Sharp/Soft at Bosque

[Arthur Morris]

I have seen some really cool sharp/soft overlays over the years but had created only one that I liked till now. I created the sharp image with the 500 f/4/2X II TC/Mark III combo at 1/160 sec. at f/16 and then a defocused image at 1/640 at f/8. (Both ISO 400/Evaluative metering +1 stop.)

Then I made layer mask of the soft image, dragged it atop the sharp image, and reduced the opacity of the layer till it looked sweet. The foggy looking stuff is mulie grass. Image created during the Bosque Volunteer Open the Windows Project.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Alfred Forns]

Works for me and very well !!! All I could wish was for less space between the flowers and the darker bg grasses. Excellent feel and love the blending !!!

[Julie Kenward]

Artie, I think this is gorgeous as presented but...couldn't help but wonder what it would look like without that top layer of darker grass. I had to take a stab at it! Not sure I like this version better - it's just different.

The way you've blurred the grass between the flowers makes it look like the flowers are growing out of the clouds...it's a fabulous image and a technique I'm going to have to try!

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks both. And thanks for the repost Julie, but in your version, the largest of the small bushes in the upper left is too close to the frame edge. As I have written often, if you choose to include an object in the image it is almost always best to include the whole thing and to give it an adequate border...

I might have tightened this up by getting lower but we were figthing to get over the nearby vegetation so that was not possible.

As for teh foggy look that's how the mulie grass looks in the predawn.

There is one thing that bugs me about this image; any takers?

[Julie Kenward]

Yep, I knew I was playing with fire when I cropped it that close...I just had to see what it would look like!

Not sure what it is that bugs you but - if I had to choose one thing that I would have liked Mother Nature to change, it would be the empty space between the two tallest flowers. Having a little more grass show through right between those two plants would have given it a bit more balance to me.

[Alfred Forns]

I like the re post Its what I had in mind !!! Gorgeous

[Anita Rakestraw]

Very pretty, a technique I haven't tried but will have to! I do like Julie's version, but also the original. The one thing that might bother me just a bit is the diagonal line to the upper left formed by the two plants. I think if the higher one weren't there, my eye wouldn't be so strongly drawn to follow that diagonal.

[Fabs Forns]

Jules and I are on the same wave, I was going to suggest that crop when I saw she did it. The top didn't do much for me either.

[Arthur Morris]

I will meet you 1/2 way because Julie's crop is too tight on the bush in the upper left. I also got rid of the one thing that bothered me, actually two. Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.

[Cindy Crawford]

This looks just right- a gorgeous image. Love that softness. I guess you took out that curved grass that interrupted the flow...? I like this crop very much. Will have to try this- have done a few, but very different- not so subtle. :)

I will meet you 1/2 way because Julie's crop is too tight on the bush in the upper left. I also got rid of the one thing that bothered me, actually two. Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.

[Arthur Morris]

Dear the other CC, Yes, I took out the curved whatever it was--might have been a big eyelash on the sensor... Not sure what it was. In any case, I like the final repost best. Thanks to all for your help.!

[Joanna Trescott]

Art: Great repost -- like it much more. Love the colors and dreamy feeling. I plan on trying this one, too!

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Artie,
Quite by accident...........saw this one.........as always.......just another option. I liked the darker areas at top....so using the marquee tool........made a selection and duplicated the layer.........slid it down.......cropped off original part..........used a combo of the healing brush/ patch tool to blend the selection. Let me know your thoughts.

PS As I was doing my correction.........you re-posted yours............which I also like very much. cool technique and will have to give it a try!