Most of the time I’m trying to eliminate chromatic aberration (CA). Whether it’s in HDR or non-HDR, I’m always zooming in and trying to remove this dastardly beast!
Sometimes though, I think CA can be used in an artful way…at least in my humble opinion. Here’s a shot I took the other day at the beach in Pacifica, California, which I intentionally created a bit of chromatic aberration in post processing for effect. For example, you can see the blueish/purplish areas in the foam and also where the water is pulling back from the beach.
What a glorious day it was there! This city usually lives in the fog…it’s so rarely clear down there but when it is, it is special!
CA in Pacifica
Laura Macky Photography 
January 1, 2015 at 8:19 am
nice one Laura.
January 1, 2015 at 8:20 am
Thanks much Rob 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 8:24 am
Indeed a nice one. CA is a pain and few tools reallly work when you need them. Especially when the CA is combined with out of foucus haloing.
January 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
Thanks Victor. CA is a pain. I usually use Adobe Camera Raw filter but sometimes there are mutliple spots so I try to clean up the main one that way and then I use the cloning tool and sometimes the mixer brush to reduce it. Once in awhile I’ll create two images and overlay them and expose the part that doesn’t have the CA with a mask and then work on the layer on the rest of the CA.
January 1, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thanks for the tips.
January 1, 2015 at 9:58 am
you’re welcome 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 8:42 am
Beautiful!
January 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
Thank you Cathy. 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:09 am
I like…
January 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
I thank 😉
January 1, 2015 at 9:20 am
That is a beautiful image. I love the jewel colours in the sea.
January 1, 2015 at 9:24 am
Thank you so much! I love those tones too. 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:42 am
used to such good effect
January 1, 2015 at 9:45 am
Thank you Laura 🙂 (Always seems funny typing that name to someone else…not a hugely popular name.)
January 1, 2015 at 9:47 am
was not popular when I was young(!) but nowadays I’m always hearing my name called – Happy New Year Laura!
January 1, 2015 at 9:50 am
HNY to you too! And I agree about the name. 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:47 am
Happy new year Laura 🙂 I hope it’s a great one for you and your beloved ones!
I love the composition of this photo. You timed the waves perfectly! And the shutter speed used created a fantastic effect. Honestly I am not a big fan of this type of HDR, but that’s okay, as long as you like it 🙂
Thank you for sharing this photo and your point of view!
Cheers,
Tieme
January 1, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thank you for your comments Tieme. I really appreciate it. I like many styles of photography and it’s so funny when someone says “OMG this is your best” and someone else says “it’s just ok” LOL. Seriously, it’s all good and everyone has different likes. I just enjoy trying new things. And btw, the original shot was sharp as a tack. 🙂 Happy New Year!
January 1, 2015 at 10:04 am
You’re welcome 🙂 I am not saying “it’s just ok” 😉 I think the photo has a lot of potential!
It’s surely good we all have different tastes, or it would be just us liking our own pictures. As long as we respect our differences, and don’t be offensive 😉
Thank you, you too!
Cheers,
Tieme
January 1, 2015 at 10:08 am
Exactly thank you 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:48 am
Beautiful! 😊
January 1, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thank you! 😀
January 1, 2015 at 11:03 am
Happy New Year, Laura, and — wow! — that’s a terrific banner photo of the SF skyline!
January 1, 2015 at 11:39 am
Happy New Year to you too! I’m glad you like it! I think the balloon was getting a bit flat lol.
January 1, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Very dreamy in character.
Removing chromatic aberration is the hardest correction, but is an artifact in practically everything that uses a lens system.
P.S. Like that SF skyline header.
January 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Thank you David. I’m glad you see dreamy. So did I. It’s so funny, I thought why not ADD some CA for a change. I didn’t even know people did that but now I see there’s a whole art dedicated to increasing CA! I guess I’m not as much of a trail blazer as I thought lol. Regarding removing it, I’m getting better at it for sure, but I agree it is not the easiest and it takes varied ways of doing it most of the time. Oh and P.S., I’m glad you like my new header. 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Add CA – didn’t know that people were doing that. Count me behind the times as well, LOL.
January 1, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Glad I’m not the only one!
January 1, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Well, I’m not into photography so don’t know what a chromatic aberration is, but I love the photo. So in my amateurish opinion…Good job! Looks like you’re having really nice weather there after all that rain.
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
I’m so glad you like the photo!! We are having absolutely beautiful weather…cold but beautiful. Happy New Year to you too!
January 1, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Gorgeous Laura … looks like someone should be sitting on the beach sipping on a glass of bubbles. Happy New Year 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Thank you Julie 🙂 It does have a bubbly feel doesn’t it. HNY2U2!
January 1, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Wow, what a great idea. The image is incredibly surreal. And the new banner is wonderful.
January 1, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Thank you so much Robin. 🙂 I decided to try something different…I think you can tell I like to do that lol. Glad you like the new banner too…the balloon was getting a bit old.
January 1, 2015 at 2:19 pm
That is gorgeous!
January 1, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Thank you Molly 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 6:17 pm
i find Lightroom very good for removing it.
January 1, 2015 at 6:19 pm
I like that too…sometimes I use adobe camera raw filter too if I’m already in Photoshop after processing images.
January 1, 2015 at 6:21 pm
so beautiful! Happy New Year Laura! ❤ ❤ can't wait to see more of your lovely photographs this year 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Thank you very much! HNY2u2! I love typing that lol. 🙂
January 2, 2015 at 10:08 am
haha 😀 I liked seeing it on screen 🙂
January 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm
hehe 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Such a beautiful photo, Laura. The beach and ocean look as one despite the juxtaposition of colours. Looks magical and the effect’s natural. Happy New Year and looking forward to seeing more photos from you this year 🙂
January 1, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Thank you Mabel ;). Hally new year to you too!!
January 1, 2015 at 8:24 pm
I am transporeted yet again to a beautiful fairy tale land where everything is bold, colorful, and magical. I like these joirneys!
January 1, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Aw thank you! I love the descriptive words you chose. I love color, being bold with a splash of magic here and there so yay!!
January 2, 2015 at 4:56 am
Reblogged this on Vichet and commented:
Chromatic Aberration at the Beach
January 2, 2015 at 6:35 am
Thank you so much for the reblog, Vichetchou. Happy New Year!
January 2, 2015 at 5:58 am
I get it all the time around the window panes when I’m shooting very dark interiors – vexing to say the least…
January 2, 2015 at 6:35 am
Oh I can imagine the windows, yes. Little buggers! 🙂
January 2, 2015 at 7:51 am
You make me want to be there! Beautiful!
January 2, 2015 at 8:42 am
Thank you Sharon! It was a beautiful day. 🙂
January 2, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Yes, it works beautifully here 🙂 Plays havoc on some of my wildlife photography but a couple of my lenses are great for eliminating it!
January 2, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Glad you like it Sarah. I realized after I did this that there is a whole genre of art doing just this! Adding Chromatic Aberration. Who’da thunk it!
January 2, 2015 at 4:11 pm
I know, I’ve seen it as a filter in some programmes! Personally I don’t get it. If you get an effect occuring naturally that really works with the overall image that’s great, but of all the post processing effects one can add and play with it doesn’t seem worth it. Each to their own though!
January 2, 2015 at 3:38 pm
bluish purple is a fine aberration!! Love it Laura!
January 2, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Thank you! Kinda fun! 😀
January 2, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Happy New Year, Laura!
January 2, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Thank you! You too! 🙂
January 4, 2015 at 1:36 am
Really gorgeous Laura – Happy New Year 😀
January 4, 2015 at 6:53 am
Thank you Robyn! HNY2U2 🙂
January 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm
😀😀
January 5, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Beautiful 🙂
January 5, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Thank you 🙂
January 6, 2015 at 7:39 pm
I think CA worked brilliantly here!
#BeautifullyPresented
ML
x
January 6, 2015 at 9:00 pm
Thank you so much, ML 🙂
January 16, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Not only did I get to view your lovely photo, I also have a better idea of what chromatic aberration is now 🙂
January 16, 2015 at 3:09 pm
I’m glad I could show you what I usually try to eliminate! lol. Thank you. 🙂