Hi Ken! Welcome back! I've often wondered where you were and I'm certainly glad to see you posting again. (Of course, you ratchet up the level of competition - but that's all to the good. ) This is a really lovely shot. The colors are great! I, too, am curious about how you did this. Bravo!!
Thanks so much for your welcome and kind remarks. This is such a challenging place to exercise and develop one's photo skills.
I'm always glad to share how I've done something. Sharing ideas and techniques is, to me, a primary value of these exercises.
As I'm sure so many of you have experienced this was not the image I had originally been working for 222. I had decided to follow the "Minimalism" theme along its basic definition; that of an art movement in the 1940's-1960's. So I was working on rather abstract compositions featuring large shapes of color and/or tonal variations. On this particular day I had actually been working on a black-on-black concept, specifically on this 'Minimalist Topographical Map" image. The image is created mainly with Rosco Cinefoil (a heavy black aluminum foil often used for flagging and snooting).
I had finished this image and decided to take an unplanned side trip before closing shop. I placed a red glass block on top of a sheet of the Cinefoil and used a hand-held flash, snooted narrowly, to send a relatively narrow blast of light into the block. This produced the burst of red light above the block as well as a bit of spill to either side. I found (after over 40 shots!) that by holding the flash in a very specific position I could produce a very flame-like appearance above the block. To further "sell" the impression of a flame, and to create the blue tones at either side (which were actually gray), I merely pushed the image's white balance to around 4200K (from 5700K) and boosted the black level a bit. Other than removing some dust specks that was all the post I did to the image.
Yes, it's whimsy and not what I had in mind. But that's part of the fun, eh?!
Ken Tanaka wrote:
Thanks so much for your welcome and kind remarks. This is such a challenging place to exercise and develop one's photo skills.
I'm always glad to share how I've done something. Sharing ideas and techniques is, to me, a primary value of these exercises.
As I'm sure so many of you have experienced this was not the image I had originally been working for 222. I had decided to follow the "Minimalism" theme along its basic definition; that of an art movement in the 1940's-1960's. So I was working on rather abstract compositions featuring large shapes of color and/or tonal variations. On this particular day I had actually been working on a black-on-black concept, specifically on this 'Minimalist Topographical Map" image. The image is created mainly with Rosco Cinefoil (a heavy black aluminum foil often used for flagging and snooting).
I had finished this image and decided to take an unplanned side trip before closing shop. I placed a red glass block on top of a sheet of the Cinefoil and used a hand-held flash, snooted narrowly, to send a relatively narrow blast of light into the block. This produced the burst of red light above the block as well as a bit of spill to either side. I found (after over 40 shots!) that by holding the flash in a very specific position I could produce a very flame-like appearance above the block. To further "sell" the impression of a flame, and to create the blue tones at either side (which were actually gray), I merely pushed the image's white balance to around 4200K (from 5700K) and boosted the black level a bit. Other than removing some dust specks that was all the post I did to the image.
Yes, it's whimsy and not what I had in mind. But that's part of the fun, eh?!...Show more →
How much FUN, Ken !!!!!!! Waaay cool. Painting with light--literally.
Jane
) This is a really lovely shot. The colors are great! I, too, am curious about how you did this. Bravo!! 