A Big Thank You To a Great Guide - and New Great Friend in Laos

I have had many of good guides in my travels to more than 100 countries. My guides helped me get good pictures, imparted their knowledge of the area, and made the experience fun.

On my recent photo adventure to Laos, I was fortunate to spend five days with Vong a thit, pictured here having a Beerlao me.

I could not imagine a better guide. Vong knows everything about the area – culture, flora and fauna, how to get around, etc. What's more, Vong is a very, very sweet, kind, flexible and fun man.

If you plan a trip to Laos, contact Vong at vongla@yahoo.com.

Have a Beerlao with Vong for me!

Rick

P.S. It's good beer!

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 24/101: Save Time When Processing Your HDR Images

This is tip #24 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Save HDR processing time by working with JPEG files.

Sure, you should always shoot RAW files - because you can pull out a lot of data from a single RAW file. But when making HDR images, try converting your sets of RAW files to JPEG files before your start processing. I use Image Processor in Photoshop to convert my images. Works amazingly fast.

Working with JPEGs saves you a lot of professing/waiting time. Plus, if you captured the entire dynamic range of the scene in your set of images, you will not lose any details your HDR image – as illustrated by these before-and-after images from Angkor Wat, Cambodia (taken yesterday).

I processed my sets of JPEG files with Nik Software's new HDR Efex Pro. After that, I spiced up the images with the Spicify Filter in Topaz Adjust – which is totally amazing. Info on Topaz here. (Save a bundle by ordering a Topaz Bundle.)

HDR Efex Pro + Topaz Adjust/Spicify.

Original average single exposure.

HDR Efex Pro + Topaz Adjust/Spicify.

Original average single exposure.

Camera info: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 17-40mm lens.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins and Photomatix (another HDR imaging program) click here.

For info my my HDR book, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. A BIG thanks to Mukesh at TravelInterlink for putting together such a fantastic photo tour. For info on my 2011 photo tours, click here.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 23/101: Remove Reality to Create a More Artistic Image

This is tip #23 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Remove reality to create a more artistic image.

When you remove the true color from a scene, you remove some of the reality. When you remove some of the reality, your picture can look more creative and artistic.

The same is true for sharpness.

Here I used the Midnight filter in Nik Software's Color Efex Pro to create a more artistic image from a shot I took today in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Camera info: Canon 7D and Canon 24-105mm IS lens.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 22/101: Play With Plug-ins and Expand Your Creative Horizons

This is tip #22 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Play with plug-ins.

Plug-ins – for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and Aperture – can expand the capabilities of those programs and expand your creative horizons.

Above image (Laos): Midnight filter in Nik Software's Color Efex Pro.

Below image (Cambodia): Antique Plate filter in Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 21/101: Alway Look Up

This is tip #21 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Always look up (and down and back).

As simple as it may sound, looking up, down and back can yield different photo opportunities, as illustrated by this HDR photograph that I made today in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

I make this photograph with my Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 14mm lens.

Nik's new HDR Efex pro was used, as well as a touch of Topaz Adjust. (Click here for info on both programs.)

I hope to see some of you at Photo Plus Expo in NY. Here is my nutty schedule. Stop by and say hi!

Explore the light,

Rick