Recent learning work... - SRT Forums

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 07:17 PM

I call it learning work, because I take photos to learn (lots of them), kind of a trial an error approach.

Anyways, here are a few:
1.
With this one, I wanted a sharp flare, and I wanted detail to be visible on the arch. So I tried to manage the light and dark to get them to work together.

2.
This one I like because it's almost like you are laying on the ground looking up at it, you can see the light pole that was behind me when I took it and the base of the tree.

3.
I wanted this one bright, and in your face, with a sense of depth. I was trying to get it so you could almost feel the sun in your eyes.

4.
This one was all about lines for me. Multiple arches, at different angles, the pattern of lights taken your eyes down the hall, the lines following it, etc.

Parkerman · 11-06-2009, 07:42 PM

Good processing with the HDR... looks very nice.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 07:51 PM

Thanks man.. but no HDR here (traditional sense anyways). All single images with a few touch ups in LR3 Beta and the Topaz plug in.

**haknslash** · 11-06-2009, 07:52 PM

Looks good but the lens distortion is not for me.

what's with the banding in the 3rd image (see sky)? Almost looks like a compression issue but I think it's due to your lens.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by haknslash

Looks good but the lens distortion is not for me.

Yeah it's not for everyone, but it has it's uses.
The images were taken with the Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, which I was using to take photo of ordinary things, in a new light. It really is a fun lens to use, you can get right up on stuff, I mean HUGE stuff. You look at stuff differently with it thats for sure.

Here is a more extreme version

Parkerman · 11-06-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by moltenice

Thanks man.. but no HDR here (traditional sense anyways). All single images with a few touch ups in LR3 Beta and the Topaz plug in.

Ah, then its the Topaz plug in I would guess.

Any idea what adjustments it makes to get the image like that?

I guess I really should have said tone mapping instead of HDR.. heh.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 08:17 PM

Well with Topaz (Adjust 3) they have quite a few presets that you can run through until you seem something you like, and then you can tweak it to how you want it from there (usually I do detail reduction).

But the things you really use to edit are:

Adaptive Exposure with regional adjustment
Adaptive Saturation with Boost
and some powerful detail adjustments.

The 30day trial is free/no obligation and is a full version. It's WELL worth it to download it and give it a try. ALso check out Denoise3 by them.

Parkerman · 11-06-2009, 08:54 PM

I like the DeNoise, I have been looking for a good program for noise.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 09:08 PM

I have tried quite a few, and that one is at the top of my list.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 09:11 PM

I just went in to Calumet today (photography company) and the dude there had just got back from a seminar on Nik Software's Viveza 2, and he was ranting and raving about it. Currently Viveza1 is only out, but 2 should come out shortly; I plan on doing the trial on both to see if they offer something Topaz doesnt. He said it was incredibly intuitive and was being endorsed by Adobe.
Color Control Revolutionized

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 09:14 PM

Here is another example of Topaz. I took this just before sunset and only did a few minor things to it using only Adjust 3.

Kind of interesting warm feel to it.

if you enlarge it you can see it it kept the detail of the shingles on the side of the building under the roof line where there was shadow. It increased the dynamic range of the single capture all within the plug in, and without having to create separate files and merging them.

Parkerman · 11-06-2009, 09:56 PM

^ Can't say I am a fan of that look. Its a bit over the top.

moltenice · 11-06-2009, 10:13 PM

it is bright, warm, and bright.

Skill · 11-08-2009, 12:38 AM

i dig this one.

I love wide angles; they are so sharp and i love the perspectives they give. I'm getting a 16-35L come spring, can't wait because i miss having a wide angle!

I'm sure this is already known in here, but if you want star like flares you stop down. Usually starts showing really well at f/9+, but also depends on your lens and how many aperture blades it has as to the appearance of the flare.

moltenice · 11-08-2009, 01:52 AM

Thanks.
Yeah I learned that, running around that day. I ran through some fstops to see where it started getting crisp. I thing I had it all the way down on that shot.
The only other consideration is with it stopped down, you lose light. I have a photo of that Theater both wide open and at like f/22 or something, and even though the sun flared nice; I lost too much detail and the shadows were too strong so I use this version.