Kurtis Sutley
July 2024 - A bug on a Daisy
Original
About the Image(s)
This is "A Bug on a Daisy". Used my Canon 6D Mk II with Tamron 70-200mm
f/2.8 Di VC @ 200mm w/36mm extension tubes Shot at 1/250 sec., f/6.3, ISO
400 in Manual on tripod. Processed in Lightroom CC, Topaz Studio 2, and
Photoshop 2024.
P.S. Original is "Daisy Moth"
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Excellent idea and nice job isolating the bug and the flower. If you prefer the flower and particularly the leaves could pop up with a little more saturated colors, but you are the artist and there are no questions in regard. Posted: 07/10/2024 22:49:57
I like this macro shot with all the details as it is. However, I played with it. I increased the saturation, used curves to set a black point and cropped and tilted the subject to give it more of a graphic look. Posted: 07/13/2024 03:06:56
Regine Guillemin
Perfect subject for high key picture! I played around a little bit , selected the white petals and pushed the Texture and clarity sliders to the left a little bit. It is a tiny difference. I think tilted enhances the pix but didn't know how to do it without loosing too much of the picture.
Kurtis , I think it is a great attempt. Hope to see more high key pictures. Posted: 07/15/2024 17:19:06
Kurtis , I think it is a great attempt. Hope to see more high key pictures. Posted: 07/15/2024 17:19:06
Regine, I love what you did with this photo. Real great edit.
Posted: 07/22/2024 03:52:22
Posted: 07/22/2024 03:52:22
Kurtis I would love to know what created the background in your original photo. Its very interesting. I still see a lighter version of the background in you edited photo but you lost most of it. I also liked the smaller petals in the left corner that you removed. You certainly did a good job lightning the flower and bug. How did you lighten the flower? Nicely done.
Posted: 07/22/2024 03:50:52
Posted: 07/22/2024 03:50:52
The original background were river rocks. My DOF was only about half an inch when using the extension tubes. The tubes shortened my focal range and allowed me to get closer. I started using the develop module to do a basic edit. Playing with the masking tools, I further brightened the flower and using the color mixer, I saturated the yellow and also brightened it. I also added a white vignette, something I rarely use, to soften the edges. I did use generative AI in Photoshop to delete the petals in the lower left. I actually pondered keeping them but, to my eye, they didn't add enough to the story to keep. Looking a second time, I like both options. I do a lot of experimenting when going for a look I have in mind. It was really tricky (I honestly don't remember everything I did) to keep enough detail and still maintain the visual ques needed. Fortunately (or not) sliders aren't autonomous. Moving one affects another. That's one reason I have gravitated to using the masking tools where I can. Posted: 07/22/2024 14:06:52
I never would have guessed your background to be river rocks. It looks so soft and pink. If I knew how I would just have lightened the pistils of the flower and of course the moth too leaving the background just as it is. Just my 2 cents.
Posted: 07/28/2024 01:41:05
Posted: 07/28/2024 01:41:05
A wonderful image Kurtis, the flower and moth are so detailed and sharp against the background. Such lovely colors! I tried playing around with the original to lighten it up a bit. In PS/Bridge the background was masked and the background was whiten by saturating it, also clarity sliders were used to soften the petals. It was cropped in PS and also used the brush tool to paint some green tones on the petals. A great job photographing and also editing it! Posted: 07/26/2024 20:27:24