Monserrate Reveal/Blue

June 5, 2019
by Michael Scandling
comments 35
Abstract / Floral Photography / Florascape / Inspiration / Photo Log / Photography

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August 24, 2016. Parque e Palácio de Monserrate, near Sintra, Portugal. While exploring this magnificent park — where I could have easily spent days — I was captivated by a large, smooth succulent. I saw the picture immediately. I made several shots with minor variations in composition and depth of field and moved on to other botanical wonders. I didn’t think about it again until a couple of months later, back in California.

Time being what it is, I saw something different when I looked at the RAW file in October. What I’d thought was the essence, wasn’t. Crop. This was.

But then it was so abstract — especially after I’d had my way with the surface texture and had further sharpened the edges — that color had become arbitrary.

(Nikon D750; Nikon 28-300 f/3.5-5.6G Zoom. RAW processing in DxO Pro; Editing in Adobe Photoshop.)

More Fine-Art Photography at www.amagaphoto.com

The Author

California based fine-art photographer featuring abstract, impressionist, and minimalist seascapes — near and distant — and floral-based images. Fine-art photography can be seen at www.amagaphoto.com All original images on this blog are copyright 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Michael Scandling. All rights reserved. No images on this site may be copied, duplicated, reused, published, or re-purposed in any way without express permission from the copyright owner, Michael Scandling.

35 Comments

      • Nuno França - Photography says

        Great to hear that!
        You have to visit the Azores, in case it isn’t your next stop in Portugal. 😃

        Liked by 1 person

      • Michael Scandling says

        I would love to visit the Azores, but that will have to be another trip. We will be staying with my wife’s brother’s family who live in Germany, but have a summer place in Estoril.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Nuno França - Photography says

        Nice! 🙂
        You are going to enjoy for sure.
        Azores have to go to your list. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Steve Gingold says

    Sometimes a look back gives us a second chance to make something memorable where we might not have previously. This is a wonderful abstract and, as mentioned before, would make Georgia proud.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. brenda says

    I’m wondering if an an educational ebook which covers your processing will be available in the future? I’ll be on the waiting list.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Michael Scandling says

      The specifics are a little bit of a trade secret, but almost everything I do is using some combinations and strengths of smart sharpen, smart blur and various different levels of vibrance in a number of different layers and then blending them. I use masks in the raw processing for variations in exposure and clarity or micro contrast. Play with all these factors and you’ll end up with combinations I’ve never thought of, I’m sure.

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      • brenda says

        I’ve heard that a martial arts master doesn’t share everything. Now I understand…it leaves a space for the student’s own creativity. Thank you, Michael.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Michael Scandling says

        I’ve given you a lot of clues. I also play with light balance in RAW processing. I often balance for effect, rather than for what was actually there. Techniques have evolved over the years as I discover new things and as my own priorities and taste gradually evolve. I don’t use any fancy filters. I’ve had NIK filters for years, and only clearly remember using them once in all that time. That was on the monochrome in my post called No Tears Were Shed. I’m nowhere near an expert in monochrome and I needed to get it done quickly so these filters helped me get it done in a NIK of time.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Michael Scandling says

      Thank you very much, Jane. Many pixels were altered forever in the creation of this image. I think that they are happy about it. I have other versions of exactly the same image in other colors. Each color shift brings into view its own unique nuances. Each has its own appeal. One is even in the original color. Imagine that!

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. oneowner says

    This is a beautiful shot, Michael. It leads me to the question: is a photograph ever finished? Or is there more potential to it that we don’t normally see at the first (or second) visit?

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Michael Scandling says

      Thank you very much, and that is an excellent question. There are a number of images I’ve come back to years later and seen them with different eyes, so to speak. Matter of fact, I’m strongly considering doing that in the next few weeks.

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. bluebrightly says

    Succulents are such great subjects, aren’t they? They can send you off in so many directions. This was a really good one, and I’m sure there will be more.

    Liked by 1 person

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