JACK LARSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Marvelous Spring
Posted by john4jack (Corvallis, Oregon, United States) on 1 April 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
The wonder of Spring is no April Fool's Day joke.
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Suggestions. Since today's post is a B&W conversion using Nik's Silver Efex Pro, I thought that I might make a couple of suggestions. 1. When using Photoshop with any filter, first convert it to a Smart Filter. I can't tell you how many times I want to go back and make subtle changes. And, 2. Take advantage of the video tutorials that the various software companies provide. The Silver Efex Pro tutorials are both short and excellent. This is far and away the easiest way for me to learn.
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How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world!
- Anne Frank,
Anne Frank's Tales From the Secret Annex
valenttin from Navodari, Romania
Excellent! I hope today or tomorrow to find some buds...
1 Apr 2009 5:04am
"Marie" :-) from perth, Australia
Beautifully done Jack, very soft and perfect in B&W.
1 Apr 2009 5:52am
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
This is wonderful in B&W and great composition also!
1 Apr 2009 5:53am
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
definatley not this is so soft and beautiful
1 Apr 2009 5:56am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Oh how lovely!!!! I am so not looking forward to winter but Autunm is beautiful here:-)
1 Apr 2009 5:57am
Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany
A black and white spring shot,very different and it really works !! I like the softness of the shot most.
1 Apr 2009 6:26am
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
This is really beautifl! I like the choice of b&w. Great contrast and detail. Fantastic composition and DOF
1 Apr 2009 6:37am
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
very delicate!! Beautiful capture Jack and love the b/w!
1 Apr 2009 7:36am
Peggy M. from somewhere in, France
it's so beautiful, flowers and spring in your pages ! I love that !
1 Apr 2009 8:22am
Alivia from Saint-Etienne, France
John, I find your picture so beautiful that I just look at the software you use. This demo is free for 15 days, I think I'll try both renderings are beautiful, this branch in flower is so full of poetry, it seems a miracle of spring.
1 Apr 2009 11:03am
@Alivia: Be sure to look at their videos, Dane; you can find them on their website.
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
beautiful; love the perspective and framing here. nicely shot...
1 Apr 2009 11:13am
@Tracy: Thanks, Tracy. Simplicity is a major goal of mine.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
A good BW study of this branch, nicely lit.
1 Apr 2009 1:28pm
Mary from PA, United States
Such elegance captured here Jack!! Very captivating...
1 Apr 2009 1:29pm
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
This is such a stunning shot Jack and perfect with these black and white tones.
1 Apr 2009 2:12pm
@bluechameleon: Thanks, Sharon. I tried both color and B&W, and settled on B&W.
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Very beautiful. Lovely gentle details. Feels almost shy.
1 Apr 2009 2:32pm
Ajay from Pune, India
Excellent focus on those beautiful little flowers. And thanks for tips. I am going to use them for sure. And yes, learning through videos is always every effective. Whatever I have learned about photography through is still there in my mind.
1 Apr 2009 3:13pm
@Ajay: Each of us learns differently, Ajay. However, I think that for most of us, the pictures created by videos do lodge themselves more firmly in our minds.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Delicate & elegant composition. Spring is lovely in B&W also !!
1 Apr 2009 3:16pm
don from Spokane, United States
This makes a fine "spring is here" shot. Nice conversion into a fine range of black and white tones.
Well done.
1 Apr 2009 3:30pm
EYES WIDE SHUT from The library of my soul, United Kingdom
Incredibly beautiful in mono, Jack. The delicate nature of the subject matter shines through. A jewel
1 Apr 2009 3:39pm
@EYES WIDE SHUT: You are so generous with your kindness, Paul. You make me feel incredibly supported. Thank you.
marc battault from clermont ferrand, France
this black and white accentuates the sweetness of many flowers!
friendships jack!
1 Apr 2009 3:58pm
Hema Iyer from Bangalore, India
Beautiful buds. Great B/W image.
Thanks for the tips. Will be checking out their videos
1 Apr 2009 4:00pm
@Hema Iyer: The neat thing, Hema, is that you can download a free 15 day trial; then you can go to the video to get up to speed quickly. With the trial and the video, you can easily decide if it is a piece of software that would be helpful to you.
alex centrella from California, United States
spring is here !..terriific black and white !
1 Apr 2009 4:33pm
Noxeus from Girona, Spain
Estoy seguro que tu imaginación y experiencia superarían facilmente el software que presentas.
1 Apr 2009 4:39pm
Diane Schuller from Hythe, Canada
wow, another perfect selection for conversion to BW. This honestly takes my breath away.
I quit using PS for my conversions. Now that I have Lightroom, I do all my conversions there and love the result. I love yours but it must be the Silver Efex Pro you are recommending -- I find so many people who use PS for conversions tend to be much too flat -- this is NOT flat but soft, undulating in tone, and beautiful.
1 Apr 2009 5:26pm
@Diane Schuller: Thanks, Diane. Nik is making all of their plug-ins available for Lightroom. Right now, Viveza and Color Efex Pro are LR available. I can't wait until Silver Efex Pro comes to LR. Note: 1. all of Nik's plug-ins should be LR available by summer; 2. there are incredible deals on bundles (boy, do I wish that I had been able to take advantage of these bargains; I bought each of Nik's plug-ins separately). If you just went to Nik's website and looked at their Silver Efex Pro videos (they are 3-5 min. long), you would quickly see what an amazing piece of software it is. Matt Kloskowski of NAPP, and Photoshop guru, said that it is next to impossible for PS or LR to do what Silver Efex Pro can do; the subtlties are phenomenal.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
The shot is wonderful..... and I've some news for you..... I'll shoot ya an email!!!
1 Apr 2009 6:22pm
Sheidaa from Tehran, Iran
WOW I `m not a member I `ve just seen your page by chance and couldn`t stop myself to write a comment that you REALLY ARE FANTASTIC & awsome..I loved all your pictures !!they are so alive and i can feel I`m there and enjoy them to the fullest beside the nice and motivating sentences that you write under the photos... you are wonderfull person :) lucky U ... I will add your page to my favorite so that i can enjoy everyday..I wish U the best SHEIDA-S
1 Apr 2009 6:58pm
@Sheidaa: Thank you so much for your kindness, Sheidaa. Please join aminus3. It's a wonderful community and it is free.
Sheidaa from Tehran, Iran
wow im so excited you answer so fast :) thx it really is... but Im not a photographer ..actually people makes fun of my photos every time i take a picture lol so i don`t have pic of mine to share:)) but from now on i will come and see this community ..maybe i can get some ideas and be a better photographer ;) ...!! or at least i can enjoy the photos
1 Apr 2009 7:10pm
@Sheidaa: Welcome aboard!
Anita from West Nottingham, United States
Beautiful! Soft, pleasing composition, beautiful light. Very nicely done!!
1 Apr 2009 7:18pm
Ilan from Israel
That's a great image.
I really enjoyed this frame, thanks for sharing :)
1 Apr 2009 7:22pm
@Ilan: Thank you. I love the photographs on your website. Wish you would join aminus3.
observing from North West, United Kingdom
Buds are bursting open everywhere :) nice application of BW.
1 Apr 2009 8:06pm
@observing: Outstanding (I mean your spring)!!
k@ from Paris, France
This is much more than a flower macro and that's why i love it - emotion rises !
1 Apr 2009 8:15pm
@k@: Thank you, k; (there must be a heart connection in there somewhere).
@ceanothe: You do some lovely work. I wish that you would join aminus3; you and your work would be very much appreciated.
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Looks similar to a quince? Smart is always good, but I now only use photoshop for softproofing/printing and the only plug-in I use is PhotoKit Sharpener for print sharpening.
1 Apr 2009 11:25pm
@ordinaryimages: I'm not sure what the flower is. On plug-ins, I use them because I'm lazy.
JJ from Jersey City, United States
Such a beautiful capture of a sign of spring, superb processing, and thanks for the tip I must remember to use smart filters
2 Apr 2009 1:03am
Nicole from Komono, Japan
Gorgeous! You have a great eye. I wouldn't have thought to take a photo of the blossoms before they bloom, but this is a perfect example why I should re-examine that assumption!
2 Apr 2009 2:48am
@Nicole: Thank you, Nicole.
Barbara from Florida, United States
Impressive in B&W. I like the softness and details of the tiny buds. I find Anne Franks words powerful.
2 Apr 2009 3:32am
Nikon D300
1/160 second
F/4.0
ISO 400
225 mm (35mm equiv.)