Florida Photo Caravan 2nd Shoot: HDR

January 22, 2012 in HDR Efex Pro apps, Photomatix, googleplex. HDR photography

My best HDR of a parking garage: Visitor's Center parking garage.

We're just back from our second shoot on my 2012 Florida Photo Caravan.

Our location: St. Augustine. We focused on HDR. Here are a few of my favorite HDR images . . but we all got good shots. I'll share these images with you as they come in.

Photomatix and Topaz Adjust/ Spicify

Tip: After you process your images in Photomatix or HDR Efex Pro, add a plug-in effect - or boost the saturation and contrast in Photoshop or LIghtroom. Above I used Topaz Spicify. Below I used Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro.

Nik HDR Efex Pro and Nik Silver Efex Pro

Flagler College. Photomatix plus Topaz Adjust/ Exposure Correction.

If you want to learn about HDR, check out my iHDR app. To learn more about the plug-ins I use, click here.

Click here to get on the list for my 2013 Photo Caravan and other workshops.

Explore the light,
Rick

HDR Fun Adds to Bird Photos in Bosque del Apache

December 20, 2011 in Bosque, HDR, HDR Efex Pro, Photo workshops., Photomatix, iHDR

I'm reposting this post from a few weeks ago because some folks asked me about other photo ops in Bosque.

Yes! Bosque del Apache is a mecca for bird photographers. The snow geese and sandhill cranes are a sight to behold.

But there are other great photo ops in Bosque.... especially if you are into HDR photography.

Today Juan Pons, Chris Klapheke and I took our workshop students on a cool HDR shoot in a junkyard.

When it comes to HDR photography, you'll get the coolest images when shooting in a high contrast situation - such as shooting from indoors to outdoors, which includes shooting from inside a car.

Above is one of my favorite images from our HDR shoot. I used the Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens on my Canon 5D Mark II. I created the image in Photomatix with a touch of Topaz Adjust (to bring out the grain in the leather seats). Below is another Topaz Adjust image.

To learn about HDR, see my post: HDR Must Know Info.

To $ave on Photomatix and the other plug-ins I use, click here.

Above is another HDR image I shot today. I could have brought out more of the details in the shadows, but.... shadows are the soul of the photographs, shadows are your friend... and light illuminates, shadows define.

If you like HDR, check out my iHDR apps.. for the iPad and a Mac!

So what about the birds today?

We saw tons of birds. Above: I used my Canon 400mm DO lens on my Canon 7D.

Tips: Crop creatively; crop out the dead space. Use focus tracking (AI Servo) when photographing moving subjects.

Shoot silhouettes. Use Nik Color Efex Pro's Gradual Filter to change the color of the sky. Again, see my plug-ins page to get a discount on the plug-ins I use, including Nik.

Leave some room in the frame into which the subject can fly.

Shoot with both eyes open so you can see other subjects that can enhance (or ruin) an image. Watch the background, too.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Before I go, here is an image I created using the Midnight filter in Nik Color Efex Pro.

You Save While I Shoot in NYC

October 26, 2011 in Nik Software, Photomatix, Plus ins, Topaz Adjust

I'm off to shoot and teach at Photo Plus in NYC this weekend.

While I am shooting, you can save a few bucks on plug-ins!

Nik Software's Color Efex Pro & HDR Efex Pro - Save 15%

Save 15% if you use this code – RSAMMON – upon check-out on the Nik web site. Actually, you can save 15% on all Nik plug-ins - including Color Efex Pro! Just use the same code. Note: You must use the United States web site.

Photomatix - Save 15%
The image above was created with Photomatix. You can save 15% when you order Photomatix by using this code: ricksammon. Here is a short movie to get you started with Photomatix Pro.

Perfect Photo Suite - Save 10%
Save 10% on all the plug-ins in onOne's software's Photo Suite 6: Perfect Portrait, Perfect Layers, Perfect Effects, Perfect Masks, Photo Essentials4. Just use this code upon checkout: RSAMMON.

Topaz Adjust - save a bundle when you order a bundle

Topaz Adjust is just too cool. Above I used the Spicify Effect. Click here to order Topaz Adjust. Hey, save a bundle when you order a Topaz bundle.

Topaz B&W Effects - bundle it with Topaz Adjust
Click here to read about it!

Nik Silver Efex Pro - Save 15%
Save 15% when you use this code - RSAMMON - upon check-out on the Nik web site.

Explore the light,

Rick

Costa Rica Workshop: Day 1 Images

September 12, 2011 in Costa Rica, Italy Travel Photography, Photomatix, googleplex. HDR photography, photo workshops≠

It's day 1 of the workshop that I am co-leading here in Costa Rica with my friend Rob Knight, who runs Digital Photo Adventures. The participates are all getting great shots! Here are a few of mine, along with some tips.

Above:
• Please the main subject off center.
• Frame the subject with a foreground element.
• Crop for creative composition.
• Expose for the highlights.

Above:
• Shoot at a wide aperture to blur the background - which makes your subject stand out in the frame.
• Look for catch light in the subject's eye.
• Watch the background - it can make or break a shot.

Above:
• Do what master painters do to draw attention to the subject: darken the edges of the frame.

Above:
• Focus on the eye.
• Blur a foreground element to add a realistic look to your picture.

Above:
• Shoot HDR in high-contrast situations.
• Have fun with fish-eye lenses.

I created the above image with Photomatix. You can save 15% when you order Photomatix by using this code: ricksammon.

More image to come. Thank you for tuning in.

For all my workshops, click here.

Explore the light,
Rick

Answers To Your Photomatix 4.1 Questions

September 01, 2011 in HDR Efex Pro, High Dynamic Range, Photomatix, googleplex. HDR photography

As I mentioned here on my blog a while ago, I am making a screen-grab workflow movie on how I use Photomatix. I asked readers what they would like to see me cover in the movie. Well, I can't answer all the questions in the movie (due to time), so I will answer all of them here - and may touch on some of them in the movie.

Thanks for sending your questions.

If you are new to HDR, you can save 15% when you order Photomatix by using this code: ricksammon.

Before I go on, yes . . . I do use Nik Software's HDR Efex Pro, and teach it on my workshops, along with Photomatix. As an instructors, I need to be well versed in many program and plug-ins. Save 15% if you use this code: RSAMMON upon check-out on the Nik web site.

Here we go:

Randy Williams said... I assume you will let us know when you post it?

It should be ready in about two weeks. The hurricane slowed me down!

tina k said... It's amazing how one photo can tell a story that can be a different story for each viewer.

I agree. Beauty - and the idea - is in the mind of the beholder.

ChawnC said... Please show us where you work this in with regard to retouching, and other non-Photomatix enhancements. Thanks!

In almost all cases, I enhance my pictures even more in Photoshop. This may include making an Adjustment Layer and enhancing only part of a scene.

Also, I always check Levels - to make sure my image shows the best highlight and shadow detail.

I may also do selectively sharpening, using Filter > Convert to Smart Filter.

When it comes to HDR images with people in them, I mask out the HDR effect on the person, because it usually make the skin look strange.

For artistic image, I may apply Topaz Adjust.

David LaSpina said... Really looking forward to it. The only specific question I can think of at the moment is your thoughts on how photomatix and nik HDR compare. I'm starting to like Nik a bit more, but Photomatix is so much faster and I am much more familiar with it. But anyways.. looking forward to watching your workflow.

I use both Photomatix and Nik HDR Efex Pro. Cost is one difference, as Photomatix is less expensive. Yes, I have found Photomatix faster, too.

Pre-sets are different and offer different starting points. Both programs are fun to use - and useful tools for photographers.

HDR Efex has Control Points and Curves, which means you don't have to do additional work in Photoshop or Lightroom.

More from Dave. I thought of a better photomatix specific question: Do you feed photomatix jpegs or tiffs? I have gone back and forth. I originally always converted to jpg (from RAW) in Aperture and put those into Photomatix, then I convinced myself that using tiffs would give photomatix more info to work with. Then I read that Trey said he liked using jpegs into photomatix so I switched back. What's your take?

Trey "Stuck in Customs" who? Ha ha, as he would say! :-)

JPEGs sure do speed up the processing time. I use my RAW files - and have been very pleased. My advice: do a test and see if you can see a difference. With today's fast computers, why not use RAW files.

If you do want to convert to JPEGs first, use Image Process in Photoshop. It's amazing fast!

r.coppola said...will you be covering hdr from a single (hdr) image/picture?

I do that my dragging a single RAW file over to the Photomatix icon. If the contrast range is not greater than about 3 f-stop, it works quite well.. but you can probably pull out the same date from a RAW file in Photoshop or Lightroom. One thing to watch for is noise.

Anonymous said... Hi Rick. I'd like to know how you keep skin tones neutral in an HDR image instead of looking "cartoonish"

See comment above. Basically, you don't want the HDR effect applied to the skin - as illustrated in the opening image.

cycle11111 said...I am always wrestling with source image alignment especially for nature landscapes with lots of trees. How you deal with this would be awesome.

Shoot on a windless day. Seriously. That said, the anti-ghosting feature is getting better and better.

Jo Garrett said... What is the difference between the enhancer, cmpressor and fusion? which type of photos are they best for?

I really only use Tone Mapping - to create realistic and artistic image - see below. I will try show some examples in my movie.

charleyp said...i use DXO for raw processing any thoughts on how to use that with Photomatrix

Have not used DXO. Sorry.

Al Marsh said...'m starting to get confused on when to use HDR. You always seek out a high contrast situation, beat up buildings, or a junkyard, right? But yours looks great and it is in a low contrast room. The only contrast is out the window.

Actually, the opening picture for this post is a very high contrast scene. But HDR Can ruin a scene, too. See below - HDR on the left.

Paul Waldo said... Hi Rick, thanks so much for your work in the community. It is truly appreciated! I have a suggestion for your discussion. I have both Photomatix and Nik HDR Efex. It is my impression that Photomatix, in the hands of an HDR Ninja like you, is the Ferrari of HDR. I am the Grasshopper, you are Master Po :-) So, most of the time though, I use Nik, because the controls are more intuitive. I just can't get an intuative feel for what the sliders do. I'd love to see a segment that really drives home what the different Photomatix controls *mean*. Otherwise, it's just random fiddling, which usually produces less-than-satisfactory results.

Thanks for the kinds words. It's funny, we are the "slider" generation. I am limited on time for my movie, but I will cover what I can. For now, if you hold you mouse (or stylus) over the the slider, a good description shows up at the bottom of the window... in Photomatix 4.1.

Mark said...Rick, thanks for this! I'd like to know how best to eliminate halos while still being able to keep the sky a deep blue...or maybe this can only be done by blending layers in PS afterward?