Photo or Oil Painting?

[Killakoala]

This is an image I have been toying with for some time. I previously shot it digitally but I was not happy with the results of post processing. I then shot it on film (Nikon F5, 28-70F 2.8 on Fuji Velvia F100,) scanned it with several multiple exposures and combined it as an HDR image. The outcome is an image that looks like and oil painting, but is not. I assure you there are no tricky filters used on this image either in front of the camera or in Photoshop. The look is just the result of tweaking the HDR images in Photomatix Pro.

The result is pretty much what I wanted, which is a good thing. I wanted a dreamy/oldworld theme. The conditions, lighting, rain and even the lone duck all came together at the right time. Such is the value of patience and perseverance, two of the most important tools in the landscape photographers arsenal.

Although it took me several years to get it right, I am happy with the outcome. I can now never worry about photographing this subject again.

If you wonder where it is, it is in Richmond, Tasmania, just near the famous bridge, which I am still attacking with photographic fervour.

I hope you like it and can get something out of it.

[zafra52]

It is an interesting and well composed image, but how would it look in a black and white format or with more vivid colours?

[ChrisB]

That's fantastic, would look great on a canvas.

[gstark]

Steve,

Very nice, and of a really beautiful area. I need to get back to Tassie at some point. And it includes the obligatory duck too; well done.

I would also like to see two alternate crops of this image. I think that there's just a tad too much water in the foreground. You could eithewr drain the river a little, which I suspect might be a tad problematic, so I'd like to see this cropped to a point just below the duck. The second alternate crop would be under a similar precept, but this time go square, which would mean the duck's off. Or at least out of the picture.

[PiroStitch]

very dreamy image you've created. looks like something out of the English countryside.

Agree with Gary's suggestion at the cropping. Feels like there's too much water and not enough sky to balance it out.

[Killakoala]

The crop probably wasn't sufficient as I already cropped water off the image. My eyes might not have seen the whole picture after I did that as I had the benefit of seeing the entire image beforehand.

But point taken and I think the square crop looks good. Once I have cropped it I will show it again.

[Alex]

Excellent image. The unusual portrait orientation benefits the image.

Alex

[Killakoala]

Updated. Cropped a bit more and I fixed a slight magenta colour caste as well. I kept the duck.

Looks much better.

Click on the image for a larger view

[zafra52]

I think it does!