The one that got away... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/16/2006 10:05:58 AM · #1

Walking on the canal towpaths in Birmingham the other day I thought I had finally caught a picture that was aesthetically pleasing to me and compositionally felt good. It was only when I showed my wife on the computer screen I realised that all of the major highlights were blown.

To say I was upset would be an understatement but I live and learn: bracket; read the histogram; bracket again!

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

09/16/2006 10:11:36 AM · #2

Ah, screw the blown-highlight-nazis, lets revel in our blown shots!

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

09/16/2006 10:39:29 AM · #3

I love blown highlights!

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

09/16/2006 10:47:38 AM · #4

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Ah, screw the blown-highlight-nazis, lets revel in our blown shots!

I totally agree with Slip. Screw all that blownout highlight shizzle.

As I walk down the streets, I notice more and more, how many images used in advertisments wouldn't pass here on DPC...blur...blown highlights, etc. And I'm not talking about a few but most. To a degree these technical things are important to get a grip on but I found that they were messing up my shooting and stopped me from focusing on things that are more important.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

09/16/2006 10:53:43 AM · #5

So, to all intents and purposes, the image still works for you guys then?

It did for my wife...

pawdrix

Nikon D700

09/16/2006 10:55:35 AM · #6

BTW, I think you took a great shot.

I played with it on my laptop (which I don't edit well on) and added reduced the Highlights, added contrast and desaturated by about 5 points and burned the bricks.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

09/16/2006 10:58:25 AM · #7

Originally posted by obsidian:

So, to all intents and purposes, the image still works for you guys then?

It did for my wife...

Sure it works. Maybe not in a Challenge but who cares. There's more to life...

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

09/16/2006 11:05:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by obsidian:

So, to all intents and purposes, the image still works for you guys then?

It did for my wife...

If it works for you, then great! I like the shot, but it would get nicked in a challnge here. Some people, not all, when they first start out in photography and get a handle on the technicals, they tend to notice the technicals firsts and the photo second. It's natural. It's also a shame that these people dwell on the technicals and miss the image.

There are some great photographers whose images would score poorly here due to technicals. Eugene Smith comes to mind. He used cheap equipment, processed the film hap hazaerdly, spent hours on prints with a rag dipped in developer or fixer to get the prints the way he wanted, yet unable to duplicate. Still he was a master.

Watch the comments on your entries. The more experienced photographers will comment on the composition, subject matter, light, etc. The less experienced will comment on highlights, DOF, out of focus, motion blur.

For example,

Check out the comments that inform me that the top flower in out of focus, like I didn't know. The DOF on this is intentional and IMO adds to the photograph. Some saw it that way, others didn't.

Point is, rules are guidelines. Breaking them can sometimes make all the difference.

Message edited by author 2006-09-16 11:05:50.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/16/2006 11:13:32 AM · #9

YOu know, as I am such a geek, all of these comments have reminded me why I take photos: to capture the essence of something that has an impact on me.

Sigh... appreciate all of the feedback, guys.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

09/16/2006 11:18:52 AM · #10

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/16/2006 11:19:17 AM · #11

When you stop trying to improve and get it right, then that's the day you wills top growing as a photographer. Sure it can work with blown highlights. But what you end up with is a image that is very good... but not great. If you had considered the highlights when you shot from within a dark area into a lighted area you could have ended up with an outstanding image with a lot of WOW! in it. It's easy to say "it's good enough" or "I don't mind the blown highlights" or something like that. But if you are striving to be the best photographer you can, never settle for "it's good enough" when it's not... no matter what anyone else says.

Mike

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

09/16/2006 11:20:52 AM · #12

Originally posted by MikeJ:

What if the blown highlights give it the WOW you speak of?

09/16/2006 11:22:12 AM · #13

Originally posted by Konador:

OK Ben - how did you do that?????? I tried everything I knew (not much) but this is a surprise! How? :-)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/16/2006 11:30:17 AM · #14

For me the blown highlights detract a little from the overall composition and Kondor's makeover is right on the money. So I guess I care.

The real "high" for me on this shot was the visualisation and the feeling that the shot would work. So I guess I really care about the composition.

So, armed with the new camera (caveat: I am still the one using it but it does offer more latitude in other ways) I feel as though I am at last getting my eye "in" and starting to see shots that work.

Chuckle: all I have to do now is marry the compositional and technical stuff together and I could be really dangerous :-P

After thought: I will post some more of the images I took walking the canal paths later, if only to amuse myself

Message edited by author 2006-09-16 11:31:49.

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

09/16/2006 11:45:01 AM · #15

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Originally posted by MikeJ:
When you stop trying to improve and get it right, then that's the day you wills top growing as a photographer. Sure it can work with blown highlights. But what you end up with is a image that is very good... but not great. If you had considered the highlights when you shot from within a dark area into a lighted area you could have ended up with an outstanding image with a lot of WOW! in it. It's easy to say "it's good enough" or "I don't mind the blown highlights" or something like that. But if you are striving to be the best photographer you can, never settle for "it's good enough" when it's not... no matter what anyone else says.

Mike

What if the blown highlights give it the WOW you speak of?

If the blown highlights are the main element of the image, then you won't have people trying to give suggestions on how to keep from getting them. ;D

Seriously though, if having blown highlights is what the person is going for, then it's a different story. With the comments the author stated here, he knew that having a blown area was not going to help this image. There are times when an element in one image works where it won't in another. It just depends on what the author is trying to achieve in his or her work.

Mike

moniepenny

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/16/2006 11:47:10 AM · #16

Playing around.

Artyste

Sony Ericsson W810i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Pentax

09/16/2006 11:56:14 AM · #17

Originally posted by scarbrd:

That's a pretty uncommon thing to have happen accidentally, especially when presenting an image to *other* people. Usually blown highlights (especially backlit subjects), are used intentionally for effect... but in the end, it all falls into two categories.. blown highlights you love in your own photos, and blown highlights that makes everyone else love your photos.

The trick is learning which is which :)

The sample you gave in the beginning, to my mind, is an example of the former. I, personally, don't find that it improves the photo in any real way in that particular instance.. but it's clear that *you* like it. In the OP's shot, it was clear that they didn't like it, hence the quest to figure out how to avoid it, and part of the learning process on when and when not to.. use them for effect.

It's one thing to say "But blown highlights can create WOW!" and quite another to present an image where blown highlights actually *do* create WOW!.. besides to the photographer that took the photo.

cloudsme

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

09/16/2006 12:22:16 PM · #18

I try to bracket shots that I like, especially if the exposure is tricky. If you are not in a challenge, you can combine two photos to extend the limits of your exposure.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/16/2006 12:23:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by obsidian:

Originally posted by Konador:

OK Ben - how did you do that?????? I tried everything I knew (not much) but this is a surprise! How? :-)

Do you have CS2? I used the "Vanishing Point" tool to clone the path backwards, and it automatically adjusts the pebbles etc correctly to scale :) Then I touched it up with dodging to make the distance look a little more natural, and voila :)

09/16/2006 12:30:38 PM · #20

Originally posted by Konador:

Yes, I have CS2 and I have never used this tool before.

This is such a good place to learn.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/16/2006 12:35:41 PM · #21

Just for the hell of it here are three more shots from the walk along the canal. Different in many ways but it is actually a series I am very comfortable with.

Hope you enjoy them and thanks again for all of the insights you have given me.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/16/2006 01:47:38 PM · #22

I started working on this before Ben had posted info re: "vanishing point" tool, which I don't have in PS7. Here's what I did: I made & saved a selection for the hot spot on the path (NOT the kerb) using the pen tool. I then selected with the polygon tool a wedge of foreground path. I pasted this wedge into a new layer, did it again, slid the second one to the right to get a bigger wedge, then merged the two "wedge" layers together.

I cloned the BG layer and moved the clone to the top. I loaded the bright spot selection and deleted the hot spot. I made the wedge layer active and slid the wedge into position in the hole. I used the edit tools in perspective mode to adjust the perspective of the wedge layer, and in free transform mode to adjust its size to match in the overlap. I then used levels on the wedge layer to get the values right.

I merged all the layers, then burned on an overlay/neutral layer as needed to clean things up. My goal was to show a bit of texture while still having the path remain bright. It's far from perfect (the alignment and perspective are still off) but it's definitely doable :-)

R.

And oh, yeah, I did some contrast masking for a more muted tonality as well...

Message edited by author 2006-09-16 13:49:20.