Encased in Ice

nichpr · 06-02-2007, 03:53

My first submission. Am sincerely looking forward to your thoughts. This shot was taken early in the morning after an overnight ice storm coated everything in a sparkling layer of ice.

skipper954 · 06-02-2007, 04:17

Hi Nic

Good to see a new face. I like the idea and composition. The diagonal is good. However, the lighting could be better, I think.

Someone recently mentioned a bit of backlight in a photo like this. Perhaps that or some side light would produce a better effect and enable us to get more of a feeling for the ice.

I think that here I would have liked to see a bit more of the stem as well.

I would be interested in the specs of your shot. I think that you are on the right track, and have a bit of that "artistic" eye, so shoot as much as you can and see what settings work in a particular picture by varying them.

Hope this helps

skip

**Markulous** · 06-02-2007, 07:15

Really interesting shot! Also the kind of shot that I find really difficult: bright ice and reflections against a dark background. I try to light the pic by maybe using the sky as a backdrop whilst also using very high exposure compensation (anywhere from about -1.3 to -3.0!). As a result there's a fair bit of post production lightening to bring detail back. "Luckily" we tend to have to get to ice subjects early before the day warms up, so avoiding the harsh contrasty light later in the day.

I like the diagonal you've got - as Skip suggests, maybe a little more space underneath. Not much that can be done about the burned highlights but easing back on the contrast and dodging some of the darker twig should bring an evener detail to the subject. Definitely like to see more!

Rob Barron · 06-02-2007, 17:59

I like this a lot, really captures the interest, despite being a tad dark.

Actually, I had a look at this in PS and used the shadows tool and found that it has a lovely dark mottled background when lifted a touch and really works nicely in my opinion. Might be worth a look? I haven't posted as you have not chosen to allow editing so I would not go against your wishes.

Good work, love the red colour in the ice, it is powerful.

Cheers,
Rob

nichpr · 06-02-2007, 18:34

Thank you for your kind comments.
The fun and interesting thing about this shot for me is that this is one of probably 30 shots I took of these crabapples. With each shot, at all different settings, I just did not like the background - a combination of evergreen and bright snow. In the spirit of experimentation, I flipped up the flash and to my surprise the background went black and the subject just popped. Nikon D80, Nikkor 28-80, 1/60 at f22, Aperture priority and flash.
I would love to have the opportunity to play with some side lighting but alas the ice is no more. Rob, I like your suggestion and will go back and see if I can enhance the background for more interest.
Thank you again for your thoughtful input.
- Paul

nichpr · 06-02-2007, 18:59

By the way. should I make the photo smaller for these forums? This photo was 800 pixals on the long side. Should I shoot for 600?
- Paul

**Sonsey** · 06-02-2007, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by nichpr

By the way. should I make the photo smaller for these forums? This photo was 800 pixals on the long side. Should I shoot for 600?
- Paul

Your photo was within the forum limits - which is 1000pix on the longest edge and a file size of no bigger than 200k.

Some member like to show pics as large as the limit allows, other's prefer them a bit smaller as not everyone has a large monitor... the choice entirely up to you!

fionaB · 06-02-2007, 20:17

now this i adore!. the red is so eye catching and the diagonal holds the interest. on my monitor the background is ever so slightly mottled so not a flat black. just a super shot and one i think that would look awesome blown up to at least A3!

Fi

**Angela** · 06-02-2007, 20:53

I love this picture!

Whilst I can see Skip's point about the lighting, I really do think this works as it is.

nichpr · 07-02-2007, 15:42

Angela and Fiona,
Thank you for the encouraging, positive feedback.
- Paul

namllihs · 08-02-2007, 16:47

Excellent capture, lovely reds and browns here, and although I like it as it is, Rob's suggestion with the shadow/highlight filter really does bring that mottled background out.

06-02-2007, 03:53	#1 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 849	Encased in Ice My first submission. Am sincerely looking forward to your thoughts. This shot was taken early in the morning after an overnight ice storm coated everything in a sparkling layer of ice.

06-02-2007, 04:17	#2 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Encased in Ice Hi Nic Good to see a new face. I like the idea and composition. The diagonal is good. However, the lighting could be better, I think. Someone recently mentioned a bit of backlight in a photo like this. Perhaps that or some side light would produce a better effect and enable us to get more of a feeling for the ice. I think that here I would have liked to see a bit more of the stem as well. I would be interested in the specs of your shot. I think that you are on the right track, and have a bit of that "artistic" eye, so shoot as much as you can and see what settings work in a particular picture by varying them. Hope this helps skip

06-02-2007, 07:15	#3 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	Re: Encased in Ice Really interesting shot! Also the kind of shot that I find really difficult: bright ice and reflections against a dark background. I try to light the pic by maybe using the sky as a backdrop whilst also using very high exposure compensation (anywhere from about -1.3 to -3.0!). As a result there's a fair bit of post production lightening to bring detail back. "Luckily" we tend to have to get to ice subjects early before the day warms up, so avoiding the harsh contrasty light later in the day. I like the diagonal you've got - as Skip suggests, maybe a little more space underneath. Not much that can be done about the burned highlights but easing back on the contrast and dodging some of the darker twig should bring an evener detail to the subject. Definitely like to see more! __________________ ~CanonCreativity + SigmaSurReality~ by ΜΛЯΚ

06-02-2007, 17:59	#4 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Encased in Ice I like this a lot, really captures the interest, despite being a tad dark. Actually, I had a look at this in PS and used the shadows tool and found that it has a lovely dark mottled background when lifted a touch and really works nicely in my opinion. Might be worth a look? I haven't posted as you have not chosen to allow editing so I would not go against your wishes. Good work, love the red colour in the ice, it is powerful. Cheers, Rob

06-02-2007, 18:34	#5 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 849	Re: Encased in Ice Thank you for your kind comments. The fun and interesting thing about this shot for me is that this is one of probably 30 shots I took of these crabapples. With each shot, at all different settings, I just did not like the background - a combination of evergreen and bright snow. In the spirit of experimentation, I flipped up the flash and to my surprise the background went black and the subject just popped. Nikon D80, Nikkor 28-80, 1/60 at f22, Aperture priority and flash. I would love to have the opportunity to play with some side lighting but alas the ice is no more. Rob, I like your suggestion and will go back and see if I can enhance the background for more interest. Thank you again for your thoughtful input. - Paul

06-02-2007, 18:59	#6 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 849	Re: Encased in Ice By the way. should I make the photo smaller for these forums? This photo was 800 pixals on the long side. Should I shoot for 600? - Paul

06-02-2007, 20:17	#8 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: Encased in Ice now this i adore!. the red is so eye catching and the diagonal holds the interest. on my monitor the background is ever so slightly mottled so not a flat black. just a super shot and one i think that would look awesome blown up to at least A3! Fi

06-02-2007, 20:53	#9 (permalink)
Angela Pixalo Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 5,849	Re: Encased in Ice I love this picture! Whilst I can see Skip's point about the lighting, I really do think this works as it is.

07-02-2007, 15:42	#10 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 849	Re: Encased in Ice Angela and Fiona, Thank you for the encouraging, positive feedback. - Paul

08-02-2007, 16:47	#11 (permalink)
namllihs Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Loughborough Leicestershire Posts: 779	Re: Encased in Ice Excellent capture, lovely reds and browns here, and although I like it as it is, Rob's suggestion with the shadow/highlight filter really does bring that mottled background out.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode