My first real attempts... - DPChallenge Forums

04/12/2004 02:40:25 PM · #1

...at shooting something 100% on purpose (meaning I actually went out, bought the silly plant, set up everything, etc.) instead of shooting what suddenly appears to me (kind of like serendipity). I have to start somewhere, right? In addition to lighting, which I suppose is pretty subjective, I also need assistance with how to handle the whole "blur" thing. When I put on the gaussian blur filter, it seems TOO blurry to me, no matter how I adjust it, but maybe it's supposed to look like that. Since I obviously have little to no clue about what I'm doing, any helpful, tactful, constructive criticism will be thoughtfully appreciated.

boomer

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/12/2004 02:47:50 PM · #2

Why do you want to blur the image?

Corwyn

04/12/2004 02:49:02 PM · #3

Are you looking to soften the picture??

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/12/2004 02:52:02 PM · #4

Originally posted by Corwyn:

Are you looking to soften the picture??

Yes. I couldn't figure out another way to do it without it looking really weird or undefined.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

04/12/2004 02:52:06 PM · #5

Originally posted by laurielblack:

I also need assistance with how to handle the whole "blur" thing.

I don't understand why you would want to blur these photos. I think they look great. If anything, I think they would look even better if they were a little sharper. Are you just trying to achieve a softer look, or..?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

04/12/2004 02:53:49 PM · #6

Originally posted by micknewton:

Originally posted by laurielblack:
I also need assistance with how to handle the whole "blur" thing.

I don't understand why you would want to blur these photos. I think they look great. If anything, I think they would look even better if they were a little sharper. Are you just trying to achieve a softer look, or..?

Yes, soft was my goal. I guess that was wrong. Maybe I'll try sharp.

admart01

Canon EOS-20D

04/12/2004 02:56:34 PM · #7

Originally posted by laurielblack:

Yes, soft was my goal. I guess that was wrong. Maybe I'll try sharp.

Try a brighter light and sharper -- then apply a guassian (?spelling) blur until you get the look you want. I hope you'll post the second round :)

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/12/2004 02:58:02 PM · #8

I too think these would look great sharper. They are beautiful flowers.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/12/2004 03:00:15 PM · #9

I'll work on it again tonight. Maybe the results will be better. I'll post them as soon as I can (now that I've figured out how to do it!).

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

04/12/2004 03:02:22 PM · #10

I like "Lilies 2" quite a bit... that's a nice composition :)

Corwyn

04/12/2004 03:02:29 PM · #11

I have a filter in photoshop that does my softening it is great but I can't remeber the name and I'm at work.

I'll write you back when I get home.

04/12/2004 06:11:37 PM · #12

I don't know if it is an "accepted" method of softening, but I have developed my own version that seems to give a reasonably good effect. I wish I could post an example of what I mean (I can't, yet), but I can at least tell you what I do:

- Copy the original image and make the copy greyscale.
- The closer to white an area of the greyscale image is, the sharper the final image will be. The closer to black an area is, the more blurred the final will be.
- Adjust the greyscale image until you get the petals a very light grey, the background very dark, and overall, a lot of contrast. Iron out the dark dots on the petals so they also become light grey.
- On the original image, make a duplicate layer. (The next bit works in PSP, not sure about Photoshop.) Go to Masks > New > From Image and choose the greyscale image as the target. With any luck this duplicate layer should become most opaque around the yellow petals and most transparent in the background area.
- Now just Gaussian blur the background with a radius of about 10, and make any further adjustments you consider necessary. I pasted a copy of the original image as a new layer on top of the other layers and turned the opacity down to about 15. This was to bring back some lost details.

04/12/2004 06:18:18 PM · #13

Thanks, Squirrel, I'll have to try that. I have SO much to learn...

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/12/2004 06:29:12 PM · #14

I forgot to mention (and you've probably already read this) the Blurring to Improve a Mood tutorial.

There is also a useful thread, with example pictures, here.

kosmikkreeper

Nikon D300s

04/12/2004 06:32:55 PM · #15

A simple way is to do a duplicate layer and apply Gaussian blur at around 20 or 30. Then reduce the transparency of the layer to the desired effect (usually 20% or so is good).

If you do not use a duplicate layer and work on your original you will loose the sharpness just like in your photos. :-)

Here is an example...

Message edited by author 2004-04-12 18:34:07.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/12/2004 06:39:24 PM · #16

Gosh, this stuff was so much easier when I just dropped the old disposable camera off at Wal-Mart...

(I figure that will touch a nerve somewhere)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

04/12/2004 07:48:31 PM · #17

Try this:
0.) Make sure your image is as sharp as it can be without being "oversharpened" (having sharpening artifacts that are visible)
1.) Apply a gaussian blur of 4px
2.) *Immediately* after applying the blur, select edit/fade gaussian blur and fade to 40% or thereabouts, depending on your taste.

Applying the blur on a duplicate layer does allow for more flexibility, but the above method is fast & easy and yields very nice results.

04/12/2004 08:30:32 PM · #18

Ok, I just paid for a year's membership. Now I should be able to upload stuff.

This is what I meant:

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/12/2004 08:36:25 PM · #19

What I've tried with some success is a combination of what people have said here. Make a duplicate layer of your original and sharpen it as much as possible without over doing it. You'll have to play with the levels of sharpening until you get it right. Then duplicate THAT layer and apply the gausian blur to it at anywhere from 3 to 6 pixels. Then change the opacity of the blur layer to what looks good. Depending on the shot it may be from 15 to 60 percent opaque.

Not that I've had a LOT of success with it but have liked some of them. ;-)

04/12/2004 08:41:33 PM · #20

Just out of interest, what are the differences between Portfolio and Workshop and can everyone see the picture I tried to post?

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/12/2004 08:54:29 PM · #21

Originally posted by SquirreI:

Just out of interest, what are the differences between Portfolio and Workshop and can everyone see the picture I tried to post?

Workshop is a folder in your portfolio. It is hidden. If you put something in there, no one else can see it. It is a good place to put more than one challenge shot possibility to see what they look like on line. The only way someone else can see those shots is if you link to them directly (in the forums or elsewhere.) Because they are hidden they will not show up on your profile page as recent additions either. I sometimes put shots there that others have asked for editing help with so they don't show up on MY page.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

04/12/2004 09:02:44 PM · #22

Originally posted by SquirreI:

Ok, I just paid for a year's membership. Now I should be able to upload stuff.

This is what I meant:

I don't think I'll ever figure this out...I think the GRE wasn't this complicated when I went to grad school!!!!

Beautiful job on the picture, though. I will have to experiment to make things look half that good.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

04/12/2004 10:55:28 PM · #23

Laurie

If you shoot wildlife as good as you did with the Lilies we had better watch out on the Fossil Rim Safari :)

I like these two the best:

Veru nice work.

kreybar

Nikon D70

04/12/2004 11:00:29 PM · #24

Fantastic ! Good For you ! You are now a photographer ! [ no sarcasm intended ] They came , you saw , you shot .