Assignment #16: Specular highlights

NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
edited June 5, 2012 in Assignments
OK, pannin' n' blurrin' turned out to be pretty tough, didn' it? :wink

Let's drop technical difficulty down a notch and concentrate on something what is sometimes considered to be a defect: specular highlight.

Sun "stars", reflected or direct, a bright street light in a dark alley - well, your imagination is the limit.

As always: fresh pictures only, moderate PS is OK.
For the rest of the basic rules and index please check out this sticky.

Let's highlight!
"May the f/stop be with you!"
«13

Comments

  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Just for Clarification
    We are looking for reflection of light correct? Like these?

    Clouds Reflecting
    90709051-L.jpg

    Cardinal Stadium Roof on 1927 Ford
    96089729-L.jpg

    More Recent Sun Star
    112251643-L.jpg

    I'll find more. Just wanted to be sure I am on the right track.

    Aaron
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

    Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
    Facebook: Capturing Light and Emotion
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Aaron,
    anwmn1 wrote:
    We are looking for reflection of light correct? Like these?
    Clouds Reflecting
    Cardinal Stadium Roof on 1927 Ford
    More Recent Sun Star
    I'll find more. Just wanted to be sure I am on the right track.
    Aaron

    Clouds: no, they are just light, but it's possible and often desirable to salvage them.

    Roof: the windows - yes, as well as some chrome refelection

    Sun star: yup, can't get any brighter (unless you're in a ground zero of the nuclear blast, but this may fry your CCD anyway:-)

    Good luck!thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Fun with candle light.

    112651305-L.jpg
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Douglas,
    douglas wrote:
    Fun with candle light.

    Great entry, as always! thumb.gif

    Although I think the reflections on the left "steal" the attention, I'd clone them out, what do you think? headscratch.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    Great entry, as always! thumb.gif

    Although I think the reflections on the left "steal" the attention, I'd clone them out, what do you think? headscratch.gif

    Thank you Nik. I considered cloning them out but I thought maybe they were "specular highlights" So I left them in for assignment subject reasons. Although I agree removing them which would be very easy in this shot, I think would make a better photograph.
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Douglas,
    douglas wrote:
    Thank you Nik. I considered cloning them out but I thought maybe they were "specular highlights" So I left them in for assignment subject reasons. Although I agree removing them which would be very easy in this shot, I think would make a better photograph.

    Those reflections are pretty dark, and as such, do not consitute the "specular highlights", which, by definition, are expretmely bright areas one should ignore while balancing the image.
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2006
    Sun reflection
    Specular highlights on the car:

    112740699-L.jpg

    Taken about 15 minutes ago...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Shot this one moments ago...

    112836254-L.jpg
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Douglas,
    douglas wrote:
    Shot this one moments ago...
    Cool idea! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Four Specular Lights
    Curious how CPF behaves here. Later I'll post those experiments.
    These pictures were shot in the garden and right in front of the house.
    It's not my car.
    Is it well done, Nik ?
    112893933-M.jpg112894324-M.jpg112894852-M.jpg112895119-M.jpg
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Antonio,
    Curious how CPF behaves here. Later I'll post those experiments.
    These pictures were shot in the garden and right in front of the house.
    It's not my car.
    Is it well done, Nik ?

    They are all a propos, but the first two are awesome! thumb.gifclap.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    They are all a propos, but the first two are awesome! thumb.gifclap.gif

    Thank you Nikolai.

    In all the photos I was controlling the reflections because I was using a CPFilter.
    As I moved I could get the sun, or avoid it.
    In the car for example I moved 2 or 3 times not to get the sun too strongly.
    The same happened on the 3.ed picture.
    Myself I think the 2.ed picture is too flat under an aesthetic point of view.

    I hope to be able to shoot more soon.

    All the best.
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • photodougphotodoug Registered Users Posts: 870 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    red only seen when the light refracts just so....

    113003966-M.jpg
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Doug,
    photodoug wrote:
    red only seen when the light refracts just so....

    With all due respect, I don't see any assignment subject herene_nau.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    This picture was taken a few days before the assignment was posted, but I have way too many papers to write this week for grad school to go running outside midday presently to take a new one (with my now new camera, still had the old camera at the beginning of this week).

    Taken in my dad's backyard back on Long Island on the 21st with my Canon Powershot Pro1.

    113064932-M.jpg

    I realize it's overly centered, but that's what happens when you're just shooting for fun and not the actual assignment, if I make some headway on these papers tonight (as is the plan if I stop procrastinating on here) then I'll finally get to take the new Rebel I got last night out into some natural light for some fun :)
  • photodougphotodoug Registered Users Posts: 870 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    With all due respect, I don't see any assignment subject herene_nau.gif
    yea, I'm pushing the definition. The red spots are highlights that only refract when the light is just right....suppose it missed the mark.

    and this isn't allowed, right?

    113089798-M.jpg
  • ShadowHawkShadowHawk Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    douglas wrote:
    Shot this one moments ago...

    My condolenses to see you have a Windows ME disk. :cry

    I can only hope you are now running 2000 or XP or something better?? :D
    mattcorr.smugmug.com

    Canon 30D

    17-40 f/4
    L
    24-70 f/2.8 L
    50 f/1.4
    70-300 /f4-5.6 IS

  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    ShadowHawk wrote:
    My condolenses to see you have a Windows ME disk. :cry

    I can only hope you are now running 2000 or XP or something better?? :D

    Oh man, I hadn't noticed that it was indeed an ME disk... I too would like to offer my condolenses (as one who works for the Geek Squad and fixes computers on a daily basis). When someone walks in with an ME computer, I immediately start walking them over to the Computers department... x.x

    Regardless though, it's an awesome shot :)
  • ShadowHawkShadowHawk Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited November 26, 2006
    Shima wrote:
    When someone walks in with an ME computer, I immediately start walking them over to the Computers department... x.x

    That was nice of you.. whenever I saw a person with a ME computer, I usually just unloaded both barrels of a shotgun into the case and told the shocked owner that it was for the best!! mwink.gif

    Anyway I am getting offtopic... it was a nice photo! An interesting viewpoint. :)thumb.gif
    mattcorr.smugmug.com

    Canon 30D

    17-40 f/4
    L
    24-70 f/2.8 L
    50 f/1.4
    70-300 /f4-5.6 IS

  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Shima,
    Shima wrote:
    This picture was taken a few days before the assignment was posted, but I have way too many papers to write this week for grad school to go running outside midday presently to take a new one (with my now new camera, still had the old camera at the beginning of this week).

    I hope now that the papers are done you can go out and bring something fresher?mwink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    ShadowHawk wrote:
    My condolenses to see you have a Windows ME disk. :cry

    I can only hope you are now running 2000 or XP or something better?? :D

    Lol thats to funny, I was wondering if someone would have a simalar remark, I hated Win ME! Glad to have XP now!
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Taken tonight...

    113207962-L.jpg
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    I hope now that the papers are done you can go out and bring something fresher?mwink.gif
    Oh man I wish...
    I have a 30pp that's up to 16 pages right now...
    a 10pp that hasn't been started
    Two 6pp's that need to be proof read and have a few more sources sited
    An easy 2-3 pp that needs to be started
    a 6-8pp that needs to be started
    And a 6pp that needs to be revised and slightly lengthened

    I think my head is going to explode... they're all due between tonight and dec 9 on different days x.x... once I get a moment of "save me" I'll probably take a break and play w/ the new toy outside :)
  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Aw shucks, can't buy a new camera and then let it just sit there while I write papers.... took this on the rebel xti an hour or so ago

    113270370-M.jpg


    I took some really cool reflection photos too, not sure if they count as highlights persay:
    113271147-M.jpg

    113271245-M.jpg

    113270580-M.jpg


    Back to those darned papers now...
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Does this work?
    112112326-L.jpg
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Swartzy,
    I think: Of course it enters.
    It's very good !!!
    thumb.gif
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    More in the near future. :D
    113294535-M.jpg
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    I might be getting the hang of this
    111292100-L.jpg
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • ElaineElaine Registered Users Posts: 3,532 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Love those bridge shots, Swartzy! Really beautiful!

    I posted this in "People" but I think it applies here too. Specular Christmas tree lights...and it's fresh from today...


    113286950-L.jpg
    Elaine

    Comments and constructive critique always welcome!

    Elaine Heasley Photography
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2006
    Swarty !
    That's fine. (I think).
    I was going to shoot more tonight but my wife took my car with the tripod and I was needing it ...mwink.gif
    thumb.gif
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
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