<< Previous Next >>

TOP DOWN Sprout & A Fake DOF


TOP DOWN Sprout & A Fake DOF
Photo Information
Copyright: Ramdan Nain (Ramdan) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 710 W: 31 N: 1453] (5652)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-18
Categories: Nature, Experimental, Macro
Camera: Pentax K10D, smc Pentax-DA f4 16-45mm ED-AL
Exposure: f/22, 2 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Friday Theme 2008/09/19 "Top Down" [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-18 18:20
Viewed: 244
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my TOP DOWN macro shot of a red bean sprout, planted on wet cotton for Helen’s Friday Theme. I borrowed the subject from my 8 years-old daughter’s school work for her science project.

I was trying to get a shot with a top-to-down sharpness of the sprout but to no avail, even with the smallest opening of my lens at f/22. So, an idea of making a fake DOF in PP came up.

The resulted enhanced-DOF here was actually gained through blending of two shots; one was focused on the leaf while the other was on the seed. A simple layer-masking technique in CS3 was used to merge them.

The real challenge had happened to be in the shooting process - to get 100% accuracy without introducing any slight movement that differentiating the exact position of the two shots. Should I have used a remote-trigger (better than the self-timer I had been using) it might have been less problematic. But, there was another challenge in changing the focus point without introducing a movement to the tripod-ed camera. I had tried to be very, very, very gentle in handling the manual focus ring but then, it was a macro work where a small fraction of a millimeter movement would mean an effect to the perfection of the final combined shots.

The best pair I made was still not to the perfect result though. So, a little more effort in perfecting the alignment in PP was needed.

Final image enhancement:
Levels: to improve tonality
Highlight/Shadow: to open up details especially on the rough texture of the leaves, and
also a Vignette Effect treated to the flattened layer before resizing and finally sharpening. The final work was then JPEG-ed for TL.
Janice, tsesler, boomcat, Lano, amai26, Nagel has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hello Ramdan,

Nice close-up shot. I like your POV and use of DOF here. Great details and lovely pastel colors. Nice texture!
Impressive:)
Best,
Iza

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3155 W: 239 N: 7049] (28433)
  • [2008-09-18 19:15]

Hello Ramdan
Looks like you out in a lot of work to come up with this shot :)
And it suits the theme well
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • rigz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 159 W: 0 N: 78] (1015)
  • [2008-09-18 19:46]

Assalamuallaikum Ramdan,

Stunning macro. Great contrast and sharpness. BG yang cerah menghidupkan warna subject yang hijau dan maroon. Good POV and it was nicely composed.
Subject yang jarang dilihat. Well done!

TFS,
Geoffrey Bin Ramji

Cute subject from cute source,Well control sharpness and depth with nice reflect from wet cotton in BG.Good work,TFS.

  • Great 
  • wieyos Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1010 W: 41 N: 1935] (7538)
  • [2008-09-18 20:57]

you may get 2 points from me but i believe your daughter Ain will get a full marks for this science subject assignment....:)
a good subject for green earth campaign indeed.
a well-captured image too.

Salam
Regards
Agoes

p/s hujung minggu ada mo pi buru gambar?

projek anak kau ok bah.. lawalah dari atas kau ambi ne red bean.. kalo tanam di karung pun jadi ne kan.. agro.. agrotech? sa lupa suda apa ko panggil tanam mcm ne.. cantik, halus dan tajam.. well done..

regards, nong

Hi Ramdan,
stunning contribution to the theme,
you had to work a lot on it but at the and the result is perfect,
great work indeed,
welldone and tfs,
regards,
Taner
:) soon

Hello Ramdan

Absolutely superb! I think this theme has been very difficult and you have clearly thought much about a way to get around the DOF issue and suceeded too. Well done this is a neat shot with very good PP work.

TFS and for joining in the theme

kind regards Helen

Assalamualaikum,

Sangat bagus. Kombinasi idea dan dedikasi ba ni kan. Tapi 'touch' tu tangan juga ba yang menentukan kan..

Aramai tii..


Hepi shoting

  • Great 
  • Lano Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 49 W: 0 N: 144] (800)
  • [2008-09-19 10:54]

Assalammualaikum Bosku,

oho.. kalah sudah di "dewa" ni, mag syantik!

great effort & result my freind.

Regards,

Ruslan

  • Great 
  • Margy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 1 N: 95] (941)
  • [2008-09-19 15:47]

Hi Ramdan,

Great macrophoto to join the theme.
Nice clear and sharp, well done!
regards, Marga

Tobpinai,

memang canggih lah ko buat. Layering yang sungguh cun, pandailah kawan, bah bila mau tunjukajar..hehhe. Focus on both the leaf and the seed so good.

TFS

regards

steve

Top macro shot my friend.
Cheers
Dennis

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF