Topic 'Re: Help' in forum 'Digital Imaging' - dslreports.com

Re: Help

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:18:25 EDT

SueS posted : I tried bouncing from the back as well as the side. I am ok with the way it turned out. The ornament is a very small part of the photo.

Should anyone figure out a better or correct way to do this for future use I would be interested. It is something I think everyone should at least try.

I took another photo of a bunch of the same ornaments in different colors, without the candle. It was easy, and turned out fine.

Re: Help

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:45:17 EDT

Jodokast96 posted : A bit late, but was it possible to have bounced off the wall behind you? I'm thinking that would have helped it diffuse a bit more.

Re: Help

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 01:07:17 EDT

SueS posted : I re-shot today. I believe I tried everything mentioned here, thanks guys. This is what I have settled on, and I think it is improved. I ended up just putting a diffuser on the flash, with my hand in front of the flash when it fired. It was also bounced off the ceiling. I then blended two photos using slightly different curves. The blending was done only on the ornament.

Re: Help

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:18:22 EDT

anon posted : Plan b

quick paintout. Glitter strips retAined by cut paste

Re: Help

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:32:47 EDT

anon posted : The highlight is both bright n big.

Notice too that the highlights on the glitter and ornament cap are bluer. U could play with color gels on the flash.

To reduce the highlight size move the flash farther back. You can do that by moving the camera back and then using a longer lens or lens setting. Or if your flash is detachable you can leave the camera where it is n use a flash extension cord or trigger it manually.

Moving the flash back to double the distance it was will reduce the highlight size but will also reduce the amount of light by two stops. The inverse square rule - it has to cover 4x the area so intensity is reduced to 1/4 or two stops loss. There may be enough power in your flash to compensate automatically. Or if you can trigger it manually use four pops instead of one.

Re: Help

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:23:31 EDT

bfreas posted : If you were using the RAW file in Lightroom you could also do localized highlight recovery which would probably take care of it. Here's an attempt in PS where I added a 50% gray layer set to Soft Light mode and did some burning on that layer. Would have liked to had the RAW to work with....
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"The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark." � John Muir

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:13:33 EDT

SueS posted : Your redo changed the color of the gold glitter, but I might play with some gradients, something I had not thought about.

I have a pretty image as is, I just want to make it better. Part of the fun of photography is continually trying to improve ones work. The ornament is a very small part of the whole image, I just cropped it out to post here.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:28:28 EDT

mhhack posted : Sue,
I tried this by applying a radial gradient fill layer in PS, and was able to knock down the bright spot a bit, though I'm not sure without seeing the rest of image how far to go. Good thing you're getting an early start!

Radial Gradient

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:51:30 EDT

SueS posted : I can do dodge and burn in GIMP, but I don't think it looks real. Can you take the example I posted and show how you would fix it?

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:27:48 EDT

grendal posted : if you used lightroom, you can do localized dodge/burn for each hotspot.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:44:40 EDT

SueS posted : That's the whole problem, I have to use fill light to get the exposure needed on the ornament. With out the fill light the colors do not match. I really like the candle light not blown in this image because of the overall colors in the photo.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:15:07 EDT

tmpchaos posted : Instead of doing a second shot for the candle (which is providing the 'feel' for the shot), do a second shot for the ornament. Then cut and paste as necessary.
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***ATMFAQ***DIFAQ***Kitchen Sink***

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:01:24 EDT

SueS posted : Using only candles would take how many, and the light would still be reflected.

I tried covering part of the flash.

I know I will have a bright spot, I just would like the spot to be smaller and not as noticeable, with more attention going to the candle and the flame.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:46:28 EDT

SueS posted : Am I correct in thinking dragging the shutter and 2nd curtain flash are the same thing? If so I have tried this. Thanks for the replies.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:40:56 EDT

anon posted : Please show a sample.

Some ideas

use only candles extra candles

dim the flash by putting yiur finger acriss half or 3/4 of it to dim by 1 stop or two stops

use inxandescents instead of flash

or eliminate hot spot by copy and paste from a normal part of the ornament

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:22:28 EDT

badd posted : You also might try 2nd curtain flash although that may cause the candel to blow now that I think of it.
--
Just another day in Paradise

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:54:11 EDT

pkalona posted : Have you tried using your flash and dragging the shutter to capture more background light?

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:40:00 EDT

SueS posted :

said by badd:

Have you tried defusing the flash along with bouncing it? Or perhaps no flash and then adding fill flash in post.

Defusing the flash is one thing I did not try, but I did try no flash and the image too bright, I don't get the candle ambiance.

I even thought about making a softbox without a top. I don't want to go to the trouble if it is not going to work. I put the stuff all away yesterday, and won't set it all up again till after Thanksgiving. I will be back at it on Friday.

Thanks for the replies. I welcome any more ideas anyone might have.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:08:07 EDT

mhhack posted : Without seeing the actual image it's not possible to suggest much in the way of processing, or even lighting.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:16:13 EDT

badd posted : Have you tried defusing the flash along with bouncing it? Or perhaps no flash and then adding fill flash in post.
--
Just another day in Paradise

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:59:08 EDT

SueS posted : I even tried taking a photo adjusting for the candle light and one for the rest of the photo at a longer exposure. I was thinking I might merge the two. Because of the light from the candle the two images are too different. I may have to look for another ornament. The color of this one is perfect.

Re: Help

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:38:49 EDT

EGeezer posted : I wonder if this would be the situation for bracketing shots and using HDR software.
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Buckle Up. It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car.

Re: Help

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:40:27 EDT

SueS posted : Thanks for your reply. The ornament is not as shiny as glass, but it picks up any light. The more light in the room I have, means less ambient light from the candle, which changes the mood.

Re: Help

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:29:17 EDT

orion940 posted : Can you get a less shiny ornament? or use flood lights on the sides and lose the flash.
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Windsor, Home of the Decorative Zamboni

Help

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:58:00 EDT

SueS posted : I am taking a photo for my Christmas card. I have a lit candle in the photo along with a reflective Christmas ornament. How would you shoot this without too much of a bright spot on the ornament? I have found that I need a fairly fast shutter to keep the candle light from blowing out around 1/100. With that speed the rest of the photo is dark, so I need some bounced flash. I have an acceptable photo, but I would like a better one, if it is possible. I have tried a lighter room and a darker room. I’m not getting a blown spot on the ornament, just a brighter spot than I would like.