The idea was again to let the shell look bigger, like some kind of a huge organism slowly moving in a darker place. And it also should keep at least some of its glossy appearance. I don't know if and in how far it worked. I'd be very glad to read any critiques about this one.
Thanks a lot for claryfying it to me, Arvin! I thought it was the background, but now I understand. In addition to the low power flash I would like to try some low light source right behind the shell too, and see what comes out. There must be some point at which there is a subtle glow around the shell. Rerhaps it's time for me to start some experimentation with artificial illumination be it flash or anything else.
i think just haveing the flash on low power would get a more detail out. i hate using flashes too. i only bring them out to prefect something i trying to get.
the giant thing i thought we the shell. so you can retract my last thing.
anyway this a great place to talk and have a real critique.
Trying to mimic your idea for a flash I dodged and re-sharpened the shell. Well, it isn't the same like a flash but it gives me an idea about waht i could look like if the shell was standing out more promonently. It wins importance but it is not what I have in mind about its look on such an image. Could it be possible to enhance only its contours? You see them "almost glowing" now, but how to enhance them with a flashlight (fill)?
BTW, I use the flash quite seldomly. Most of the time it only alters the light of the scene in some unpredictable way, and so it destroys all the atmosphere, or it changes it to something that I wasn't intended to do. I am not as good yet in using it in a "planned", "directed" way.
About the illusion of a giant in the background, I assume you mean the dark fuzzy silhouette in the highlight of the cloud? (This was a tree by the way.) I didn't have anything else than the shell in a diffuse background when I shot that. The other things were not important - only "fillers" of light. But I think now of using the background with more details, not as much for "giants" and such things, but rather for seeing if they offer something as elements of the scene with such a single object on the front.
0 
