Not a "macro" per se, but...

[Eric Snyder]

This was taken as close to the water as I dared, considering the conditions, using Canon's 100mm Macro USM lens on the 40D. I hope you all enjoy!

ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec

 

[Asher Kelman]

Eric,

Impressive, how did you get the milkiness at 1/2000 sec? Is it just over-exposed?

Asher

 

[Eric Snyder]

Here's a screen cap of the histogram for the shot; It's definitely weighted to the right but I hesitate to say 'over'exposed... It was just the way the waves were crashing in that day was causing this thick, creamy foam when they hit the beach; then that foam would rush up like that. It was very bizarre (and cool). Imagine mildly watered down Cool Whip and you'd be close.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Eric,

That's nice to know. Now back to the picture, that rock could be worked on more, or not? If it was defined in detail and dimension, then it would contrast with the rocks, in definition but also there might be common shapes to be emphasized.

Still, you may have already looked at that.

Asher

 

[Eric Snyder]

I'm not entirely sure what could be done to bring that out some more. It's actually a chunk of wood; cedar I'm guessing from the color.

I might try boosting the reds/oranges a little to see if I can emphasize it to the eye more, but brightening the photo much more starts to blow out the highlights on the foam too much for me.

Thanks for the comments, Asher!

-E

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

I'm not entirely sure what could be done to bring that out some more. It's actually a chunk of wood; cedar I'm guessing from the color.

I might try boosting the reds/oranges a little to see if I can emphasize it to the eye more, but brightening the photo much more starts to blow out the highlights on the foam too much for me.

Thanks for the comments, Asher!

-E

Hi Eric,

I think Asher is not talking about anything complicated but just a little bit of more light and definition on the wood which can be done easily in PS with highlights and shadows. Something like this perhaps:

Original image:

Modified by Cem:

Cheers,

 

[Eric Snyder]

Thanks, Cem! I see what you're saying there; I'll have to play with it a bit myself. The effect on your edit is a bit TOO much for me but I can probably find a midground that works well.

I'm working with Lightroom rather than PS or Elements right now, so I don't know that I have the fine tuning control I'd like for those things. I might, I just haven't tried yet.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Thanks, Cem! I see what you're saying there; I'll have to play with it a bit myself. The effect on your edit is a bit TOO much for me but I can probably find a midground that works well.

I'm working with Lightroom rather than PS or Elements right now, so I don't know that I have the fine tuning control I'd like for those things. I might, I just haven't tried yet.

Yes, I know the effect is exaggerated, I did it to demo my point and I've spent less then 1 min on the image in total ;-). BTW; you can do this in LR just as easily using the fill light slider and local adjustment brush on the wood with exposure and sharpness controls.

 

[Eric Snyder]

Ohh...good point on the local brush. I keep meaning to figure that one out; here's my latest edit though, to bring out the color and some more texture on the wood itself.

Further thoughts? This is all great feedback, thanks guys!

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Ohh...good point on the local brush. I keep meaning to figure that one out; here's my latest edit though, to bring out the color and some more texture on the wood itself.

Further thoughts? This is all great feedback, thanks guys!

Much better! You are on the right track

 

[Rachel Foster]

I DO like this!

 

[Mike Shimwell]

Eric

I much prefer the version with the wood selectively lightened as compared to the broad brush fill light lightening the forground shale as well. I think a bit of local sharpening would finsih it nicely - you could try brushing on some clarity and sharpness in LR

Mike

 

[Asher Kelman]

Eric,

This is not a quick fix issue. The milky white has, I'm sure, a lot of potential delicate highlights with reflections of the sky, modifying the color as well. That has to be explored with a considerable effort to see what's there in detail. How amenable is the file to being processed in this region of the histogram? Then, it's an artistic decision how to manage the vision of the foam, as what its character should be. Only then can one build the form and detail of the fixed wood.

This, to me, is new ground. I've never seen such a picture where so much depends on these high tonalities.

Asher

 

[Eric Snyder]

I'm not sure what the highlights would pick up from the sky. By the time I took this picture it was mostly heavy overcast and generally gray. The only color was coming from the line between sky and clouds much further out from the shore. You can see hints of that out in the background.

Here is my latest though, after spending some time on the wood and the foam with the adjustment brush. I think they both stand out against each other much better now; and you can see more of the texture and color of the wood. So it doesn't look so much like a rock, now.

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys. This has been great!