Fly Scan

30 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

This is a fly that flew in to a tupperware tub and stay there. Seemed perfectly preserved, and I’ve been thinking of more things that I can make a picture via using the scanner. Sometimes the next photographic subject just buzzes up and lands in your lap, so to speak.

The camera & lens scanner:

HP C4180 @ 1200 dpi

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Presence: exposure +0.8 stops, recovery +25, fill light +30, black clipping +10, clarity +100
  2. Curves: lights +70, darks +35
  3. Noise reduction: luminance +35
  4. Lots of spot adjustments for specks on the scanner platter.

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

I had to try a few times to make sure the scanner lid was not touching the fly. When it did touch the fly, it would lift one of the wings off the platter and take it out of focus. It is still slightly out of focus but it’s the best I could do.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

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Passionfruit Melting Moments

28 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

With the remaining passionfruit icing, Lui made some melting moments biscuits. Extra delicious.

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II @ 25mm + 0.42x macro filter (10.5mm equiv)
Exposure: 1/30″ @ f/7.1, ISO 1600

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Curves: lights +50
  2. Crop – slight
  3. Noise reduction: luminance +30, detail +100
  4. Colour temperature +200 – for a warmer picture

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

Not sure the composition and layout of the plate is the best.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format Download original file in DNG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Incomplete, Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

Passionfruit Cake

27 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

Our passionfruit vine is dropping around one passionfruit per day, which is awesome. Lui made a passionfruit cake with passionfruit icing and it was awesome. Lui is also making a cookbook and I’m taking arty foody photographs.

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II @ 31mm + 0.42x macro filter (13mm equiv)
Exposure: 1/5″ @ f/13, ISO 1600

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Presence: Fill light +25
  2. Curves: lights +25, darks +30, shadows -15
  3. ACR lens correction: manual settings – chromatic aberration red/cyan +100 and blue/yellow +100. One thing that the fisheye filter introduces is a big load of chromatic abberation near edges. It’s out of control. Lightroom was able to remove a lot of it, but there’s still a fair bit left.

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

I would have stood further away then cropped down. That would take care of the fuzzy edges.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format Download original file in DNG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

Tag(s): ,

Moat

26 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

It has been raining for a week since we dug out around this palm tree. Given the flow of water in our yard (including illegal runoff from next door), this has turned into an instant muddy river, perfect for kiddies. Ended up going through two sets of clothes (and two showers), and a huge amount of mud through everything! Worth it.

The camera & lens:

Camera: iPhone 4
Exposure: 1/60″ @ f/2.8, ISO 100

Post processing:

 

Instagram -

  1. Applied the lomo-fi filter, for extra pop.

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

Happy with this for a snapshot.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

No raw for this photo.

Category(s): Licence: No Re-Use

Beardy Self Portrait

22 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

Usually when I have a holiday, I grow a beard to mark the occasion. This is 2.5 weeks worth and marks the first time I’ve grown a beard that joined up. Amazing.

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II @ 27mm + 0.42x macro filter (11.3mm equiv)
Exposure: 1/80″ @ f/6.3, ISO 1600 (P)

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Presence: fill light +30, black clipping +15
  2. Curves: lights +15, darks +15, shadows -35
  3. Noise reduction: luminance +50, detail +100

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

I actually had to try this photo on a few different occasions. I had to do it when Evelyn was in a good mood, so she would look at the camera.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

No raw version available for this one.

Category(s): Licence: No Re-Use

Tag(s):

Evelyn and Chalkboard

21 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

Just a snapshot of Evelyn with her chalkboard. Lui was gardening out the front yard, and we needed something to keep Evelyn occupied so she didn’t go dodging cars, or sketching, or whatever the kids do these days.

The camera & lens:

Camera: iPhone 4
Exposure: 1/100″ @ f/2.8, ISO 100

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

    I almost posted this SOOC, but couldn’t help myself from tweaking it a little, for some extra pop.

  1. Presence: fill light +20, black clipping +10, clarit +35
  3. Curves: darks +14, shadows -20

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

Just a snapshot – happy with it.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

No raws for this picture.

Category(s): Licence: No Re-Use

Cape Gooseberry Macro

20 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

To contrast with the previous photo of pests bothering the Cape Gooseberry, here is a photo of one of the fruit lanterns. The fruit inside is immature, having fallen from the plant too early. I’ve documented the setup of this photo below. The idea was to get a back-lit shot showing the detail of the lantern and a shadow of the fruit.

1. xxx

1. Ingredients for this photo: Cape Gooseberry fruit, with lantern in-tact; One small torch; And a tray of spice jars

2. xxx

2. I chose the spice jar tray as it was the first thing that I saw that would let me stand the torch up and balance the fruit on top.

3. xxx

3. Turn torch on, and snap bracketed photos. I didn't measure the focusing distance but from memory it's about 5-7cm

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II @ 25mm + macro filter
Exposure: 0.5″ @ f/20, ISO 100 (1-stop bracketing, this was the +1 stop exposure shot)

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Presence: fill light +15, clarity +100
  2. Curves: lights +20, darks -25

    3. I originally processed this in B&W but I thought the warm colours were worth promoting.

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

Happy with this – it is exactly what I was after.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format Download original file in DNG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Incomplete, Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

Tag(s):

Old Fire Brigade Sign

20 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

West Ipswich

The setup:

This is a sign that caught my eye while driving through Ipswich. I’m normally in a great hurry to get to whereever I’m going so there’s no time to stop through here.

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 II USM @ 200mm
Exposure: 1/125″ @ f/7.1, ISO 400 (1-stop bracketing, this was the +1 stop exposure)

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Auto apply a B&W preset I have called “PSKiss-FilmStyleBW-01″. It auto applies curves (lights +60, darks -12, shadows -12), brightness +45, contrast +45, clarity +50 and increases the colour mixes in all channels, but mainly green and aqua.
  2. Presence: fill light +15, black clipping +35, clarity +100
  3. Added two adjustment layers for the sign text itself, as the lighting was inconsistent. Top layer over the “Fire Brigade” text was exposure +0.4 stops. Bottom layer over the “Turning Out” text was exposure -0.9 stops and clarity +100.
  4. Added a graduated filter – from top to bottom of image,
  5. A slight crop

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

I had hoped to either isolate the subject completely or get in more of the surroundings, but it wasn’t critical.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format Download original file in DNG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)


Similar Images

Category(s): Incomplete, Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

Cat Scan

18 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

At home, Ipswich

The setup:

This is Bacardi standing on the scanner, while I pressed the scan button.

Browsing ye olde Reddit, someone posted a picture much like this. One of the comments linked to a tumblr blog of a lot of Cats on Scanners.

The scanner took this in about 5 chunks. Scan scan scan, transfer transfer transfer. It seemed to do a brightness evaluation at the start of each chunk, rather than only at the start of the scan. This would be fine if the lid was down, but with the lid up, it gave the unpredictable results above.

There have been various posts on Photojojo about things you can do with your scanner, which I have yet to try, but I am keen!

The “camera & lens”:

Scanner: HP C3180
About 1-2 minutes to scan at 300dpi.

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Presence: fill light +65, black clipping +35, clarity +80
  2. Curves: lights +30, darks -35

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

I tried to get a scan of her licking the platter, but it didn’t work out. Happy to have gotten her to stand still as long as she did though!

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format

Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

Tag(s): ,

Max Brenner Chocolate

18 Jan 2012 | No Comments »

Location:

Robina, Gold Coast

The setup:

This is the chocolate display at Max Brenner. I assume most stores look the same. I like the subject, even if the composition is not very creative.

The camera & lens:

Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Lens: Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX-DC
Exposure: 1/15″ @ f/7.1, ISO 1600 (Av)

Post processing:

 

Lightroom -

  1. Auto apply a B&W preset I have called “PSKiss-FilmStyleBW-01″. It auto applies curves (lights +60, darks -12, shadows -12), brightness +45, contrast +45, clarity +50 and increases the colour mixes in all channels, but mainly green and aqua.
  2. Presence: Blacks +15
  3. ACR lens profile correction for Sigma 30mm
  4. Spot removal – there was a speck of chocolate (I assume) on the label that is in focus. Just a little thing but I prefer it gone.

What I don’t like and/or would have done differently:

A polariser would have helped with reflections, but I was trying to be discreet.

What do you think?

All constructive criticism is welcome! Please let me know what you think, and what you don’t like about the picture. Everything is on the table, including the setup, equipment used, and the post processing. Nothing is off-limits and I’m always eager to learn!

If you’d like to try your hand at editing this image, you can download the original sized image:
Download original file in JPEG format Download original file in DNG format
Please post the result as a comment and say how you did it!
(Click here for some tips for how to post an image as a comment.)

Category(s): Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA

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