Sparkle

Posted by Tracey (Maryland, United States) on 24 July 2008 in Abstract & Conceptual and Portfolio.

Outside of my box! And this one I love. I wish I could take full credit for it, but it was actually an accident. I went to gradient map to convert to b/w and I hit the wrong gradient. When I saw the results, I thought it was intriguing and I tweaked it from there using layers. It is actually my daughter holding a sparkler on the 4th of July, but the gradient left her arm tone alone and switched the black and white. I can't remember which gradient it was! I am very proud of this one and if you could have seen the original picture, I think you would agree this one is a much more artistic shot.

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Comments (26)

Rags from Plano, United States

I think you did an awesome job with this image even though it was an "accident." I actually believe that there is no such thing as an accident.

24 Jul 2008 5:11am

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

This is really awesome. Amazing what you sometimes just chance upon. Well done.

24 Jul 2008 5:28am

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

Awesome effect! Now you'll have nightmares about getting back that gradient :-P

24 Jul 2008 7:56am

GJC from Kyoto, Japan

Really clever and I like it a lot. It allows us to see something familiar in a very different way. Thanks for sharing.

24 Jul 2008 8:04am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Serendipity...beautiful!

24 Jul 2008 8:31am

Chris from South Jersey, United States

Really wild processing. Sometimes the best things that can happen are "accidents"!!! Great shot and processing - really original - well done...

24 Jul 2008 10:32am

Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States

Alteration by design, and a slip of the finger - you still created it, Tracey.
Good job!

24 Jul 2008 10:44am

shahab from Qazvin, Iran

Nice idea!

24 Jul 2008 11:28am

Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia

I would never have guessed what it was if you hadn't said so! it's certainly a great image and composition.

24 Jul 2008 11:47am

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Hong Kong

I thought it was some kind of plant at first. It's very interesting which shows that often great things come out of accidents and malfunctions. Nice one.

24 Jul 2008 11:54am

Lorena from Fort Myers, United States

The mistakes are the best ones... Keep up the good work! I always enjoy your pictures :)

24 Jul 2008 12:39pm

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

A beautiful accident indeed!

24 Jul 2008 2:03pm

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

Tracey, sometimes the greatest things in life happen by accident. This photo is no exception. It sizzles!

24 Jul 2008 3:49pm

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

Cool shot ... I looked at this early this morning at home (on my laptop) and didn't see your daughter's silhouette. I'm looking at it now on my screen at work and I can certainly see why you're proud of this one ... it's just so extraordinarily odd and cool.

24 Jul 2008 4:28pm

@Ron: I am glad you had a chance to see it again. It isn't quite the same without the ghostlike silhouette!

Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa

I really love it Tracey, before I read your description I thought it was a dandelion or a natural grass of some sort.......I love it when accidents bring out such cool results......way to go for hitting the wrong button!!! :)

24 Jul 2008 5:37pm

@Mandy Provan: My husband said the same thing. I think he was thoroughly unimpressed! :0)

Marcie from United States

Great miostake!! Sometimes it's the accidents that produce the best resulte. Excellent.

24 Jul 2008 6:46pm

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

Awesome shot, great accident :) This is so unique and different. I think its great.

24 Jul 2008 7:25pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Amazing effect, I would never have guessed it. I like the arm in a haze.

24 Jul 2008 8:04pm

valenttin from Navodari, Romania

is a negative?

24 Jul 2008 9:12pm

@valenttin: Thanks for asking, Valenttin. No, it is not a complete negative. The gradient actually left the midtones (skin) alone and only changed the darkest areas to white and the whitest areas to black. You can see how the skin is shrouded in white, which is where the darkest area was, as this was taken with the only light being the sparkler. The brightest area, the sparkler, is black. However, the midtones, her skin and the nightgown remained true to the original. I did not use masks of any sort to bring back the original color. If I can figure out which gradient it was, I will be sure to post it.

Ondro from Brezno, Slovakia

amazing mistake ;)

24 Jul 2008 11:37pm

Owen Williams from Wellington, New Zealand

That looks amazing! Super job

25 Jul 2008 12:53am

Jrask from Pasadena, United States

awesome!! I love it!

25 Jul 2008 1:56am

Michael from TX, United States

Very cool shot. Sometimes accidental settings produce really amazing results. This was DEFINITELY one of those times.

25 Jul 2008 3:35am

ZmAjEvA from Belgrade, Serbia

This is great, artistic indeed!

26 Jul 2008 12:19am

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

One of those moments always to be remembered : fantastic effect!

26 Jul 2008 10:44pm

Brian from Seattle, United States

I'm very impressed! I wouldn't have guessed what it was if you had not left a desc. Great work!

2 Aug 2008 5:04am

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Canon EOS 5D
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ISO 100
42 mm