not the way it started

[Dennis Bishop]

When I press the release on the shutter cable, I usually have some idea of how the image will emerge from processing. Occasionally, though, that changes along the way. This time, it changed a lot. About a week ago, I looked out an upstairs window and saw that a few bunches of leaves on an oak tree had changed from green to a bright yellow. It was raining, and I needed the high viewpoint, anyway, so I opened the window, popped out the screen and took a few shots. The plan was to feature some of the yellow leaves among the green ones.

Nikon D3s, ISO 1600 (The raindrops were bouncing the leaves.), f/8, 1/80 sec, zoom at 180mm (360 with a 2X teleconverter) <- That was for the leaves. This is for the oak tree.-> ISO 200, f/11, 7-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals, zoom at 20mm

processing highlights (starting with the leaf part)

• selected and blurred the background
• two Flypaper Textures textures -- Hard Light blend mode, different opacities, masked to background. (The colors have been lost but not the impact on tones.)
• Topaz Simplify -- saved watercolor preset
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- saved watercolor wash preset, Color, 50%
• Flypaper Textures texture -- Lighten, 46%, partially masked
• Fractalius -- two black and white layers, Multiply, different opacities, one masked off background
• Snap Art Line Art -- red/purple lines on white, Multiply, 42%
• Topaz Simplify -- saved edges preset, Multiply, 41%
• Topaz Lens Effects -- zoom, masked
• Digital Film Tools Rays -- same origin as Lens Effects, 41%
• stamped all layers and applied Simplify saved watercolor preset, Hard Light, 19%
• Nik Color Efex -- Darken/Lighten Center (same origin as Lens Effects and Rays), and Solarize; this layer was later masked to enhance the oak tree
• Invert adjustment layer
• Black & White adjustment layer
• Photo Filter adjustment layer, yellow, 60%
• stamped all layers and applied Simplify saved edges preset, Divide, 35%
• The tree (a different species of oak, actually) was shot when I decided something was needed to keep the viewer's eyes from following the light lines out of the right side or bottom of the image.
• tree silhouette placed and distorted to fit, 48% opacity
• Black & White adjustment layer

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Dennis, this is very surreal looking and I like it! The tree really makes the image in my opinion. It reminds me of a local photographer, Jerry Uelsmann, who is world famous and worked with Ansel Adams when he was younger (so you're in good company)

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Dynamic and engaging. I like this a lot Dennis. The leaves and rays of light radiating from the center and the tree grounding the image on the right. Always fun to go where an image takes you.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Dennis,

Greetings. Dare I say... brilliant! The rays pull the focus and really shine. Interesting size contrast with the tree. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Paul Lagasi]

Dennis lovely work, not much I can say to the negative, only if it were mine, I'd probably try and achieve more contrast between the light and dark.... Thanks for posting.

[gary ellwein]

Dennis, this is most impressive. Trying to go through your processing of this image, may be one of my winter projects. I hope you do not mind. I have learned a ton following your example. Thanks

[Dennis Bishop]

Gary, I don't mind at all. Much to the contrary. If you'd like, I'll add some screen shots of the layer palette to this thread.