Test to Destruct; Pixel Damage Saving As JPG

Every time you save an image as a jpg file data is lost. Until recently I didn't realise how seriously this stacks over the course of multiple saves. Click on images for a close up view.

Original image: Meltwater, Hertfordshire

Original image: Many Glacier, Montana

Original image: Greenhouse Effect, Wisley

The images above are shown as they started out, then after 10, 30 and 60 saves. The pixel damage is particularly obvious in large areas of nuanced gradient colour - chiefly the sky and water in these examples.

At this scale the artifacts weren't obvious for the first few saves. Seen at 100% or greater areas of the sky had become unacceptably degraded by as few as five saves, exhibiting the kind of level of damage seen at 10 saves in examples of this scale.

The damage is a result of the jpg's compressed nature. Keeping files in RAW, PSD or other non-compressed file formats will preserve quality and prevent this kind of distortion.

Backlit Spring Barley, Mill End

Backlit Spring Barley, Mill End, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Avoided the temptation to fiddle with this too much, so it comes pretty much SOOC. The only tweaks were a touch of fill light and some colour noise reduction. I think it makes a neat seasonal contrast to the backlit winter brambles below.

This is from my first shoot with JSH in tow. It went pretty well, and she put up with being wheeled through some bumpy woodland to reach the fields.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Alternative Backlit Spring Barley

All Time Flickr Favs

All Time Favs, a gallery on Flickr.

Just a quick record of some of the incredible shots we chance upon that go beyond "fav" into a realm of brilliance beyond. #18 purposefully blank for endless shortlist candidates!

All the reasons, notes, full size images and links to the incredible artists behind them all on Flickr.

White Tiger Exploring Grassland (Cat Fur Macro)

White Tiger Exploring Grassland (Cat Fur Macro), originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Quick series of abstract macro shots of our cat (Stonewall Jackson) 's fur. It's lit with a single tungsten bulb above, and angled CREE LED flashlight as backlight. When I saw the main image in the viewfinder and it looked like a big white cat surging through dark grasslands towards a sunset - a cat scene hiding within Jack's backlit fur. I'm not normally one for abstracts, but thought it was worth posting.

This week has been outrageously busy, and I'm poignantly aware of how far behind I am with things - today I'm catching up! Thanks for your patience!

Also thanks to the fantastic einarsoyland; a master of odd lenses and cost saving wizardry. He suggest trying extension tubes with my 50mm before investing in a macro lens. I got these ones for just £4.70 on eBay and they work a treat.

Abstract Series (Cat Macro)

Series images for the comments of White Tiger Grassland; macro shots of backlit cat fur.

Wildflowers, Dorset

Wildflowers, Dorset, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Just a quick summery shot from my Great Uncle's overgrown garden - full of wildflowers at the moment; forget me nots and dandelions predominantly. A slightly more mainstream floral presentation than my last shot!

Taken lying down, under a picnic rug so I could focus with live view. Got rather hot in the fierce sunshine of a few weeks back. It's raining now - June and the English summer is at an end.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable Sunday regardless (if in the UK) and better weather (if elsewhere).

Lily With Light Trails

Lily With Light Trails, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Firstly, thanks to everyone's patience whilst I slowly catch up following the birth of my daughter Jessica. She's back from the hospital; healthy and reasonably settled.

There's not been a ton of time for photos and Flickr. The shots I most want to take at the moment rely upon my building a light stenciling tool, which I've managed to juggle in with everything else.

This series was more about testing the light stenciling box and flash to light the lilies, with some Christmas Tree lights swung around in the background for good measure. The location is 500m out for security reasons! Hope everyone is well, and I am now catching up - can't wait to see everyone's recent uploads.

Lily With Light Trails

Firewater