Dark City #27, HDR

After some time away, I've returned to collecting candidate images for my Dark City series.  This picture started with three hand held 1-stop brackets processed in Nik HDR Efex.

This monochrome come from a virtual copy of the top picture with a blue/sepia split tone applied in Lightroom 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF
Exposure:	ISO 100, 52mm @f/8.0 @ 1/400s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Clayton, Missouri
Dates:	Capture - September 11, 2011, Processed - September 11, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Photoshop CS5

Staircase #3, HDR Variations

About a year ago I posted two pictures of this staircase at the St. Louis University Museum of Art that were single image HDR mappings.  Today I returned to to make bracketed shots from a different angle with a wider lens.  Processing steps include passes through Nik HDR Efex, Photoshop CS5, Nik Color Efex Pro and Nik Dfine.  Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 was the final step, applying a strong blue filter, blue/sepia split tone and the Agfapan 100 film preset.

In Nik Color Efex Pro's Glamour Glow preset, I've worked out setting I call Vintage Glamour, which applies a gentle glow and desaturates the color.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF
Exposure:	ISO 1600, f/5.6 @ 1/20s base, 3 1-stop brackets, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Mixed window and tungsten
Support:	Handheld
Location:	St. Louis University Museum of Art GPS
Dates:	Capture - July 30, 2011, Processed - July 30, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Calla Lilly #1 Variations

After several weeks of schedule conflicts, Susan and I finally made it to the studio to collaborate on a series of flower pictures.  Our first subject is this calla lily, actually a sickly plant we picked up at Trader Joe's, but we liked the bloom.  I noticed that Susan has been looking at a lot of Gustav Klimpt's paintings lately, so I thought I'd make a picture using technique that pays its respects to his work.

For the monochrome variant, I went with the Platinum process, which was new in Klimpt's day, with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 using my own Platinum preset and a K2 equivalent filter.

Going even older old school, a runner up for me is this antique print process, one of the new presets in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.  The defaults are too flat for my taste, but served as a starting point.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/22 @ 1/60s, 5 1-stop flash brackets, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Ringlight strobe, small Flashpoint 85 watt fluorescent bank
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod and Acratech GP-2 ball head and leveling base
Location:	Grand Center Artist Studio
Dates:	Capture - July 24, 2011, Processed - July 24, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Lotus Blossom #12, HDR

One last lotus blossom for the season, adjacent to the previous post.  Even though the angle in relation to the sun was only about 15 degrees different, the full back lit glow is missing.  Still, I liked the composition and clicked off the bracket series.

The monochrome generated by Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 is a platinum print preset I developed.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 200, 3 brackets around f/8.0 @ 1/200s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Hazy sunlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2 w/leveling base, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis
Dates:	Capture - July 16, 2011, Processed July 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Lotus Blossom #11, HDR Variations

#1 - "CSI Miami" treatment

A handful of lotus flowers were still in bloom in the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical gardens last Saturday morning.  A hazy sun back light really brought out detail and texture, captured by the magical Nikon 180mm "Leni Lens".  I wound up making four versions and would love to hear from you if you have a preference.  The last step for #1 was to apply a partial "CSI Miami" glow effect in Nik Color Efex Pro.

#2 - "Platinum Print" process

Inspired by the exquisite work by Irving Penn, I came up with a Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 process preset that is very close to the look of a Platinum-Palladium process, especially when printed on a good matte paper.

#3 - "Lens Baby" filter

As an experiment, I decided to use the Nik Color Efex Pro 3 "Vignette Blur" tool to simulate the Lens Baby look.

#4 - Grainy Nude process

This monochrome processing preset in Lightroom 3 started out as an approach for nudes, but it has come in handy for botanical subjects, too.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 200, 3 brackets around f/8.0 @ 1/200s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Hazy sunlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2 w/leveling base, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis
Dates:	Capture - July 16, 2011, Processed July 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Lotus Seed Pod #2

Drying in the sun causes the lotus flower stalks to bend and curl as they slowly collapse.

The monochrome here is from my "Grainy Nude" preset in Lightroom 3.

And I had to try a solarization version in Nik Color Efex Pro 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/22 @ 1/30s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Hazy daylight, back lighted
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod and Acratech GP-2 ball head and leveling base
Location:	Missouri Botanical Gardens
Dates:	Capture - July 16, 2011, Processed - June 16, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Lotus Seed Pod #1

I was about a month late to catch the lotus blooms at Missouri Botanical Gardens, but I found some details I thought were interesting.  For instance, this lotus seed pod drying in the sun looks a little bit like damaged cherry pie.  Processing involved combining three 1-stop brackets in Nik HDR Efex, levels adjustment, lens correction and minor retouching in Photoshop CS5, local color adjustments for each corner in Nik Vivenza and finally focus vignetting in Nik Color Efex Pro 3.

This monochrome is courtesy Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, starting with the Fine Art preset and finished with a blue filter, lens 1 vignette and blue/sepia split tone.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/22 @ 1/30s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Daylight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod and Acratech GP-2 ball head and leveling base
Location:	Missouri Botanical Gardens
Dates:	Capture - July 16, 2011, Processed - June 16, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro

Sunflower #27, HDR Fresson Series

After looking at some pictures made with the Lens Baby system, I wondered if the effect could be could be duplicated with tools in Nik Color Efex Pro.   The steps to make the picture include:

1. Combine three 1-stop brackets in Nik HDR Efex using the "Vibrant Landscape" preset.
2. In Photoshop CS5, apply lens correction and adjust levels
3. Crop to 1:1 in Lightroom 3, adjust saturation and vibrance
4. In Nik Color Efex Pro, apply the "Selective Focus" tool for the Lens Baby look
5. In Nik Color Efex Pro, apply a "Fresson" preset based on the "Film Effects" tool
6. Convert to monochrome in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, using an X1 filter and coffee toner

Starting with the output from step #5 above, the "Colorize" tool in Nik Color Efex Pro created this muted color version.

The output from step #3 is a very natural looking HDR image.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 200, 2 brackets around f/2.8 @ 1s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Window Light
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Home Studio GPS
Dates:	Capture - August 1, 2010, Processed May 28, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Nik Suite Tools

Blue Moon, HDR Test

This picture is the result of five brackets stacked in Nik HDR Efex using the "Foggy Night" preset as the starting point.  The long exposures smeared the trees and clouds somewhat.  I'll be working on it further, but thought I'd share this first test.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 400, 5x brackets around f/2.8 @ 1s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Moonlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Ballwin, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2011, Processed April 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Sand Beach on the Meramec River, HDR Variations

For a project I'm tentatively calling "Dark City", I established a processing workflow.  So far I've been using it only on cityscapes, but I thought the muted jewel tone color transformation might work on some natural landscape.  This series is my first experiment.  The processing steps: single image tone mapping in Nik HDR Efex, levels adjustment in Photoshop CS5, tweak in Nik Vivenza, crop in Lightroom 3 and apply a small amount of glow in Nik Color Efex Pro.      

Monochrome with blue/sepia split tone created in Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Back in Nik Color Efex Pro to make a Polaroid Transfer, just for fun.  I like how it looks more painterly, sort of like a water color.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/500s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Castlewood State Park GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 23, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Urban Abstract #5 HDR Variations

This solarized version floated to the top because it is the strongest graphically.  The single image HDR tone mapped image below fed Nik Color Efex Pro for the conversion, then Lightroom 3 supplied the blue/sepia split tone effect.

Nik HDR Efex produced this single image tone maped version.  I think what happened with the color splashing around in the out of focus areas is quite interesting.

Out of curiosity, I tried a color isolate red filter.  It looks a little like a Dexter promo.

The monochrome from Nik Silver Efex Pro is very clean.  

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF
Exposure:	ISO 200, 85mm @ f/4.5 @ 1/500s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	City Garden, St. Louis
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 14, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Eros Bendato Redux - HDR Series

This version of Eros Bendato was taken from the same angle as the last post, but is a stitched panorama from three vertical slices of the statue.  I ran the the resulting single 24 mega-pixel through a landscape preset I made for Nik HDR Efex, then added a CSI Miami glow using Nik Color Efex Pro.

Nik Silver Efex Pro is responsible for the monochrome conversion with sepia/blue split tone.

This Polaroid Transfer version made in Nik Color Efex Pro might be my favorite of this series.

The solarized version, also from Nik Color Efex Pro, gets its split tone from Lightroom 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/400s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight and shade
Support:	Handheld
Location:	City Garden, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 15, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Eros Bendato, City Garden - HDR Series

This huge bronze head by Igor Mitoraj is a real show stopper.  This single image tone mapped HDR was created in Nik HDR Efex using the Turquoise Night preset as a starting point.  I used Photoshop to take out a couple of cars and parking meters and actually toned down some colors in Lightroom.

Monochrome created in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a green filter and sepia/blue split tone.

The solarized version comes from Nik Color Efex Pro.  I like this effect - definitely creepy.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/400s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight and shade
Support:	Handheld
Location:	City Garden, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 15, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

AT&T Building - HDR Series

So I'm having a blast turning the view from Kiener Plaza into my own "Dark City" world with single image tone mapping.  Next up is the AT&T building, processed in Nik HDR Efex using the "Turquoise Night" preset as a starting point.  Levels and curves were adjusted in Photoshop CS5 and lens correction was applied.  Finally, I added the "CSI Miami" glow in Nik Color Efex Pro.    

The monochrome conversion is courtesy Nik Silver Efex Pro, using a red filter and sepia/blue split tone.

I'm trying a solarized version of each picture in the series.  This is my least favorite of the three, perhaps because the clouds are too harsh.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF
Exposure:	ISO 200, 35mm @ f/4.5 @ 1/1600s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Kiener Plaza, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 14, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Reflections in HDR #2 - Three Variations

For processing this shot of clouds reflections in the high rise glass, I took a slightly different HDR single image HDR approach, using Nik HDR Efex and the "Old Vanilla" preset that can be downloaded from the Nik Software site as a starting point.  Then I adjusted levels in Photoshop CS5 and added by "CSI Miami" glow in Nik Color Efex Pro.  The overall effect is like shooting the old Agfa 400 sheet film.

This "straight" monochrome was made in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a red filter with a blue/sepia split tone applied in Lightroom 3.

Finally, I used the color shot to make a solarized version in Nik Color Efex Pro.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/320s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight and shade
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Kiener Plaza, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 12, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Reflections in HDR Redux - Fourth Image in the Trilogy

I'd like to give a big thank you to my pals who took the time to critique my post from yesterday.  Here is, I think, my final version of this shot,  influenced primarily by Ben, Ray and Susan.  Though not unanimous, the solarized version go eight nods, and it was my favorite.  I started over from the base color HDR shot.  It took several extra steps get rid of the white framing, an artifact of the solarization process, that Ray and others found distracting.  Further darkening the sky was a suggestion from Susan.  I worked harder than usual on the blue/sepia split tone.      

Here is the unvarnished RAW file.  So long, and thank you for all the fish!

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/320s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight and shade
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Kiener Plaza, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 10, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Reflections in HDR - Three Variations

When was looking in the viewfinder at this scene, I was worried about bringing together the deep blue sky in the reflection and the balded sky behind the building.  Then I decided not to worry and just take the picture.  A light touch on the tone mapping with the single image in Nik HDR Efex pulled out some texture in the reflected buildings and pulled out some clouds on the left.  The black spec on the lower left cloud is a bird.

The monochrome conversion is courtesy Nik Silver Efex Pro, using a green filter and sepia/blue split toner.

The solarized version is also from Nik Silver Efex Pro, using a custom preset I created originally for statues.  This might be my favorite because it looks so ghostly.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/320s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Morning daylight and shade
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Kiener Plaza, St. Louis GPS
Dates:	Capture - April 11, 2010, Processed - January 10, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Waterfall, Japanese Garden

The sudden cold snap put me in the mood for Spring and I found this shot taken in the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Gardens last April that I had not processed.  Nik HDR Efex provided single image tone mapping and Photoshop CS5 improved the levels and curves.  

The monochrome was generated in Nik Silver Efex Pro using the N-1 Processing preset and strong coffee toner.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF
Exposure:	ISO 200, 48mm @ f/8.0 @ 1/640s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Bright Sunlight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Japanese Garden in Missouri Botanical Gardens
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2010, Processed - January 1, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

End Of The Path, Valley Park Trail

Piled at the end of a path along the Meramec River sits this precarious stack of large concrete blocks.  The scale isn't evident here, but they are large enough to require a crane to move them.  Curiously, they don't seem to match any structures nearby.  This monochrome was created in Nik Silver Efex pro, applying a sharp blue filter.

The color picture upon which the comes from five one stop brackets merged in Nik HDR Efex Pro, followed by levels adjustments in Photoshop CS5 and finally cropped in Lightroom 3.3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/16 @ 1/80s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Late afternoon daylight and shade
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP head, Really Right Stuff L-bracket
Location:	Valley Park River Trail GPS
Dates:	Capture - October 10, 2010, Processed - December 29, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro