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Ruth Carll's picture

Inky Trees

I think I got it! The input has been soooo helpful!

What do you guys think?

If you are new - I've been working on these ink and water things for a while. This is ink dropped in water then flipped to look sort of like a tree.

Feed welcome

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14 Comments

Wow! These are becoming a distillation of your vision, Ruth. Fantastic. Your lighting is sumptuous. But man! That GREEN! Maybe you love emeralds. Love the monochrome - and you're doing flowers again. Or is that a pirate? Or a maggot? Or Goofy? I'd better stop.

One tech-y point: I think your green has thrown out your white balance, so the background has a slight magenta tint. I've posted it with just that adjusted for - see what you think. Dead-easy fix.

And Mr Tourmaline couldn't resist a reinterpretation - let's call it an hommage, then it can't cause offence.

I agree about the white balance. Missed that. I also need to get some new ink. This is food coloring. I think I'm getting to a place where I'll start playing with the post more. I like your suggestion here. I am totally gripped by these thing right now! How fun is that!! Thanks for the help Chris!

@Chris, if you don't mind sharing please.
Through which steps you changed the colour green in 2nd image.

I use ACDSee, Vijay, but I think its controls mimic Photoshop.

Firstly, I reduced saturation.

Then in Color EQ I changed the hue as shown. I've exaggerated it here.

Thanks.

clever, you probably get all types of organic shapes with that method.

These are great. Not so many distractions as some of your earlier shots and the water surface is cleaned up nicely. I kind of like Chris’ interpretation with the exception of the overall darkness of the image. Bringing down just the green and leaving the background bright makes for some nice contrast.

Amazing I have liked most of your ink photos.
the lighting looks really good too.
and clean back ground

@Ruth, @Chris, @Phillip, as 2nd thought would you all want to sharpen the ink shapes a bit? giving some contrast at textures and the while background? or still leave it at present softness?
thanks.

This has been an ongoing challenge for me. I like the delicate look of these. But, the ink I use is water soluble and rapidly dissolves in water. It is also translucent. Sharpness is a challenge! i'm not sure how much sharper it can actually get.

In my research into liquid photography, I've found the most people use heavy cream as an additive to the ink to give it a more opaque look while the fat in the cream slows to dissolving. The results are a sturdier looking ink plume. (see below from when I was just starting so just an example of the ink, not a successful image). I've tried a lot of things like paint (number two below) but they either sink like a rock or float. I just purchased a different high flow acrylic paint that I plan on trying soon. It might give me the softer look I like with a harder surface for sharpness. We'll see! This has been a great puzzle so far and everyone has helped with their input - including you! Go team M,A&B!!

I think this opens up so many possibilities for you Ruth.

The image is intriguing, I can see a series of these in different colors adorning a wall, variations with different shapes/colors or even composites with any of the above.

I have to say that unlike others I do prefer the pop of your vibrant color - that would look great on a wall.

I'm looking forward to more.....

And you will have some!

Thanks Alan!

That emerald green image is gorgeous Ruth, absolutely love that little extra ink at the very bottom, just wonderful.

Me too! I was so psyched when that happened!