Chris Reinhold
July 2024 - Calla Lilly
Original
About the Image(s)
We have Calla Lilies in our front garden, and I have wanted for the last couple of years create a black & white image of these flowers. This year I finally got around to making that image. As part of creating this image I also wanted to try out a couple of new approaches for capturing and processing closeup images. Here are the steps I used to create the image.
- Use focus bracketing in the Canon R5 to capture 20 images
- Processed through DxO PureRAW to remove any noise and apply lens corrections
- Used focus stacking in Helicon to take 12 of the 20 image to create a combined image (the output is the included "unprocessed" image)
- Used Lightroom Classic to enhance image and remove blemishes
- Export to Nik Silver Efex for the black and white conversion
Canon R5 with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro, 1/10 sec f/8.0 ISO 320
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Nothing like the simplicity of a single Calla Lilly in BW. You put some work into your submission and it shows.
I wondered if there was a way to coax a little more texture in the petals without losing the pure white. I used the NIK Color Efex Detail Extractor which helped and then I placed a LR adjustment brush over the Petals increased the clarity, white, and exposure sliders
Emil Posted: 07/03/2024 19:35:25
Thanks for the feedback. I used the Structure setting in Nik Silver Efex to give the petals extra texture. Using the midtones slider, I can add more texture to the petals. I did spend some time moving the slider to different points. I didn't want too much texture as I wanted to keep some softness to the flower. Posted: 07/04/2024 00:02:27
I decided to add some texture to the flower,
i used the filter Luminar 4, and added:
1. HDR Smart Structure: +100
2. HDR clarity: 37
3. HDR Microstructure: -19
in photoshop I reduced the transparency to 57%, added a mask and went over the flower with a brush.
Your thoughts?
Sincerely,
Israel Posted: 07/07/2024 10:46:05
I went to my balcony garden now and checked the flowers, all the petals of all the flowers have texture, there are no petals that are completely smooth.
But in general it's a matter of taste, as you like.
I like your edit too.
Sincerely,
Israel Posted: 07/10/2024 12:30:24
Your thoughts?
Posted: 07/16/2024 23:36:09
Posted: 07/18/2024 01:54:47
A very very beautiful picture which remind me of Immogen Cummingham's work.
I read the discussion around the texture with high interest. I agree that textures are relevant from a botanical level and the technical part of my photographic mind tells me that they should be there. However I didnt miss them in your initial picture from an artistic perspective: I personally liked the blank white.
Best regards, Adrian Posted: 07/24/2024 13:14:48