... if this is candle light, please post the original... with orange tones! candle light is going to be way off of what photoshop wants the levels to be! lets see the original!
I will post not only the original from raw without modifications, but also the scenario of the set-up.
I just arrived home and here is the picture.
Because the photo has been shot in the dinning room and I am going to dine now, I will post later the scenario of the hole picture.
Look at the time the photo was taken in the clock and check with the EXIF if you wish.
Here am I again.
I have just shot the picture with the same setting (on camera) than before. EXIF for this one
Yes. You are right in one point: I used three candles and not two. I forgot to mention it. It is so small and has so little light ... I mean the red candle near the reflector.
In fact the reflector is nothing but a piece of white card.
And yes again I was not able to reproduce the exact parameters I have used for the first time.
May be with more time and patience I could do it again.
Well what do you have to say now, please ?
I almost forgot: there is a fourth light without any influence: the one on the glass of the window at far right.
Thank you for the repost.
I can clearly what the issue was/is: the candles are *extremely* far away from you. As I said several times already, for this type of shooting it's NOT recommended to have the candle(s) furhter than 50 cm (< 2ft) from the face.
Thank you for the repost.
I can clearly what the issue was/is: the candles are *extremely* far away from you. As I said several times already, for this type of shooting it's NOT recommended to have the candle(s) furhter than 50 cm (< 2ft) from the face.
Nikolai,
As you see or can imagine I was not in this last picture in the same position as I was in the first picture.
Confusing. I am set at a chair in the last picture which is not the same as before.
I am going to measure the distance I was from the left candle at the time of the first picture. I can guess I was in fact some 50 cms away.
The issue is that that candle is very bright and the piece that burns - you understand - is very long and has been burning before. This is the reason why it gives such a long and vertical flame.
When candles are new they have smaller lights ...
Ok, here's my candlelit SP. Of course I shot before rereading the thread I could've probably done better with everyone's discussion fresh in mind!
I used 5 candles about 2 ft. away, at lap height sitting down. Noise at high ISO is totally brutal on my camera, so I'm resting on a pillow because apparently I'm just like my kids and can NOT stay still on my own for 3 seconds! Also, I'm still learning my way around CS3 and couldn't find the eyebrow plucker tool
Ok, here's my candlelit SP. Of course I shot before rereading the thread I could've probably done better with everyone's discussion fresh in mind!
I used 5 candles about 2 ft. away, at lap height sitting down. Noise at high ISO is totally brutal on my camera, so I'm resting on a pillow because apparently I'm just like my kids and can NOT stay still on my own for 3 seconds! Also, I'm still learning my way around CS3 and couldn't find the eyebrow plucker tool
Post precessing includes the usual sharpening and levels, et al., plus grain texture, very mild gausian blur and a vignette.
EXIF:
Nikon D40X
2008/04/26 19:28:49.6
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 G
Focal Length: 65mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/3 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: -1.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 1600
Set-up:
The set-up shot was taken early. For the image above, the candles and the reflector were reversed. House lights were on, but dimmed to very low. Unfortunately, not low enough. Hence the vignette.
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
We then went out on the balcony and had a little fun creating a vintage horror movie scene. (But in color?) This one is not intended for the assignment, because the setting sun played a too-big role. I just wanted to show it.
The picture taken a moment later startled the neighbors.
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Post precessing includes the usual sharpening and levels, et al., plus grain texture, very mild gausian blur and a vignette.
The set-up shot was taken early. For the image above, the candles and the reflector were reversed. House lights were on, but dimmed to very low. Unfortunately, not low enough. Hence the vignette.
It's an insteresting picture, but I'm afraid with all the pp enhacements and technicalities it lost the original feeling I'm sure it had at some point. I look at this image and I cannot get past the tons of noise and an extremely low dynamic range
It's an insteresting picture, but I'm afraid with all the pp enhacements and technicalities it lost the original feeling I'm sure it had at some point. I look at this image and I cannot get past the tons of noise and an extremely low dynamic range
I understand your point completely, Nikolai. As you can see in the EXIF, exposure compensation was at -1.3. I'd failed to set it to less compensation and underexposed the shots. I didn't notice my error until I got home and saw it in the EXIF. :cry
Regarding the noise, underexposing at ISO 1600 has that unfortunate effect. I'm sure I would have done better by exposing properly. I don't have a recent enough version of Photoshop to reduce the noise, and I'd forgotten to turn it on in-camera - I should have done at least that - so I added film grain and a slight gausian blur. It worked a little. A little too little. The low dinamic range you see is the best I could get without it looking over-processed. Believe me, I tried.
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Not quite Candlelight... I had a flat tire and stopped to have the vulcanizer repair the tube. He has a press made out of pistons and he buids a fire in the top most to provide the heat for the vulcanizing process.
Charles Richmond IT & Security Consultant
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
I was prompted to add this one by Ian Clark.
First post is a crop, the second below the full image.
Paul.
Paul,
thank you!
It's a great setup, however I do feel that:
1) bw treatment steals from the image instead of adding to it. The warmth of candle light is totally gone and it's "just a portrait under some relatively harsh light"
2) In general the image seems overly soft in some artificial way (oveprocessed)
first attempt... sitting on the floor of my closet...
Welcome to the Class and thank you for your entry!
I like the use of a little diffuser! I think it would be even better if you hold it just a little bit further away from the face and a bit higher...
Comments
(nt)
www.myphotography.tk
I will post not only the original from raw without modifications, but also the scenario of the set-up.
I would crop out the top part and maybe played with levels beyou auto mode to dim the noise..
Because the photo has been shot in the dinning room and I am going to dine now, I will post later the scenario of the hole picture.
Look at the time the photo was taken in the clock and check with the EXIF if you wish.
From RAW file "As shot" and "Default"
I have just shot the picture with the same setting (on camera) than before.
EXIF for this one
Yes. You are right in one point: I used three candles and not two. I forgot to mention it. It is so small and has so little light ... I mean the red candle near the reflector.
In fact the reflector is nothing but a piece of white card.
And yes again I was not able to reproduce the exact parameters I have used for the first time.
May be with more time and patience I could do it again.
Well what do you have to say now, please ?
I almost forgot: there is a fourth light without any influence: the one on the glass of the window at far right.
I can clearly what the issue was/is: the candles are *extremely* far away from you. As I said several times already, for this type of shooting it's NOT recommended to have the candle(s) furhter than 50 cm (< 2ft) from the face.
Nikolai,
As you see or can imagine I was not in this last picture in the same position as I was in the first picture.
Confusing. I am set at a chair in the last picture which is not the same as before.
I am going to measure the distance I was from the left candle at the time of the first picture. I can guess I was in fact some 50 cms away.
The issue is that that candle is very bright and the piece that burns - you understand - is very long and has been burning before. This is the reason why it gives such a long and vertical flame.
When candles are new they have smaller lights ...
The other candle, the one in the back, is similar to the left one but smaller.
Thank you Nikolai. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/bowdown.gif" border="0" alt="" >
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif" border="0" alt="" >
Both are 50 cms and 55 cms, referring to the first submitted photo
D
I suggest we move onto the next one...
I am sorry you don't like my picture because I do and I consider it a good one.
I couldn't understand what you had in mind. :cry
Let's move on.
We can't please everyone, can we ?
I used 5 candles about 2 ft. away, at lap height sitting down. Noise at high ISO is totally brutal on my camera, so I'm resting on a pillow because apparently I'm just like my kids and can NOT stay still on my own for 3 seconds! Also, I'm still learning my way around CS3 and couldn't find the eyebrow plucker tool
exif
Peace,
Sanaka
Kit lens for now: 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS
Sanaka, thank you, nice entry!
Post precessing includes the usual sharpening and levels, et al., plus grain texture, very mild gausian blur and a vignette.
EXIF:
Nikon D40X
2008/04/26 19:28:49.6
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 G
Focal Length: 65mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/3 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: -1.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 1600
Set-up:
The set-up shot was taken early. For the image above, the candles and the reflector were reversed. House lights were on, but dimmed to very low. Unfortunately, not low enough. Hence the vignette.
__________________
My SmugMug Gallery
My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
The picture taken a moment later startled the neighbors.
Yes, she eventually got wax on her hand. Ouch!
__________________
My SmugMug Gallery
My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
It's an insteresting picture, but I'm afraid with all the pp enhacements and technicalities it lost the original feeling I'm sure it had at some point. I look at this image and I cannot get past the tons of noise and an extremely low dynamic range
I understand your point completely, Nikolai. As you can see in the EXIF, exposure compensation was at -1.3. I'd failed to set it to less compensation and underexposed the shots. I didn't notice my error until I got home and saw it in the EXIF. :cry
Regarding the noise, underexposing at ISO 1600 has that unfortunate effect. I'm sure I would have done better by exposing properly. I don't have a recent enough version of Photoshop to reduce the noise, and I'd forgotten to turn it on in-camera - I should have done at least that - so I added film grain and a slight gausian blur. It worked a little. A little too little. The low dinamic range you see is the best I could get without it looking over-processed. Believe me, I tried.
Thank you, Nikolai.
__________________
My SmugMug Gallery
My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
First post is a crop, the second below the full image.
Paul.
Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk
Paul.
Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk
thank you!
It's a great setup, however I do feel that:
1) bw treatment steals from the image instead of adding to it. The warmth of candle light is totally gone and it's "just a portrait under some relatively harsh light"
2) In general the image seems overly soft in some artificial way (oveprocessed)
I like the use of a little diffuser! I think it would be even better if you hold it just a little bit further away from the face and a bit higher...
i think a couple more candles would have helped it as well.... maybe next time...