I hadn’t heard of the Orton Effect till David Wallace mentioned it a couple of days ago. This is my first stab at it. It goes against my grain to blur a sharp butterfly, but I do also like dreamy images. To make this even more of a test, I added two things I usually avoid : a border and a vignette. I didn’t even crop!
Specific Feedback Requested
All comments welcome, especially on the testing aspects just mentioned.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
D500 + 105mm macro 1/320 f10 ISO 160
I think it works well, but I’ll let you in on a secret. Well, not really secret, but if you use Photoshop and the TK8 plug in, Tony has a Smart Orton effect that is more manageable and specifically for sharp areas of the picture. I haven’t played with it myself, but it’s there. Taunting me.
You have some dreamy colors here, too. The pinks and yellows are soft and natural looking and the background is a great complement. The level of Orton you used here is flattering.
This is beautiful, with good detail but soft colors and light. A lovely arrangement of the three objects.
I’ve tried computer-generated Orton effects and never found them comparable to the real thing – although I’m running to try Tony’s! It dates from film days but is quite adaptable to digital. Basically shoot your sharp shot (a focus stack would work fine) and shoot several OOF shots at different degrees of focus (you can decide later which one works best). You can create a blurred layer in the computer but for me it has never had the magic of the best actual OOF capture.
I haven’t played with it for quite a while – maybe I’ll give it a renewed try. Flowers are the obvious subject but intimate landscapes can work well too. The magic you’ll get there is with bright spots giving a soft glow – but maybe that can be done with the right software, too.
Lovely photo, Mike. The soft effect you’ve created, as @Diane_Miller and @Kris_Smith have mentioned works quite well. And the vignette is very subtle but effective. I have not tried either of the suggestions both Diane and Kris mentioned but am anxious to give them a try. Great composition and nicely seen.
Thank you both @Kris_Smith and @Diane_Miller for your suggestions. As always, very helpful. I am sure I’ll try the TK plug-in soon, but I just don’t feel quite ready for that level of sophistication yet. Something for next year. It sounds like it could be used well with a focus stack as you suggest.
