. . . and colorful skies along the GULLf coast

[Dennis Bishop]

This is a combination of seven shots. The first, chronologically, was taken during a fireworks display in 2007. The rest were done hand-held in burst mode last August. Coincidentally, they were all taken at very nearly the same spot along Lake Erie.





fireworks -- Nikon D2x, ISO 100, f/8, 3.3 sec, zoom lens at 200 mm (300 with the camera's crop factor)
gulls -- Nikon D3s, ISO 3200, f/8, 1/8000 sec (-1 exposure compensation), zoom lens at 85 mm

processing highlights

• five of the gull shots were Auto-Blended; a gull from the sixth shot was placed in the top center; the gull in the lower left was later moved farther from the corner
• fireworks -- rotated 90 degrees clockwise and masked off the gulls, Screen blend mode (a little color but mostly the curved white lines and squiggles over the entire image)
• Topaz Simplify -- saved watercolor preset
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- saved watercolor wash preset, Hard Light
• Photo Filter adjustment layer -- warming, masked off the blue in the sky
• Fractalius -- three black-on-white saved presets; Multiply, Divide, Multiply
• Simplify -- saved black-on-white edges preset, Multiply, masked off sky
• Snap Art -- saved black-on-white edges preset, Divide, masked off gulls
• Knoll Light Factory -- slight field blur and reduced opacity, gives the white burst and most of the non-blue color in the sky
• Alien Skin Exposure -- white vignette, masked off gulls and centered over the point from which the Light Factory and fireworks emanate

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Dennis,

Greetings. The fireworks as a radiating texture is outstanding, truly inspired. I particularly like how the choice of the fireworks shot emphasizes the wispy nature of the clouds. I also like how the one gull appears to be reacting the the light. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, this is fantastical. The combination of the fireworks, clouds and gulls are perfectly arranged.

[Anita Bower]

Although I don't really understand how you integrated the fireworks into this image, the result is fantastic. The sky with radiating lines is terrific. I like that the lines have texture to them.
I'm wondering where the light on the birds is supposed to be coming from. I would have thought the source of the radiating lines, but the birds seem to me to be in front of the light.

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . I'm wondering where the light on the birds is supposed to be coming from. I would have thought the source of the radiating lines, but the birds seem to me to be in front of the light.

The shots of the gulls were taken early in the morning, and -- with what I can see in the preceding and following ones -- I was facing pretty much west, so the real light is from the sun. Ordinarily, I'm very conscious of lighting when I composite anything, and I agree that the lighting isn't consistent, here, if you assume it only comes from what's happening in the upper left (whatever that is). However, the whole sky treatment is rooted in fantasy rather than reality, so I was okay with it.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments.

[Anita Bower]

The shots of the gulls were taken early in the morning, and -- with what I can see in the preceding and following ones -- I was facing pretty much west, so the real light is from the sun. Ordinarily, I'm very conscious of lighting when I composite anything, and I agree that the lighting isn't consistent, here, if you assume it only comes from what's happening in the upper left (whatever that is). However, the whole sky treatment is rooted in fantasy rather than reality, so I was okay with it.

I appreciate knowing your thoughts about the image. Fantasy is always welcome in OOTB!!!

[Dennis Bishop]

I was reflecting on your thoughts about the image later last night, Anita. As a result, I'm going to see what happens if I add one or two smaller bursts to give the idea that they could be happening throughout the sky. If it works, I'll post the new version in this thread. Thank you.

[Anita Bower]

I was reflecting on your thoughts about the image later last night, Anita. As a result, I'm going to see what happens if I add one or two smaller bursts to give the idea that they could be happening throughout the sky. If it works, I'll post the new version in this thread. Thank you.

Have fun!

[Adhika Lie]

This is a fun picture, Dennis!

[Dennis Bishop]

I decided to go with two more bursts that would be smaller than the original one but even one more made the sky way too busy. Oh, well . . .

[Anita Bower]

I decided to go with two more bursts that would be smaller than the original one but even one more made the sky way too busy. Oh, well . . .

One learns these things by experimentation. Thanks for letting us know.

[Judy Howle]

Outstanding work Dennis, I love it! Very creative use of fireworks. and putting it all together. You are a master!