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Posted on 15/04/05 08:36:23 AM |
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Paul McFadden
Dream Decryptor Posts: 138 Reply  |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
<cringe> I already see a million mistakes with my entry- especially all that light on the supposed underside of the lens in the reflection. Oh well, too late now . . _________________ We could live offa the fatta the lan'. |
Posted on 15/04/05 09:01:53 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6838 Reply  |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
Told you this was a tricky one! The entries seem pretty much split between those of you who tried to flip the entire camera body, and those of you who realized what I meant by translation - in other words, sliding a copy of the camera beneath the original rather than turning it around. Getting the angles right proved tricky for many of you, and we'll talk about each case in turn. Although it was the first entry, Neal got it spot on with his technique. He copied the original, distorted it slightly so the vertical sides of the camera continue through the reflection, and then copied and flipped the details - the logo, flash, and so on. He even remembered to clone out the glare on the side of the lens, which is very impressive, and the fading away works perfectly. Great job, Neal. Dezolat0r took exactly the wrong approach, which in this case is really instructive. By flipping the camera vertically, we get this distorted, unconvincing view. But reflections imply reflecting the image, right? Wrong - not in this case, they don't. When an object is photographed at an angle like this, it's important to choose the correct method! A good attempt by julie, which involved flipping the entire camera vertically - a neat method for reflecting the individual elements - and then flipping the lens back. Except the angles don't quite work: we can see the top of the camera in the reflection, and we shouldn't be able to from this angle! What you should have done was simply reflect those elements that needed to be flipped, julie. You fixed the left side of the reflection in the second attempt, which looks much better. Sadly, I don't think the perspective tools in CS2 would help with this one! BobbyJo's two entries show exactly the thought process I'd hoped for: the first uses a flipped image of the camera, the second merely flips the elements that don't translate. So no, we're not laughing at your second attempt, you've got it right! The reflection MJ has produced would look fine if the table were at a 45° angle. As it stands - well, this falls firmly into the Wrong Technique pile, I'm afraid. The texture and tone of the reflection is good, though - it's just the angle that's cockeyed. A great take on this one from atomicfog, trying to make things more complicated than they need to be, as usual. Don't you think a domed head would produce more of a distorted, curved reflection though? Oh, no, hang on, you haven't got CS2 yet, have you… After all that worry and soul-searching, Einstein D Kid has come up with almost exactly the right method (except for the raised block around the word Exilim, which shouldn't have been flipped). Reflecting in a wood surface is tricky: and a surface such as the one you've chosen, which has a really strong grain and texture, would also produce reflections in the camera itself. I think it's this, more than anything, which makes it look like it doesn't belong: the reflection itself is fine, it's the camera that looks out of place. Exactly the right technique from Paul McFadden, but the angles aren't quite right. The sides of the camera are vertical, which means the reflection should follow that line through the surface. Otherwise, you've got it just about right. And, as you spotted, there's also that flare on the underside of the lens… Great work all round, this was a really difficult challenge and it's good to see how many of you rose to it. For those of you who can't wait, here is a low resolution pdf from the next edition that shouild explain all! |
Posted on 15/04/05 09:41:25 AM |
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Paul McFadden
Dream Decryptor Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
Thanks for posting that pdf, Steve - its so useful to see the detailed solution after struggling with it blind. btw - a small quibble - you didnt include the small semi-circular shape (top left of lens frame) in your reflection, and although you do note that the lowered opacity and layer mask hide any inaccuracies, you can just about see where it should be... _________________ All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. |
Posted on 15/04/05 2:55:20 PM |
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Einstein D Kid
Teen Trickster Posts: 281 Reply  |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
conspicuously absent from this challenge were Maiden, and David.  Where were ya
_________________ Don't judge a man till youve walked a mile in his shoes, (that way, when you judge him, he'll be a mile away, and barefoot) |
Posted on 15/04/05 4:38:28 PM |
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NW Rain
* Posts: 37 Reply |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
Hi Steve, you really challenged us well this week. Think my brain is just a wee bit closer to the looney bin today than it was last week, and I have a few less hairs on my head. What was really throwing me was putting lots of different objects on a mirror and studying their reflections. Everything that showed any type of angle in the source image was reflected in the opposite direction in the mirror image. That is the route I was trying to go so it would include that reflected angle. I had flipped the camera horizontally then copied the top of the camera from the lens up from the source image, cloning out the flash section. I was in the process of applying this to the reflected image when the power went out. We have been having power outage issues for the past two weeks, and I should have known better, but had neglected to hit the save button. Not even the extracted camera was saved. Just after that you and David posted your hints and that sent me on a search for new ideas. Didn't actually find your solution to the problem, but did read a fascinating article on tessellating! By the time Neal posted his hints I was out of time for the week. Thank you for the pdf, I'll be reading and studying it soon. |
Posted on 15/04/05 11:26:49 PM |
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Atomicfog
Virtual Visualizer Posts: 238 Reply  |
Re: Contest 40: Single lens reflection
Nope, I don't have CS2, the only reason is because I don't feel convinced I need it. I can do any effect from CS2 in my Photoshop 7, just with a few more steps, or if I feel like it a plug-in (although right now the only plug-in I actually use is Eyecandy 4000, and I hardly ever use that anymore). About the picture, I agree I should have curved the camera, but unlike most of the pictures I make, I spent very little time on this one (I actually wanted to get a picture in on time too!). I thought about doing it before you mentioned it, but I decided not to, since I was in the middle of posting it on the forum. I will fix it, but I won't post the improved version, since I doubt anyone cares to see a version with a few minor improvements. _________________ -Atomic |
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