Aperture

The Orton Effect, originally discovered by Canadian Michael Orton consists of overlaying 2 exposures of the same subject (with the camera in the same position). The first exposure is in clear focus, while the second, overexposed with 2 f-stops and deliberately out of focus.

This particular effect dates back to film era. At that time, to achieve this effect, the camera was positioned on the tripod, focus was set on the subject the the shutter fired the first exposure. Without advancing the film for the next frame, manually the subject was put out of focus, eposure time increased and a second time the shutter was fired, exposing the same frame. The amount of effect can be controlled during the second exposure (the more out of focus, the more powerful the effect). Not any film camera allows multiple exposures on the same frame, therefore, not everybody expressed their creativity this way.  The final result was a picture that appear to have been taken from a dream world (focused subject which diffuses colors in the background).

Nowdays, you don’t need expensive photographic gear to replicate the same result. Here is how to recreate the Orton Effect from a single exposure via digital post processing tools (like Adobe Photoshop:)

Fig. 1 – Original Photograph

Let’s open the picture from Figure 1 in Adobe Photoshop (does not matter the version).

Step 2: Overexpose the duplicate select the duplicated layer (named “screen” in our example) and change the blending mode to “Screen”. You will notice the overexposure.

Step 4: Merging down “Screen copy” layer right click the 3rd layer (named “Screen copy” in our example. select “Merge down” a new layer will emerge. There will be a total of 2 layers on your layers palette in this moment (namely Background and Screen).

Step 6: Underexpose the “Screen copy” layer resulted from previous step. Select the “Screen copy” layer and choose Multiply as a blend mode. What Multiply does is to multiply the layer color with the color on the back. In our case, both images (Screen and Screen copy) have the same color, therefore, the result will be a multiplying of green tones (darker greens ==> sort of underexposure)

Step 7: Gaussian Blur The resulted “Screen copy” layer with Multiply blending mode is “defocused” via Gaussian Blur Filter. You can choose here a value between 15 and 30 pixels. The more blur you apply (defocusing the image) the more powerful Orton Effect you’ll have. Play with the values, but do not exaggerate as when you go above 60 pixels, quality of the effect tend decrease.

Step 8 (optional): Add more color saturation On the freshly blurred layer create channel mixer adjustment layer. Play with values as you prefer. Here I’ve intensified the Green channel a bit (20% more saturation)

Final result. The Orton Effect image:

Fig. 2 – The Orton Effect (mouse-over to see the differences from original)

Sambata trecuta la un gratar in afara Bucurestiului, aceasta spendoare de luna a aparut la orizont (in jur de 10 seara).

Fiind aproape paralela cu solul, lumina soarelui reflectata de luna strabate o adancime mai mare de spatiu pana la privitor. Gazele prezente in atmosfera creaza un efect de lupa. Lucru care este zivibil si la rasarit / apus de soare. Soarele apare marit, si se micsoareaza treptat pana in jurul pranzului cand are un unghi de ~90º fata de privitor (zenith).

Unghiul mic fata de orizont este si motivul culorii portocalii in cazul ambelor astre. Cand se afla la zenith, culoarea lor devine aproape alba.

Greu a fost pana sa-mi aranjez scula pe trepied.

Diafragma mica (f16) pentru claritate maxima. Tip de expunere 1/3 sec. Oglinda blocata. Cablu declansator. Detaliile le vedeti in textul alternativ al pozei (adica tine mausu’ deasupra pozei si apare – rezista tentatiei de a da click!).

Photoshop: filtru gradient radial (transparenta centru/negru) pentru punerea in evidenta mai mult a subiectului / intunecarea fundalului.

Ieri, ora 7 juma’ seara. Soarele cade la un unghi de 60º, suficient cat sa lase  umbra din imagine pe frunzele ficusului din bucatarie.

De multe ori am vazut acest cadru, dar ieri m-am hotarat sa i-o trag.

Benzile de gradient gri din spate sunt de la rama transversala a geamului.

Un crop si  efect Orton in Photoshop (o sa detaliez pe o poza mai evidenta). Pe scurt suprapunerea a 2 cadre supraexpuse , unul in focus, al 2-lea defocusat ==> efectul de “glow”.