DxO. Which I also use if I have a batch of similar shots and let DxO do everything. Very easy, fast, and very good.
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    Bird using same effect.
    Swamp Sparrow

    99997276-M.jpg
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    It is a good way to smooth the backgrounds but you have to watch out for halos around your selections. In both of these images you can tell they were edited because if you have even a tiny bit of the subject selected then the gaussian blur will exentuate it by makeing a huge halo. I'm not sure if Photopaint has the option or not but you may want to add just a tiny bit of monochrome noise to the blurred background so it will look more natural.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    It is a good way to smooth the backgrounds but you have to watch out for halos around your selections. In both of these images you can tell they were edited because if you have even a tiny bit of the subject selected then the Gaussian blur will extenuate it by making a huge halo. I'm not sure if Photopaint has the option or not but you may want to add just a tiny bit of monochrome noise to the blurred background so it will look more natural.

    The halo was intentional, Nick. mwink.gif

    But, I get what your saying. Yes I can add the noise in CPP.

    I was going for the artsy look.

    I blur my background all the time (when needed)...and find that feathering the mask works wonders in maintaining that natural look.

    I appreciate your commenting. :D
  • LCDLCD Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2006
    Nice effect Ric. I have some of those flowers in my garden and it is not always easy to get the right dog. You nailed it! thumb.gif
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2006
    RogersDA wrote:
    Ric,

    Nice shot & nice editing. I like the background, too. clap.gif

    Thank you, David.:D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2006
    Dick on Aruba wrote:
    Very nice Ric. Great to see some of your "other" work also.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.

    Thanks, Dick. :D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2006
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    great shot and effect ric!wings.gif

    Thanks, dbaker.:D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2006
    LCD wrote:
    Nice effect Ric. I have some of those flowers in my garden and it is not always easy to get the right dog. You nailed it! thumb.gif

    Thanks very much, Lisa.:D :D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2006
    Awais Yaqub wrote:
    iloveyou.gif lovely flower Ric

    Thanks, Awais. :D
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