Critique Welcomed Fuji X-e2 Botanical

[Keith Hollister]

Another desperate attempt at finding a photograph in between rain showers this morning with my new X-E2. 18-55, raw in LR 5.3, CEFP, Orton effect via Perfect Photo 8 beta. I kinda goofed on the framing, but do like the dead cypress branch that fell across the fern at a right angle.

I'm likin' what come out of this quirky camera, and the 18-55 is a really nice little zoom - its a shame to even call it the "kit lens". I debated whether to even get the kit because I was primarily going for the 14, 23 and 56 primes, but I'm glad I did. Well worth the $400 extra. Be interesting to see how this works with my old 62mm Nikon closeup doublets - need to scrounge a step up ring to give it a try.

 

[Lesley Jones]

This is a really striking image Keith. The composition is spot on and as you say, the little dead bit makes it special. The colours are superb. I've vaguely heard about the Orton effect. Do I take it there is some kind of filter available now? I'm glad you like the kit lens. I only have the one kit zoom for the Sony and I've been pleased with the results. I'm sure it has it's bad points, but then I don't ask too much of it. Spending a day walking around with just the one camera and lens really beats lugging a bag of assorted equipment

 

[Keith Hollister]

Thanks, but I would have been happier if I hadn't clipped off the ends of the fronds at the top. I hate it when I get sloppy, although the asymmetry is somewhat redeeming. I agree that it wouldn't have worked without the "dead bit". The contrast of the vibrant green fern frond against the dead undergrowth and the overlaid dead branch from the cypress tree above is the story, so to speak. Good light never hurts either.

Michael Orton is a photographer that popularized the effect, which predates digital. Orton made slide sandwiches of one normal exposure and one overexposed and slightly out of focus. This is actually pretty conservative compared to a lot of his work, which is a lot more dreamy and diffuse. Both Nik Color Efex Pro ("Glamor Glow" is a similar effect) and OnOne Perfect Photo Effects (which has a whole "Glow" section of presets, a couple of which are named after Orton) offer one-step Orton-like presets. Doing it in PS isn't rocket science - duplicate on a layer, crank exposure up a couple stops, throw some gaussian blur on, play with blending modes, and "bob's your uncle" as you guys say

 

[Lesley Jones]

Ah... that explains why I'm hooked on Glamour Glow. It does have a very nice effect. I remember photographing a peacock feather on slide film many years ago and one (or rather two) have been put in a glass mount as a sandwich. I'll have to get around to scanning that at some point

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Lovely Fuji greens Keith

 

[Keith Hollister]

Thanks, Chris

I have to admit I was rather surprised by how easy the color was to manipulate to the hue I wanted (as in I didn't have to do much hue-wise, just work the saturation and lightness). For all the trash talking about LR and X-Trans files, 5.3RC seems to be firing on all cylinders. The files also took a surprising amount of sharpening without developing artifacts too - even at ISO 1600.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Indeed - the online sh!t-storm about post processing was mostly people with no idea how to use their software!

 

[Keith Hollister]

I admit I did read through Martin's LR 4 book I have and Jeff Schewe's Digital Negative book to refresh my understanding of exactly what the Detail pane controls did and Jeff's suggestions on how to use them.

I will still buy C1 Express once they update for the X-E2 and my GX7 - I do like the basic conversion on stuff I tried with the demo.

 

[Pete Askew]

Lovely shot Keith and the exposure and colours are just so nicely done. Interesting what you say about the composition and that cypress twig, I'd have been tempted to crop to exclude it to keep the eye flowing along the frond. Interesting.

 

[Keith Hollister]

I think it would work that way as well, but it would be a different photo.

 

[Pete Askew]

I agree. But it is so interesting how we all see a scene differently though.