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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> CTF Challenge 164 -Zone System >> CTF Challenge 164 - Exhibition > Stainless Steel Magnolia
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17-JUL-2008 Brent

Stainless Steel Magnolia

Canon EOS 30D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/200s f/13.0 at 21.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Photogenix21-Jul-2008 16:55
Like the starkness and the flare works for me. -RK
aam1234 18-Jul-2008 19:07
Personally, I have no issue with flare/rays as it is. Also, agree with Brent about doing things in PS, it just doesn't feel right.
Guest 18-Jul-2008 18:06
oh! no I am not asking to add the flares in PS.
I am just mentioning to look at them how they move based on the sun and the angle it makes with the subject. Its more of a learning tool to know what looks good and what looks bad, that way when you shoot you'll pick the right flare to include. The flares change dramatically with a small change in the angle of the sun.
And about job... talk about it, I always admire people who can make so much time towards photography as a hobby. I wish I could too... :-(
-Cat
ctfchallenge18-Jul-2008 17:19
Thanks much Cat. I see what you are saying with the disks touching the subject and may rework this later removing elements when I have time. Not sure I would want to generate something artificially as I tend to keep things as real as possible and though allowed I'd almost feel like I was cheating. I'm wishing for more free time to work on these things and go seek all the ideas I have in mind for settings. It's rough when your stupid job gets in the way of having fun!
~Brent
Guest 18-Jul-2008 15:54
Ahh! Much much better!!. This has all the elements which are missing from the previous one and thus makes a complete and better photo IMO. Hmmm.. about the sun and flare... it's a double edged sword. While it adds charm to the photo, it can take away the charm too. It was a good decision to include them however I would prefer if we could do something about the bright disks in the flare, they are all over and all sizes and some are incomplete. We need to attend to them and make them 1. align/streamline them. 2. remove the ones which are touching the tree and the ones which are incomplete. You could study the flares to see how they should look, if they are to be included. PS has a flare function/filter (i think) which generates gorgeous flares, it will be worth a look.
-Cat
ctfchallenge18-Jul-2008 15:07
Thanks much all, I am enjoying this challenge Aam :-) This is an exhibit in the rather new Olympic Sculpture Park on the north waterfront of downtown Seattle. There are some nice things there, but most are difficult to shoot (including this) because of obstructions and arbitrary fencing limiting vantage points. We don't have the clouds I wanted in Seattle right now (hence the dry grass Penny) so I thought the sun could be used to get me a white zone, and I found I could tease that out of the grass too using the color sliders in photoshop. I didn't meter off anything JV, but just kept some shadow detail in mind while shooting. Call it the twilight zone if you will ;-)
~Brent
jvkelley 18-Jul-2008 13:42
Looks good. So which zone did you use to expose this picture?
ctfchallenge18-Jul-2008 12:47
I prefer this one too. Pretty incredible sculpture. Is that a Calder stabile on the horizon and where is this place? -tv
ctfchallenge18-Jul-2008 11:28
I only know about zoning since yesterday, but this appears to me to be a terrific example. And, aside from that, it's beautiful. The sunlight really captures the bark and the branches of the delicate tree. Funny how it rains so much in Seattle and the grass looks so dry. Penny Street
sue anne18-Jul-2008 11:13
This one with the light and the grass gives it an IR look. Beautiful.
aam1234 18-Jul-2008 08:30
Both are excellent, but this one is probably my favorite. You are enjoying this challenge, aren't you, Brent :)