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Are we getting too hung up about noise and colour accuracy?   -   Page   1
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Posted: Fri Feb 8th, 2019 02:44
 
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Robert



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I have just browsed through a list of images from an international garden photographer of the year competition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-47118130

Many of the images contain significant noise and in some, pastel shades dominate. While they are lovely images, I doubt if they are particularly accurate colour wise.

My question is, does this really matter when we are making artistic images.

If you examine paintings, even the work of the great masters, brush strokes are plainly visible, they form the image. Film and paper processing uses fine dots to create the image, so why can't digital photography contain some element of noise, as a part of the image.

I accept for documentary and product photography, colour accuracy and sharpness are important but does that hold true for artistic photography, with which I believe we are mainly concerned?



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Posted: Fri Feb 8th, 2019 04:05
 
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jk



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It is always the picture that matters.
The content, light and composition make it.
Noise can be distracting.



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Posted: Fri Feb 8th, 2019 04:24
 
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Eric



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Robert wrote:
I have just browsed through a list of images from an international garden photographer of the year competition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-47118130

Many of the images contain significant noise and in some, pastel shades dominate. While they are lovely images, I doubt if they are particularly accurate colour wise.

My question is, does this really matter when we are making artistic images.

If you examine paintings, even the work of the great masters, brush strokes are plainly visible, they form the image. Film and paper processing uses fine dots to create the image, so why can't digital photography contain some element of noise, as a part of the image.

I accept for documentary photography colour accuracy and sharpness are important but does that hold true for artistic photography, with which I believe we are mainly concerned?


You are probably quite right, old sage. :bowing:

I will try less hard in future. :lol:



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Posted: Fri Feb 8th, 2019 04:48
 
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Eric



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Looking at Iain and Jeffs photos (I am sure they won't mind me saying) one thing leaps out at me. It's the proximity they are to many of their subjects in the images. Their exif data (thank you Flickr) typically gives subject distances of c.6m. They are fortunate having access to 'private' reserves/ special locations which will no doubt be quieter, more intimate with the subject and frankly easier to orchestrate ....on many occasions.

With the exception of the recent woodland birds photos, I am normally having to rely on bird 'watching' public hides (RSPB/Wildlife Trust etc) which are geared more for people with binoculars and scopes than meagre length lenses. So typically I am more often 10-15m away, fighting with a dozen other people for the best spot and being frustrated with the disturbing noise they make!! There's a lot more serendipity about these sort of photography situations. As a result the final images are less controlled or predictable.

That's my misfortune and it doesn't matter in the context of this thread.

But what it means is that the amount of cropping I need to do (given we have similar equipment, lighting etc) and computer processing ....are potentially going to be greater and the side effects of that (less sharp, more noise) inescapable.

What I am trying to say, in a rambling sort of way, is that I agree I'm probably thinking too much about noise because the real bonus will come from putting effort into finding better locations and improving field craft such that the subjects need less cropping and hence benefit from less amplification of side effects.



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Posted: Sat Feb 9th, 2019 16:56
 
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blackfox



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Hmmm right and wrong Eric , I live on the virtual edge of the Dee estuary which gives me a vast area to cover .. , for my small bird shots I use a hide on a small reserve that's not that well known and luckily the wildlife trust have allowed us to set it up for photography rather than bird watching ,but this has caused tensions and even full out rows at times, ..for birds of prey and waders I have several fave spots all around the coast which I tend to go to weekdays and when the kids are in school .. some involve walking a lot of the times though I simply use the mobile hide , you got one to 4x4 ... :doh: now you may have noticed I take a lot of gulls , most are taken either onthe green outside the house or down at the castle on the estuary , a few slices of crumbled up bread will make you a instant gull attractor ,,, silly question I always have a few bags of different types of bird food in my pocket I.e mealworms ,peanuts , white hearts etc .. if you spot a interesting stone or stump as you walk along put some seed down and come back slowly 15 minutes later .. , if you can find a lay by in a quiet spot with anti.gypo boulders beside it pull up put some seed on the rocks and wait . Something will spot it quickly usually .. as spring comes along a pair of secateurs and some fishing bank sticks will come in handy to put some nice flowering shrubs near your seeded rock or stump ... for the birds to pose on .. .. do you want me to come and hold the camera for ya as well :lol::lol:

 




Posted: Sat Feb 9th, 2019 17:01
 
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blackfox



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like this Eric , background is just grass in bokeh

proud as punch by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

or this same spot by some gypsy stones in a lay by , hide was a mondeo

wishfull thinking by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 




Posted: Sun Feb 10th, 2019 02:03
 
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Robert



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Beautiful images Jeff, good bokeh.  Difficult to achieve that in PS.

Thanks for the explanations on hides.  I have an opportunity to photograph a black and white woodpecker who two or three times a day attacks a telegraph pole, it's in a car park, I am thinking I might sit in the car for the day and try to catch it with the D300 and the 300mm lens.  Given my luck it will take the day off!

I am trying out the new text edit window, obviously intended for members with poor eyesight!



This is the view from near the telegraph pole.

To Chris: It appears there may be a broken link somewhere?  This pano image is in my gallery. I dragged and dropped it into the edit window.



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Posted: Sun Feb 10th, 2019 02:11
 
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jk



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Fantastic detail in those images Jeff.
Love the colour and composition.
That new lens is working well for you.
If you lived closer by I would lend you my D500!



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Posted: Sun Feb 10th, 2019 02:21
 
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jk



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Re the use of bait/food this is very contentious.
Many photogragraphers and bird people are against the use of food to bring the birds closer but in reality the birds always go to a food source no matter what.
Fieldcraft allows you to get to good locations but there is no guarantee of success if there are the wrong birds there!
It is also a question of patience.
I am afraid that I prefer using my car/4x4 as it gives me opportunity to have my kit under cover and I dont have to carry it for miles. Also my knowledge of the different birds and their habitat is pretty limited except for some species.



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Posted: Sun Feb 10th, 2019 02:21
 
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Robert



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jk wrote:
Fantastic detail in those images Jeff.
Love the colour and composition.
That new lens is working well for you.
If you lived closer by I would lend you my D500!

Another test post, quoting JK.

Another attempt to post an image...

D200 with Nikkor 300mm f/2.8, @ f/2.8  Much to the distain of the 'pro' who was coaching us, who suggested I should be using f/5.6 at least...



To Chris: I used drag and drip from large image on gallery, displays well in 'modern editor' window.


Robert



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