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Friday Finds – Stillness

May 23, 2014 by Barb 14 Comments

For Friday Finds this week I’ve been playing around with a minimalist style of botanical and high key photography. High key photography uses unnaturally bright lighting to blow out most or all harsh shadows in an image.

Let me tell you it is not easy but it forced me to slow down and really look at what I was doing.

I love the part about gathering materials and arranging them; there’s something so soothing about order and simplicity. I had to stop, look, and listen (be still).

Friday Finds, Minimalist, Keeping With the Times

Each of these four images was taken separately at different times of the day.

I set the plants on a piece of foam core outside out of direct sunlight, and set my camera on a tripod over top of them. I used low shutter speeds, high ISO’s, and apertures between F9 and F11. I also used a flash at times (gasp).

Even then I had lots of processing to do. I took them into LR and used curves to adjust the white background while limiting the effect on the plant itself. Those shadows are tricky!!

When I created the collage in Photoshop of course the whites were all different – if you hover your mouse over the image you will see the “before” collage. So again I used a combination of curves and levels adjustments. Then I dodged some pesky areas.

I was inspired by this beautiful blog Still by Mary Jo Hoffman. Her work blows me away and she’s a kind person who likes to share her techniques.

Anyway I shall not go on and on. I simply wanted to share that I’ve “found” something that makes me feel passionate. I’ve always loved this style but only tinkered with it. Now I want to learn more.

Side note: any images you may see on my Instagram feed were taken solely with my phone and edited in PicsPlayPro.

Now I’m off to see what everyone else has discovered this week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: PHOTOGRAPHY Tagged With: be still 52 class, friday finds, photoshop

Comments

  1. Michelle B says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:27 am

    Wonderful collage! Each image makes me stop and look closer at the details. Love it!

    Reply
  2. Barbara Hurst says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:34 am

    These really turned out so nicely Barb, I also love high key a lot and don’t do enough of it. Thank you for the link can’t wait to check her work out. So glad to hear you say that about IG that is one thing that has been turning me off of IG lately is not seeing iPhone images there but big girl images. I enjoyed IG because of the mobile photography not for seeing big girl images.

    Reply
  3. Viv says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:45 am

    These are stunning Barb they look as if they should be in a book…

    Reply
  4. TexWisGirl says

    May 23, 2014 at 9:17 am

    really nicely done!

    Reply
  5. Claudia Wilson says

    May 23, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Fantastic!! Love them

    Reply
  6. amy of four corners design says

    May 23, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    fantastic! and I knew as soon as I saw these that you must have been following mary jo hoffman…her creations are inspiring!

    Reply
  7. kris says

    May 23, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    I’ve been trying to get my grays out of my photos back grounds and now you have turned me to a new direction — thanks tons..
    Hugs

    Reply
  8. Diana says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Love your blog. Visiting from Be Still 52.

    Reply
  9. Cathy H. says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    Gorgeous! I love the light background letting the subject be the total focus!

    Reply
  10. Roxi says

    May 23, 2014 at 11:05 pm

    I’ve always admired her stuff and did a simple shot last week. Ought to post it. I love yours!

    Reply
  11. Melinda says

    May 24, 2014 at 9:29 am

    I love these- they are beautiful! I checked out the Still Blog- very inspiring! I’ve done some high key images before, but these have a special look- thanks for sharing your process!

    Reply
  12. Sarah says

    May 24, 2014 at 10:58 am

    Great work on these.

    Reply
  13. lisa says

    May 24, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    What a pretty group this is, Barb.
    Very nicely done.

    Reply
  14. kelly kardos says

    May 27, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    I LOVE how you processed these Barb. And yes…they should be in a book

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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