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Frank Millard
{K:-105} 2/21/2007
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Eb, thanks for trying; I've been here myself, and that's why I always use exposure bracketing for landscapes and panos (the D200 makes this easy)-- we have to take the lighting as it is and capture sufficient dynamic range.
The faux HDR does provide much more detail and separation between sky, clouds and fog, and the mountain peak in center background is more visible; reflection, especially of clouds has greater detail. Of course you can adjust curves ect. on each individual TIFF for tonality to "fake" more dynamic range-- embellish shadows and highlights for each ev step B4 tone mapping.
A channel mixer layer mask on the tone mapped color version for bw conversion may be helpful -- be sure to check the monochrome box.
Try leaving out the LAB step, but you might try LAB to create some "duotone" effects sometime.
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Joggie van Staden
{K:41700} 2/21/2007
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Excellent B&W landscape with smooth tones and a lovely composition. Very well done EB!
Joggie
No critique!
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Eb Mueller
{K:24960} 2/21/2007
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Pat, I used the matrix metering from the camera. The histogram was totally within the camera's dynamic range. Polarizer might have cut reflections, but I am not sure to what degree the light was polarized in this foggy weather. I certainly wanted the reflections! Thanks.
Eb
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Eb Mueller
{K:24960} 2/21/2007
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Frank, I tried the lab work flow with no acceptable results. I will try to learn more about it and thank you for the reference to the book. Using 3 exposures from the raw file and doing a faux HDR and tone mapped with the Photomatix plug in did give me a little more detail noticeable in the fog banks. I use this technique when the dynamic range is high but did not think to do it with this image until your critique raised the issue. The original image is not a high dynamic range capture. Nonetheless, it benefited from that treatment more so than my previous efforts. Attached is the result. I think I will repost because the difference is more noticeable in the larger size. Thanks for raising the issues.
Eb
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Faux HDR |
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Pat Oates
{K:3046} 2/21/2007
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Eb - Really nice shot. What were you using for metering on this one? Also - even though it would have taken out the reflections, would a polarizer have been an option here?
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Eb Mueller
{K:24960} 2/20/2007
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Thanks Frank, I'll give it a try.
Eb
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Frank Millard
{K:-105} 2/20/2007
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Ok! I assume this was taken in RAW or compressed RAW. Here is my suggested PS work flow:
1. Convert original to LAB.
2. Adjust curves on a and b channels by slightly steepening at the ends (move towards center) -- this increases saturation without blowing out pixels; you will easily see what this does. This should help to bring out color tones more.
3. While in LAB mode and curves select the lightness channel, and again steepen curve at both ends as above -- this helps contrast. (for an in depth explanation of LAB see Photoshop LAB Color by Dan Margulis).
4. When you are satisfied with photo save it.
5. Now, set the exposure to -1 ev and save it as "img__-1ev", or whatever you prefer, as 16 bit TIFF.
6. Reload your saved image and set exposure to +1 ev, and save it with an appropriate name as 16 bit TIFF.
7. Reload image from step 4 and save it as 16 bit TIFF too.
The 16 bit stuff is to mimimize compression issues.
Now you can load these images into photomatix and tone map for faux HDR. If you don't like the looks skip the LAB mode to after tone mapping.
Split channel bw conversion actions are available from the light's Right Studio Web site; and they are great!
I hope this helps.
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Eb Mueller
{K:24960} 2/20/2007
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Frank, by all means discuss your approach to dynamic range. I did not take multiple exposures on this one but I sometimes do so and create HDR and Tone Map with Photomatix. I very interested in your suggestions. BTW I left this image in colour rather than convert to B&W.
Eb
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Frank Millard
{K:-105} 2/20/2007
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Last comment should read: "Looking at right side towards the background..."
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Frank Millard
{K:-105} 2/20/2007
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Eb, this is a great scene. It is exactly scenes like this one that started me using bracketed exposures to get sufficient dynamic range and split channel bw conversions to fine tune tonality. Looking at the left side and towards the background, I would have used five exposures to get separation from fog, sky and clouds and the shoreline and its reflection on the left. There is a way to add some dynamic range here, if you want to know, reply.
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Eb Mueller
{K:24960} 2/20/2007
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Frank, thanks for taking time to comment. I would have thought that the fog is quite recognizable and therefore wonder why you ask? My rendering may be debatable because I wanted to retain fog, shadow detail as well as high contrast. It might not be possible with this image. The image is meant to be seen in full size panorama. You can check another version of this view taken some 30 minutes earlier where the soft fog effect is more predominant.
Eb
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 2/20/2007
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Superb fog landscape and awesome horizontal symmetry in the reflections, Eb. The tones and shapes are beautiful, it evokes tranquility! Best regards, Ina
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Frank Millard
{K:-105} 2/20/2007
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Is that a fog over the water? Your curves seem a little stressed there.
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Ibrahim Youssef
{K:5579} 2/20/2007
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Stunning work you've done here, superb effects and great results.
Congrats Eb
Regards
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Dave Stacey
{K:150877} 2/20/2007
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Very nice pano, and a great reflective shot, Eb! Tranquility indeed!
Dave.
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Shirley D. Cross-Taylor
{K:174133} 2/20/2007
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Oooohh...love this one, too, Eb!:)
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Tim Schumm
{K:29196} 2/20/2007
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Superb Image Eb!!!! love the softness and slight color on the right. A beautiful shot.
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