An Iris of remarkable color with the SX50

With all the rain we've had over the last week, we were expecting even more yesterday with the prediction of "dangerous" afternoon storms. But fortunately, they stayed to the north and the sun even came out. Also fortunately, a brand new specimen of Iris in our gardens opened up for the first time, a double bloom to boot. Now normally, this would be an occasion to bring out my dSLR, but more and more now I'm defaulting to the SX50. I've said before that there may be at least one more full frame dSLR upgrade in my future, but I'm beginning to wonder. I guess much will depend on what Canon has to offer in its next editions of Full Frames.

This is a particularly beautiful specimen of Iris with deep rich colors that can be spotted from far afield. The natural saturation is truly remarkable. Adding to Nature's inherent palette, the late afternoon low hanging sun was golden in color, a perfect complement for the tones of the blooms. Of all shooting situations, this was definitely a case for shooting raw+JPEG. The color temperature and tonal gradations had to be right.

Although I usually have used Canon's DPP for the start of my SX50 raw workflow, I have also been experimenting with ACR v7.4. And it works very well, allowing quick and intuitive adjustments to attain correct color temperature and balance while the subject and conditions are still available for comparison. Since neither the handheld composition nor the sharpness needed adjustment at this time, it only took minutes to create a good working 16 bit TIFF file of the Irises. As I work with both DPP and ACR on SX50 files, I'll find each program's strengths for particular adjustments. I'll especially continue to use DPP since I am uncomfortable with the future of Adobe's software distribution model. Future versions of Adobe Photoshop will most likely NOT be in MY future.

In CS6, I then cleaned up the TIFF file to my (and my wife's) liking, adding levels of fine sharpening where needed and cleaning some spectral highlights caused by the bright sun. Subtle clarity was also added in areas where that sun soaked up too much of the color. This is the same typical workflow as when polishing up a person's portrait. When we were both happy, I created the files for use in different color spaces. This version is specifically for 8 bit sRGB monitors for what I hope will be the best presentation on most of your monitors.

Although our gardens are a lot of work, we enjoy being surrounded by the beautiful array that only Nature can provide. I hope you enjoy my poor human attempts to share that beauty:


The first time blooms of a beautiful new Iris specimen in our gardens.

Note that I also worked a good bit on the JPEG file to see if I could nudge out the same results from a very high contrast, slightly green hued original (the camera JPEG settings are at default in the colors menu). Even using very precise hue, tone and saturation adjustments by color set through a plug-in, I was not able to nail the green hue adjustment as well as in the raw color flow. The raw processed version just looked more true and natural on my calibrated monitors, so it won the day.

Comments as always are welcome.

Ed


Edit: I don't know why the image sometimes appears and sometimes doesn't. Site Problem? If it doesn't appear, just click on the picture area to see the enlargement.

That a Masterpiece one, WOW Ed, Great well done

VisionLight said:

VisionLight wrote:

Camera

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--
Hossam
[Kodak DX7590] {Broken}
[Canon SX50HS]

A rainbow of subtle and rich tonality captured I feel at just the right time of day.

This is such a beautiful image, crafted and honed to perfection. Well done Vision and thanks for the presentation for us all to admire.

Ed,

This is truely a beauty--flower and photo! Although it would seem you have worked harder than Mother Nature. It is amazing what she does with a seed/bulb, a little dirt and a few drops of water.

BTW I quit PS at CS5 with the Adobe landscape so cloudy (pun intended). I hope they know what they are doing??

Since I'm still doing spring cleaning my rest periods are filled with digitizing old negatives from another era. I am seeing photos from my youth that I'm now excited to try to duplicate with my SX50 on similar subjects. Amost makes me wish we still had a brood of little kids running around the house--NOT :-O

Any way thanks for sharing your glorious efforts.

Murry

In our garden there is an Iris bush like yours, but not with such intense colors (it's night and raining, I'll try tomorrow a shot, although the flowers are almost all already withered

I've also remarked that sometimes images don't appear within the message. However if clicked upon, they are there all right. When accessing the message after a time, say one or two hours, everything is OK: I presume it's something about the uploading/refreshing image speed.

All the best,

Augustin

Hi Ed,

A striking flower with very challenging lighting. An interesting example.

I might have tried to pull a bit more detail out of the shadows so that the purple of the flower on the right was not as hidden in the shadow from the flower on the left. Of course, that kind of effort, using either tone mapping or with shadow tools can make the color balance tough to maintain. I find RawTherapee particularly useful for that kind of tweaking of contrast and color. I don't have any experience using Adobe's tools for that.

Regards,

Don

Hi Don,

Thanks for the comments. If you look closely you'll see the darkest shadows in the "purple" petal on the right bloom match the contour of the yellow upright petal to its immediate left. Opening it up more would make its tonal balance look a bit off from the nearby shadows of the same intensity. I actually gave it a brief try, but stepped back. But I appreciate your suggestions. Images can always be improved with the right mix of steps that we may not think of ourselves.

Based on your suggestions, I started looking into Raw Therapee for Windows 7 64 bit. I see there hasn't been an official stable version in a long time, but plenty of developmental versions for the Windows space. But it may be worth a try when I can put together some time. Thanks.

I actually don't usually do these specific area fine turning steps in the raw processor though. I find segregating the elements in separate layers and correcting them using various CS6 tools and other plug-ins, then feathering the corrections, give what are for me the best results. Setting up the parameters of the selections for the layers can easily group all similar toned/colored/etc. as needed values into the same layer for an overall balanced correction without affecting other areas of the image. In the end, this gives the image a less "processed" look many times apparent when treated by post.

Thanks again,

Ed

I look forward to your image, Augustin. Hopefully the bloom hasn't lost too much of its luster.

You're right, it looks like the image is appearing at each opening of the op now. Maybe I'm just lacking in the patience I had at a younger age.

Thanks for your comments,

Ed

Member said:

MurryG wrote:

Ed,

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Hi, my friend.

Member said:

This is truely a beauty--flower and photo! Although it would seem you have worked harder than Mother Nature. It is amazing what she does with a seed/bulb, a little dirt and a few drops of water.

Click to expand...

Many of the great accomplishments we have created always amaze me, as it should be. The great things that people's minds can develop and produce! But I am still usually more amazed by the simple yet profound processes of Nature with their simple yet intricately complex designs and builds. And when you think about it, most of our great accomplishments are based on those designs and builds.

Member said:

BTW I quit PS at CS5 with the Adobe landscape so cloudy (pun intended). I hope they know what they are doing??

Click to expand...

As a person who spent many years in technology, I well understand the concept of change. And when it comes to pushing the envelope, I stand guilty as charged (for some reason or another, those people actually trusted me and stopped saying "that can't be done".) But I always also paid close attention to customer's perceptions and senses of value and carefully orchestrated transitions. In this I think, Adobe is currently sorely lacking.

Member said:

Since I'm still doing spring cleaning my rest periods are filled with digitizing old negatives from another era. I am seeing photos from my youth that I'm now excited to try to duplicate with my SX50 on similar subjects. Amost makes me wish we still had a brood of little kids running around the house--NOT :-O

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Since it was supposed to rain again yesterday, I was actually spending the day in my workshop making a lot of sawdust. I'm glad I took a late afternoon break with my neighbor "to smell the roses". I also get the digitizing bug from time to time and surprise people with e-mails of old times we spent together. This technology thing is really something. Although if there were grandchildren running around, I suppose I wouldn't have time for any of these things. Ah, pluses and minuses.

Member said:

Any way thanks for sharing your glorious efforts.

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From flower person to flower person, I'm glad you liked it.

Ed

Thank you. Especially when others find appreciation in the effort is that effort well worth it. Mother Nature does indeed take care of the hard part though, I just try to share it a bit.

Ed

Your comment is much appreciated, Hossam. I'm just trying to spread the simple joy that people sometimes overlook, but Nature provides to us in abundance.

Ed

VisionLight said:

VisionLight wrote:

Hi Don,

Thanks for the comments. If you look closely you'll see the darkest shadows in the "purple" petal on the right bloom match the contour of the yellow upright petal to its immediate left. Opening it up more would make its tonal balance look a bit off from the nearby shadows of the same intensity. I actually gave it a brief try, but stepped back. But I appreciate your suggestions. Images can always be improved with the right mix of steps that we may not think of ourselves.

Click to expand...

Such high contrast lighting is always a challenge, for certain. My comments were not at all intended as a criticism.

VisionLight said:

Based on your suggestions, I started looking into Raw Therapee for Windows 7 64 bit. I see there hasn't been an official stable version in a long time, but plenty of developmental versions for the Windows space. But it may be worth a try when I can put together some time. Thanks.

Click to expand...

"Stable" is a relative term. Things have really settled down in the past few months with generally rare issues of instability that have been easy enough to sidestep.

The tone mapping tool is particularly well done and finely adjustable.

VisionLight said:

I actually don't usually do these specific area fine turning steps in the raw processor though. I find segregating the elements in separate layers and correcting them using various CS6 tools and other plug-ins, then feathering the corrections, give what are for me the best results. Setting up the parameters of the selections for the layers can easily group all similar toned/colored/etc. as needed values into the same layer for an overall balanced correction without affecting other areas of the image. In the end, this gives the image a less "processed" look many times apparent when treated by post.

Click to expand...

I think of RT as far more than a raw processor. I find that the fine gradation available in RT's controls encourages moderation. Combined with the floating-point arithmetic they go a long way toward preventing an overprocessed look. I do not use RT's sharpening. I find sharpening in GIMP with one of its add-on tools gives me more control with less fiddling and far less amplification of noise than other tools.

We all use the tools we're comfortable with. Another possibility for such high contrast lighting is fill-in flash. That doesn't work for extreme closeups but might have done the trick at the distance for this photo.

In any event, a gorgeous pair of flowers and an interesting challenge for photography.

Regards,

Don

VisionLight said:

Thanks again,

Ed

Click to expand...

VisionLight said:

VisionLight wrote:

I look forward to your image, Augustin. Hopefully the bloom hasn't lost too much of its luster.

You're right, it looks like the image is appearing at each opening of the op now. Maybe I'm just lacking in the patience I had at a younger age.

Thanks for your comments,

Ed

Click to expand...

Here are two of the last flowers:



All the best,

Augustin

Yes, a very beautiful Iris as well, Augustin, and possibly related to mine. It may very well be that mine has its origins in a country not far north of you as it is a Germanica "Swingtown".

It does indeed look like you, Murry and I have more in common that just photography as we all like to have gardens full of color.

Ed

Your post reminded me of the time I switched my then new G6 to Super-Macro mode and stuck it into the gaping mouth of a freshly opened Iris.

Thanks for the inspiration, Averagejoe. I played this morning with my SX50 at both 1200mm from 4.2 ft and closer at shorter focal lengths and did the same thing. Interesting results of color and form. Yours is certainly an explosion of color.

Ed

Well done...

Thes are always tough flowers to capture... so many colors/tones levels and textures. I try to photograph them but usually give up and macro instead...

You did well in post bringing that balance to the photograph.

Thanks Gus. I'm a firm believer in post being as fun and important part of the process as capturing the image in the first place. There are just so many interpretations waiting to be brought out, besides, as in this case, the one vision closest to reality. I've always been a big fan of and studied Ansel Adams, whose working mantra was that the negative was only the musical score. What we create from that negative is the true orchestral performance.

By the way, Britney Elvis/supermodel vs. Gus. There's got to be a story there. Any chance you'll let us in?

Ed

Very well done! tS