Thistles

brian-iow · 25-06-2008, 21:37

While in Prague recently I saw a series of photos done in this style (don't know if it has a name ) and they intrigued me. I have had a go at imitating this style with the following results
Thorns

Thistles

jake · 26-06-2008, 00:29

Like those very much Brian

bain · 26-06-2008, 09:16

first time i've seen this style, i like it, the thorns look great,

how is it done?

AQ · 26-06-2008, 12:24

I have always liked this type of picture. I think you have done a good job there

.

I feel inspired to look through what pictures I have on my PC that I can play with.

brian-iow · 26-06-2008, 16:23

Bain... I did this in Photoshop CS2 but I feel sure you could repeat the idea in any version including Elements.
Start with the original colour shot as the background and copy it twice into Background Copy 1 (I will call BG 1) and Background Copy 2 (I will call BG 2)
On BG 2 Go to IMAGE>AJUSTMENT>CHANNEL MIXER
In the bottom left hand set the choice to monochrome
Next adjust the three channnel sliders to RED 50% ..GREEN30% ...BLUE20%
These setting are not critical but the three channels need to add up to approx 100
Now tweak the constant to give you a sharp mono image
Now go to BG1 Go to SELECT>COLOUR RANGE and use the colour picker to choose the purple thistle head.Using the fuzziness slider at the top will help control the selection.Once you are happy hit OK.

Go back and highlight the top layer BG2 and hit CTRL X to cut the selection.
You should now have the colured part of the thistle showing through from the layer below.
That is the basic idea.At this point I usually tweak the layers to suit.Then save.
There are several other ways to acheive this effect but this is my personal preference.
Sorry if this is a bit of a rambling explanation.

bain · 26-06-2008, 17:30

brian thanks for the info, i will definetly give it a whirl ,if they turn out ok i might even post one back

thanks

simpbow · 26-06-2008, 19:10

Looks great.

JMitchell · 26-06-2008, 19:45

I am not a fan of this style in general, but definitely it can work it certain situations. What I always say though (and so far I don't think anyone has taken any notice!) is that I think it looks better to have an almost completely desat. but not completely background, just to make it flow better.
First one works for me here, but the others don't. Like that first one though

brian-iow · 26-06-2008, 20:38

Bain....look forward to seing a post of your photo.
.

Jack...Thanks for your comments but could you just clarify your preferences to this type of photograph.Do you suggest not completely desaturating the background but keep a small touch of colour?. I appreciate that this not a style to your taste but I am always willing to learn from other folks observations .
Brian.

JMitchell · 26-06-2008, 20:42

Yes Brian that's what I'm suggesting

Didn't mean to sound too mean, I like the concept in some, and the first one is nice

brian-iow · 26-06-2008, 20:59

Jack...thanks for a swift response.If we all liked the same things or worse still pretended to like the same things none of us would ever try to improve on what we do.
Gentle criticism is a good thing and I for one hope to learn from it, so thanks for being candid. I will further experiment along the lines you suggest and if I turn out a decent photo I will certainly post it.
Brian.

**Markulous** · 26-06-2008, 23:21

Usually called selective colouring and think it can work well - that #2 looks good, tho' I'd stick with just the left two and not the rightmost (it's not quite strong enough IMHO)

I use two layers, a mono and colour one (hidden) and 'paint' back the colour where I require it (with the white brush) or remove it agin with the black (or eraser)

JMitchell · 26-06-2008, 23:55

This is probably too saturated to still be the selective colour effect, but here is an example going towards that direction. I kept the saturation in the maple leaf but started to decolour the rest of the shot....

Lew · 27-06-2008, 02:12

I find everything here intrigueing. Nice pictures Brian and Jack. Brian thanks for the quick sketch on how -to. I also will have to look around and see if something would suit this.

brian-iow · 27-06-2008, 09:38

JACK Thanks for posting this example it illustrates perfectly what you were saying about partial desaturation. This is going to set me off for another search through my photos to have a go at this facet of the technique.
Great picture by the way..

MARK Thanks for your imput I will have a go at working this photo (#2) again and see how it looks.

25-06-2008, 21:37	#1 (permalink)
brian-iow Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandown Isle of Wight Posts: 811	Thistles While in Prague recently I saw a series of photos done in this style (don't know if it has a name ) and they intrigued me. I have had a go at imitating this style with the following results Thorns Thistles Thistles

26-06-2008, 00:29	#2 (permalink)
jake Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: yorkshire Posts: 377	Re: Thistles Like those very much Brian

26-06-2008, 09:16	#3 (permalink)
bain Getting Comfy Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 128	Re: Thistles first time i've seen this style, i like it, the thorns look great, how is it done?

26-06-2008, 12:24	#4 (permalink)
AQ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 1,155	Re: Thistles I have always liked this type of picture. I think you have done a good job there . I feel inspired to look through what pictures I have on my PC that I can play with.

26-06-2008, 16:23	#5 (permalink)
brian-iow Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandown Isle of Wight Posts: 811	Re: Thistles Bain... I did this in Photoshop CS2 but I feel sure you could repeat the idea in any version including Elements. Start with the original colour shot as the background and copy it twice into Background Copy 1 (I will call BG 1) and Background Copy 2 (I will call BG 2) On BG 2 Go to IMAGE>AJUSTMENT>CHANNEL MIXER In the bottom left hand set the choice to monochrome Next adjust the three channnel sliders to RED 50% ..GREEN30% ...BLUE20% These setting are not critical but the three channels need to add up to approx 100 Now tweak the constant to give you a sharp mono image Now go to BG1 Go to SELECT>COLOUR RANGE and use the colour picker to choose the purple thistle head.Using the fuzziness slider at the top will help control the selection.Once you are happy hit OK. Go back and highlight the top layer BG2 and hit CTRL X to cut the selection. You should now have the colured part of the thistle showing through from the layer below. That is the basic idea.At this point I usually tweak the layers to suit.Then save. There are several other ways to acheive this effect but this is my personal preference. Sorry if this is a bit of a rambling explanation.

26-06-2008, 17:30	#6 (permalink)
bain Getting Comfy Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 128	Re: Thistles brian thanks for the info, i will definetly give it a whirl ,if they turn out ok i might even post one back thanks

26-06-2008, 19:10	#7 (permalink)
simpbow Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 2,632	Re: Thistles Looks great.

26-06-2008, 19:45	#8 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,660	Re: Thistles I am not a fan of this style in general, but definitely it can work it certain situations. What I always say though (and so far I don't think anyone has taken any notice!) is that I think it looks better to have an almost completely desat. but not completely background, just to make it flow better. First one works for me here, but the others don't. Like that first one though

26-06-2008, 20:38	#9 (permalink)
brian-iow Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandown Isle of Wight Posts: 811	Re: Thistles Bain....look forward to seing a post of your photo. . Jack...Thanks for your comments but could you just clarify your preferences to this type of photograph.Do you suggest not completely desaturating the background but keep a small touch of colour?. I appreciate that this not a style to your taste but I am always willing to learn from other folks observations . Brian.

26-06-2008, 20:42	#10 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,660	Re: Thistles Yes Brian that's what I'm suggesting Didn't mean to sound too mean, I like the concept in some, and the first one is nice

26-06-2008, 20:59	#11 (permalink)
brian-iow Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandown Isle of Wight Posts: 811	Re: Thistles Jack...thanks for a swift response.If we all liked the same things or worse still pretended to like the same things none of us would ever try to improve on what we do. Gentle criticism is a good thing and I for one hope to learn from it, so thanks for being candid. I will further experiment along the lines you suggest and if I turn out a decent photo I will certainly post it. Brian.

26-06-2008, 23:21	#12 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,070	Re: Thistles Usually called selective colouring and think it can work well - that #2 looks good, tho' I'd stick with just the left two and not the rightmost (it's not quite strong enough IMHO) I use two layers, a mono and colour one (hidden) and 'paint' back the colour where I require it (with the white brush) or remove it agin with the black (or eraser)

26-06-2008, 23:55	#13 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,660	Re: Thistles This is probably too saturated to still be the selective colour effect, but here is an example going towards that direction. I kept the saturation in the maple leaf but started to decolour the rest of the shot....

27-06-2008, 02:12	#14 (permalink)
Lew Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Illinois just east of St. Louis, Mo. USA Posts: 908	Re: Thistles I find everything here intrigueing. Nice pictures Brian and Jack. Brian thanks for the quick sketch on how -to. I also will have to look around and see if something would suit this.

27-06-2008, 09:38	#15 (permalink)
brian-iow Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandown Isle of Wight Posts: 811	Re: Thistles JACK Thanks for posting this example it illustrates perfectly what you were saying about partial desaturation. This is going to set me off for another search through my photos to have a go at this facet of the technique. Great picture by the way.. MARK Thanks for your imput I will have a go at working this photo (#2) again and see how it looks.

27-06-2008, 10:43	#16 (permalink)
Larne Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK Posts: 452