Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Window Views #8



It's Window Views time again, friends!

When you shoot inside Coe Hall at the Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, New York you're not allowed to use a flash. I guess I should be happy that they let us shoot pictures at all. There was a time before digital cameras when you were not allowed to take photos inside any institution.
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Photobucket

I love the photo above but you can see it did come out a bit dark
and no amount of brightening or lightening would help.


Photobucket

When a photo doesn't come out the way you like it you can try some photo-editing filters
that will make it more pleasing to the eye. I used Photobucket's Fresco filter on the photo above.


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I'm posting Window Views early on Wednesday for Thursday to make it easier on our friends in other parts of the world.







28 comments:

Gemma Wiseman said...

That filter creates a very artistic, wavy outline of the flowers! The result is almost like a crayon and watercolour painting! And the window creates a lovely sense of imagined, dimensional background.

Very beautiful!

Mojo said...

Couple of things worked against you here. First you had low light inside the room, and second you had strong backlighting from the window. Since fill flash was (obviously) not an option, you're kinda stuck with finding some way to steady the camera (tripod, monopod, table, something) and stopping down your aperture so that you have a chance to expose the foreground without completely blowing out the background. If your camera has a manual mode, dialing the aperture down to between f/8.0 and f/16 would be a good starting point. If it doesn't, check your owner's manual to see if it offers the option of partial metering (sometimes called "spot metering") and meter on the darker subject in foreground with the camera in "Aperture priority" mode (usually abbreviated "Av" on the control knob).

And if all else fails, you can always go for the classic silhouette look.

For the results that you actually got, if you're not happy with the look, try converting to black & white. I've "rescued" many shots that way.

ellen b said...

I really like this looking out view of this window. Fun twist on it too using that photobucket feature...

James said...

That's really cool the bottom one looks like a painting.

Anonymous said...

Lovely effect. It looks like a Carl Larsson painting.

Jeri ~ said...

These shots are both beautiful! I really love the look created by the filter, great job!!

Carletta said...

While the first photo might be a little dark I like the softness of it.
Your photo effects however are very nice!

Leora said...

Very painterly, what you did the photo! I do like those flowers and its pot.

Lew said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lew said...

Nicely done! When the camera can't do the job, the artist takes over and you get an interesting result.

Eaton Bennett aka Berenice Albrecht said...

I liked the first shot, regardless of it being a bit dark. But I really liked the second shot, metallic with colors. :)

Eaton Bennett aka Berenice Albrecht said...

I liked the first shot, regardless of it being a bit dark. But I really liked the second shot, metallic with colors. :)

Gattina said...

I have to try that too, it looks very nice. Flashs are not allowed because they would damaged pictures, that I can understand, the colors would suffer, but other things ? It's the same over here too.

Mo and The Purries said...

I like that filter with the flowers, Mary.
I have a before and after apartment window pic at It's A Blog Eat Blog World and over at Purrchance To Dream Petey is guarding some catgrass in the window.
Cheers,
Mo

MaR said...

I loved the effect on your shot and carefully read Mojo's instructions...!! just in case :)

Robin said...

I like the fresco look - and you're right, creative filtering (or as Mojo said black and white) has saved many a shot from oblivion.

Terri said...

I like that effect! Very interesting!

Author said...

I rather like the dark shades - they add atmosphere. But then I don't think photos have to be perfect to be good and I just love the composition of this one. It is quite charming.

Le Butterfly said...

Also love the composition of the photo.

Interesting comments from Mojo. Thanks for sharing.

happyone said...

Just came across your blog and think it's a great idea.
This is my first time posting a picture.
I agree with the others - the second one looks like a painting.

kayerj said...

geraniums belong in a pretty pot in a window.

Sherrie said...

Hi Mary,
I like them both! I'll have to give that filter thing a try some day! Mine is posted. Have a great day!

Sherrie

Danielle said...

I do love the effect. Very pretty. Looks like it would make a good painting in actuality.

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what is Mojo talking about - I don't know anything about photography - I like this one and I remember the Cancun beach view - I like the feeling that I get from those pictures and that is all that matter to me!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary. I'm a bit late for post #8but it is now up!

Too, I've an editing programme that can brighten up most any pic. Comes in handy on those "restricted" shots, tho' I do like this approach, as well :)

Off to do some "window" shopping!

Julie said...

I have some photo's also that all that could be done to help the picture was use a technique like that. It works well and both shots are lovely.

Happily Retired Gal said...

Way to rescue this photo! The flowers at the window look especially nifty in the second 'altered' photo ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I love what you did to the photo with the filter. Flowers in windows always make a pretty picture.