Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Dominique #5 - Single Image HDR Test Series


Um, is anyone besides me thinking "Goldfinger"?  The next step in my HDR education is to apply the technique to a single image.  This processing is very tricky.   I like to start with extreme settings, then back off individual controls.  This is the output from a custom setting I created for processing flowers to make brown leaves glow. 


I got a surprise with the tone mapping when this Gauguin-ish picture emerged.  It is so extreme, I had to share.


One of the reasons to use HDR is to emphasize texture.  Applied to a figure, this means that pores, moles, wrinkles, scars, etc. become more prominent and can easily take over the picture.  This monochrome version was created from the red color version above, using Nik Silver Efex Pro to apply a Wratten #61 deep green filter to darken skin tones and apply its sepia/cyan split tone preset.


Camera: Nikon D700 
Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D
Exposure: ISO 200, f/5.6 @ 1/6s, tripod, tethered, RAW
Lighting: Two Calumet Quattro Fluorescent Beauty Lights 
Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios GPS
Processing: Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro, Nik Silver Efex Pro

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