More Fun With Photomatix Monday

Photomatix is the program I use to create my HDR images. I use the stand-along version rather than the plug-in (which is okay) because it offers more features than the less-expensive plug-in. However, you can certainly have some HDR fun with the plug-in.

When working with Photomatix, I suggest setting the White Point as the first step. In doing so, you can preserve the highlights. If you don't, you defeat the entire purpose of HDR imaging. Set the black point second to preserve shadow detail.

Also, each time to open Photomatix, be sure to click the Default button. Otherwise, your last setting will be applied to your new image - which, unless you have a similar image, may not be the best idea.

This image is actually a combo image: Photomatix plus Topaz Adjust, which you will read about tomorrow here on the blog.

You can learn more about Photomatix and other plug-ins – and get discounts on some plug-ins – at the Plug-in Experience.

Explore the light,
Rick

A Week of Plug-In Fun Starts Monday

Next week will be plug-in mania here on my blog. Each day (Monday to Sunday) I'll show an example of one of my favorite plug-ins - along with a tip.

Here's the line-up.

More Fun With Photomatix Monday

Topaz Labs Tuesday

Wonderful Color Efex Pro Wednesday

Photo Tools Thursday

Photo Frames Friday

Silver Efex Pro Saturday

Plug-in Surprise Sunday

You can recevie discounts (15% or more) on some of these plug-ins at the Plug-in Experience. Just click on the Plug-ins page.

The image here is an HDR image created with the help of Photomatix. For a realistic HDR look, keep the sliders in Photomatix more toward the left than the right. For this image I used the stand-alone Photomatix rather than the plug-in because it offers more features.

Explore the light,
Rick

HDR: Realistic or Artistic? The Choice is Yours.

I receive many emails about HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography - mostly because I speak and blog and tweet and podcast and write about HDR - which I am heavily into.

The question I am most often asked: Do you like artistic HDR images (top image) or realistic HDR images (below)?

I suggest that the subject often determines the best effect. For my Cuba car shot, I thought artistic looked cool, but for my temple shot, I felt as though realistic was the only way to go.

Think about that the next time you sit down to create an HDR image. The choice is yours.

Here's an article I wrote on HDR if you'd like more info.

If you'd like a lot more info, check out my next book, HDR Photography Secrets - due out late April.

And, if you like to shoot HDR images, join one of my workshops. We shoot at this temple on my Croton Shoots.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. You can get a discount on Photomatix, the HDR program I use, at the Plug-in Experience. Check out Topaz Adjust while you are there. I used that plug-in on my Cuba car shot to help create the artistic look.

What You "See" Is What You Photograph

I'm not really into seeds – or twigs :-) – but the cover of the spring 2010 Spring Hill seed catalog really caught my eye. That amazing flower is called an Egret Flower - for an obvious reason. How beautiful! And a nice photograph to boot.

I photographed the orchid on the top right at the New York Botanical Gardens. I was drawn to it because it looks, to me, like a skinny woman posing in a beautiful dress.

I photographed this Spanish Dancer (left) and its eggs in the Red Sea on a night dive. The Spanish Dancer is basically a slug (scientifically called a nudibranch) that crawls and swims around at the bottom of the ocean. Again, beautiful subjects.

The point of this post: I think we often photograph what is most familiar to us - stuff that reminds us other stuff. What do you think?

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. If you scan a magazine or book, you can remove some of the half-tone dots by using Despeckle in Photoshop. Of course, be aware of copyright and use.

The Four Levels of Learning

Photograph © Rick Sammon. All rights reserved.

Here is something to think about in your quest for becoming a good photographer - The four levels of learning.

1 Unconscious Incompetence - We think we are kinda good.

2 Conscious Incompetence - We know we need help.

3 Conscious Competence - We know we are good.

4 Unconscious Competence - The level we all want to reach in the things we care passionately about. We don’t really have to think too much about what we are doing . . . we just do it!

Post a comment here as to your level. I'd love to hear from you.

Explore the light,
Rick