Threeteas
New member
This is really a great shot, a well-executed concept: I can see that there's a plan, this photo required forethought, and it seems to have translated well to the image.
The EXIF:
Exposure Time 0.05s (1/20)
Aperture f/4.5
ISO 400
Focal Length 40mm (60mm 35mm)
The flames. . . . Try underexposing slightly. You could set your exposure compensation [+/-] -1.3 EV to start, or if you had your camera set to manual, you might decrease the aperture to 5.0 or 5.6. As an alternative, you could increase the shutter speed to 1/30.
Clearly you're using a tripod? Available light clearly the way to go here. Can you shoot it at a lower ISO? Or would that make the shutter speeds to long to render the fire the way you want. Hmmmm, might be more visually interesting. Might be worth a try.
Have you considered spraying water on the face shield? I don't know if it would work, but it might add a sense of drama and possibly conceal the windows visible in the background.
You prefer this because it is a better photo, a more successful rendering.
The vertical orientation of the image mates the helmet and the tree in a vertical orientation. The image of the tree is far less abstract in this image. The decal on your helmet (a distraction) is not fighting as hard for my attention.
The fire looks more like a fire, the glowing coals (visible but abstract in the upper image), and a bit darker than the image above.
Exposure Time 0.25s (1/4)
Aperture f/4.5
ISO 400
Focal Length 60mm (90mm 35mm)
The background and the gloves are in sharper focus here (a result of being farther from the point-of-focus, the helmet). Speaking of the helmet, in the upper image it comprises 50% of the image space, In the shot below, 25%. This photo is just a bit more compressed, having been shot at a slightly greater telephoto setting (90mm).
The large space at the top of this image needs to contain something which is both visually interesting but not in competition with the subject. Your chosen background, a fire, is a wonderful choice. Move around a bit, slightly, and see what you can come up with. Imagine two or three small flames wrapping that log (there's one on your site!). Manipulate your environment by stoking the fire and shooting it as it wanes. Perhaps your lovely wife would assist you? How is she by the way?
Many photographers would call this done. I commend you on wanting to try to improve a really successful image. Worst case scenario is your left with this effort, a really good picture.
It's an artificial fire, so I can't stoke it, poke it or prompt it to produce more flame I'm afraid. My Christmas list to Santa includes a tripod...fortunately Mrs L, who is very well thanks for asking, has many magazines, that along with a few precariously placed boxes do the job for now.
The idea is that you've been out for a ride in the snow and come back to dry off your gear. I was going to work with this image and try photoshopping in a small puddle of water around the base of the gloves and helmet, again to catch the reflections. But as it would be a darn sight easier, I'll go with your idea of spraying it with water and maybe washing up liquid mix, as it holds shape longer I believe. I could even make some mashed potato, as I understand that is often used as snow, or is it as icecream when an indoor substitute is needed?
Finally, I'll digest the techie details, get them translated, then push a few buttons and see what happens...watch this space....thanks.
(I did move the focal point back to the centre of the 9 options available. That stopped all the whirring noises as the lens did its own thing when I shot the paint pots. This time it held focus, usually set on the BMW logo stud. So good tip.)