Tulips shot with flash - suggestions please

[DavidEB]

I tried using flash to make the tulips look like they were illuminated from window light, while darkening the window itself. But I think I only came close to what I wanted, rather than getting the right result. So I'd appreciate advice (my first critique request).

I used a Sigma 500 super, turned up to the ceiling aimed as far from the camera as I could without shining directly on the tulips. My digital rebel was on M, 1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 100. I picked f/8 as a balance of darkening the window and also blurring the background.

In photoshop I adjusted levels and applied a mild unsharp mask. The image on my computer is sharp, for the upload I had to resize & use jpg compression to stay under 100kb so it looks jagged - sorry.

Thanks,
David

[eljustino]

Hey! I like this! Very nice indeed actually! I can't imagine clicking on a "tulip picture" and enjoying it more than this. I think it's great!

[Wendy Lilygreen]

I like it too but I found the window a bit distracting, what happens if you try that with just one tulip and a black background?

[DavidEB]

Justin -- thanks for the kind words.

Lilers -- most of my indoors flower shots are as you suggested (isolate a flower, black or biege background depending on color). I was trying for a look that the flowers were part of the room and illuminated. I agree with you that the window is distracting rather than an integral part of the picture. How do I get closer to what I wanted?


thanks both, for taking the time to comment.

David

[Wendy Lilygreen]

How about using a duplicate layer and putting more gaussian blur on one layer then erasing down to the tulips you wish to be the center of attention?
If you want to get a painterly feel you can on one layer really push up the unsharp mask say amount 200%; 80 on the next and nothing on threshold. On the next layer use gaussian blur to about 11 or 13. Play around with reducing the opacity of the blur layer and it's quite effective!
If you then flattened that lot and saved it and reopened it with the original tulips and erased down you again focus on the flowers you want.
Have fun!

Wendy

[DavidEB]

Wendy --

thanks for the photoshop suggestions, I did that, and it does increase attention on the tulips. I learned some useful photoshop tips from that. Again, the posted image is a JPG compressed to be less than 100kb - the original looks better.

It doesn't fix the light - I wanted it to look like the tulips were lit from the window. How?


Thanks,

David

[Wendy Lilygreen]

Hi Do you mean this sort of thing?
I went to Photoshop, filters, render, lighting effects, spotlight and just played around.
If you want more specific light beams there is no doubt a way to do it in photoshop - I've seen an article somewhere but can't remember where right now - but also there is Auto FX Mystical Lights which is a plugin for Photoshop, have a look on their site.
Hope this is of some help.

Wendy

[DavidEB]

Cool. thanks.

David

[Maureen Souza]

Love your 2nd post.....we have tulips all over the place (in yards) right now but these are just beautiful. Nice job editing in PS.

[DSMITH131]

Nice Picture David now when summer get here how about comming over and getting mine to grow that good