Lodgepole Illusions +alt
by Lon Overacker
Thanks everyone for your comments on my previous image. Appreciate you taking the time.
Posting this one now because this was captured at the same time and location of Preston's "Skyscraper" image a couple posts back. Only this pair of Lodgepole trunks (actually it's a single tree) was 180 degrees from Preston's view of the pines atop the rocky ridge.
I have visited and photographed this scene before on 4x5. One of the things that I've been challenging myself with is trying to duplicate scenes with digital that I had previously been done with the 4x5. But then Preston got me thinking when he asked why I would want to recreate something that I had already done? Doesn't matter what the format is, it's already been captured, and captured well (I posted the 4x5 version years ago here I believe.)
So I think Preston made a good point and I'm rethinking that approach. However, not withstanding a duplicate scene, the challenge here was in the technique. With LF, one relies one tilts/swings and very small apertures like f/32 or f/45 and LONGer exposures. Digital, to accomplish the same thing, focus stacking, which is what is done here. This is a 4-image stack. And truth be told, I should have used at least 6 or 8 different focus points. Areas in this are a bit soft.
This has a bit of an optical illusion to it; where it's hard to determine which trunk is in front or in back. Also, this was taken later in the day where the sun was lower in the sky to allow for the light to hit the back of one trunk and reflect on to the other. I believe with these exposures I also had my assistant Preston hold a small gold reflector to add some additional light to the reflection. I tried to keep color and saturation natural.
Anyway, your thoughts and suggestions always welcome!
Thanks!
Lon
Comments
13 commentsIt's simple, graphically strong and the great texture plus the optical illusion (which is really very cool!) hold my interest really well. It's a great example of how one line perfectly placed can really hold up. (it's nice that there's just that hint of a curve)
Have you tried printing this? I'm just curious when you said that some areas are soft, at what point the illusion breaks down (if it does).
The gold reflector idea worked nicely: Happy to help!
Nicely done!
--P
Ana - Nope, haven't printed this. I haven't printed an image in a couple years. I'm not selling and I've got no place to hang it! ;-) I guess I still have some print books I could fill up. As far as the softness, unfortunately it's right on the edge that separates the two trunks. It's pretty soft on the right edge, which is the trunk that is closest to the lens.
Ed - The 4 images used for the original post and this alternate were captured at f/14. After the comments I've gone back and revisited. I actually had 3 sets of 4 images, each taken about 15 min apart. To my pleasant surprise, this second version, captured 15min prior to the above, is pretty sharp front to back (except for the corners which have been cropped a little.) So I went ahead and processed this one too. This 2nd one is slightly different. There was no reflector here, it's all natural light - well, except for some masking, dodging and burning...) The edge between the 2 trunks is sharper and I'm wondering if the illusion is still as prominent. I have 3rd, but the light between the two trunks is weak and don't have plans on processing that set.
Your comments/suggestions on this alternate set are welcome too! Thanks for looking!
Igor - thanks for your comment and suggestion on the rotation. I gave it a look and no doubt it would be a mind bender!
Lon
Anyway, these once again to me are fun images and part of that is experimenting with various field techniques. Obviously cheaper with digital then we've encountered using film. Although I still push my field tweaks to this day with various lenses just to keep my brain from stagnation......