Neo-Classical in Modern Variations

The idea of the neo-classical building "trapped" inside the modern building was impetus behind the shutter click.  My main concern was to make it read properly and be a stylistic fit with other pictures from City Garden.  I don't know which of these variations I prefer yet, so please comment.  Starting with a naturalistic single image tone mapping in Nik HDR Efex helped bring out structure and color, I added some "CSI Miami" glow to make it look less harsh.

  The naturalistic, minimal processing here is pleasant, but lacks the acid punch.

This is the single image tone mapped image straight out of Nik HDR Efex.

Another approach to soften the HDR grunge is to run the shot through the Polaroid Transfer preset in Nik Color Efex Pro.

This monochrome attempt made in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a green filter and blue/sepia split tone doesn't "read" as well as the color because the reflection and stone tones are too close.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
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 23, 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

Hole with Spider Web

With Ralph Gibson much in mind as I took the shot and I was debating whether to remove the spider web.  It grew on my as I worked, so the spider stars in final edit.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF
Exposure:	ISO 200, 70mm @ f/6.7 @ 1/180s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Bright Sunlight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Frontier Park, St. Charles, Missouri GPS
Dates:	Capture - June 28, 2009, Processed - December 23, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Bilge Pump Control Panel

This pump is on a tug dock along the Missouri River near Frontier Park in St. Charles, Missouri.  As I shot, I had the monochrome below in mind.  However, the fortuitous distribution of red, ocher and cyan makes it work in color.  Processing included the crop in Lightroom, lens and levels adjustment in Photoshop and noise reduction in Nik Define.

Monochrome is courtesy of Nik Silver Efex Pro, using the equivalent of a K2 yellow filter and blue/sepia split tone.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED ("Leni Lens")
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/4.0 @ 1/2000s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Bright Sunlight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Frontier Park, St. Charles, Missouri GPS
Dates:	Capture - June 28, 2009, Processed - December 23, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Pipe #2

This is a second posting of the large, rusting pipe that juts out of the Missouri River near St. Charles, Missouri.  The first time around, I used Mike Lao's "300" Lightroom develop preset.  I liked the result, but it squeezed out the silver paint's reflection of the sky on the  shadow side, which makes the structure look transparent in spot at first glance. Processing in Nik HDR Efex to bring out texture, Photoshop CS5 to apply lens correction and levels adjustment, Nik Define to reduce noise and Nik Vivenza to brighten.

The monochrome version comes from Nik Silver Efex Pro, using a strong orange filter, followed by a sepia/blue split tone in Lightroom 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED ("Leni Lens")
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/4.0 @ 1/2000s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Bright Sunlight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	St. Charles, Missouri
Dates:	Capture - June 28, 2009, Processed - December 20, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Bilge Pump, Missouri River

This single image HDR tone mapping of a bilge pump that sits on a tug dock on the Missouri River.

The monochrome comes from Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Lens: Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF 

Camera: Nikon D700

Exposure: ISO 200, 30mm @ f/11 @ 1/500s, Auto WB, RAW

Lighting: Daylight

Location: Missouri Riverfront, Pioneer Park, St. Charles

Dates: Capture - June 28, 2009, Procesed - December 4, 2010

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Photoshop CS5

Grid #16a-b, HDR Polaroid Transfer

This shot went through a number of processing steps.  First, the RAW file was cropped to 11x14 proportion, straighted and vertical lines made parallel in Lightroom 3.  Next, the image got single file HDR tone mapping in Nik HDR Efex.  The HDR image got minor levels and curves adjustments in Photoshop CS5.  Contrast and structure got a boost in Nik Vivenza and finally, processed as a Polaroid Transfer in Nik Color Efex Pro.

The monochrome conversion came from the precursor to the Polaroid transfer, processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a sharp green filter.  The sepia/blue split tone added in Lightroom 3.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED ("Leni Lens")
Exposure: ISO 200, f/8.0 @ 1/200s
Support: Handheld
Lighting: North Skylight
Location: Clayton, MO
Dates: Capture - September 11, 2010, Processed - December 3, 2010
Processing: RAW in Lightroom 3 and Nik Silver Efex Pro

Urban Detail #4, HDR

This is a side view of the same snow blade at the Museum of Transportation St. Louis I posted as "Urban Detail #3", processed as a single file in Nik HDR Efex.  I used a more naturalistic tone mapping for this picture.

This monochrome was processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro with a split tone applied in Lightroom 3.

Lens: Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF 

Camera: Nikon D100

Exposure: ISO 200, 85mm @ f/5.6 @ 1/60s, Auto WB, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Daylight

Location: Museum of Transportation St. Louis GPS

Dates: Capture - October 16, 2005, Procesed - November 16, 2010

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Photoshop CS5

Urban Detail #3, HDR

This is a new version of a previously published picture of a snow blade at the Museum of Transportation, starting with the color version below and converting to monochrome in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a custom split tone preset.

Nik HDR Efex found quite a bit of color.  I find that the exaggerated color gives me more to work with in the monochrome conversions.

Lens: Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF 

Camera: Nikon D100

Exposure: ISO 200, 85mm @ f/5.6 @ 1/125s, Auto WB, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Daylight

Location: Museum of Transportation St. Louis GPS

Dates: Capture - October 16, 2005, Procesed - November 14, 2010

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Photoshop CS5

Gears, Outside the McDonnell Planetarium

These gears are part of an educational exhibit outside the McDonnell Planetarium.  I like the shapes, but the original shot is really dull.  Nik HDR Efex helped lift some texture and tonality using a custom preset I call Dark Vintage.

The monochrome comes from Silver Efex Pro using a high structure, split tone effect.

Lens: Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF 

Camera: Nikon D100

Exposure: ISO 400, 60mm @ f/8 @ 1/250s, Auto WB, handheld, RAW

Lighting: Daylight  

Location: 5050 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, MO (Forest Park) GPS

Date: Capture - 2009-03-07, Processing - 2010-10-17

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Crawford's Redux with Nik HDR Efex Variants

1. Nk HDR Efex single image processing

This is a repost of a 2009 picture of the Craford's department store entrance.  I'm struggling through the process nailing down a look for a series architecture details like this.  Criticism is most welcome if you care to comment.  I think the story here is color, but I'm always drawn to monochrome.  First up is a crisp, single image tone mapping in Nik HDR Efex.  It brought out some detail and color.  

2. "CSI: Miami" processing in Nik Color Efex Pro

 I saved a preset in Nik Color Efex Pro based on the Glamor Glow that I call CSI Miami.  I use it primarily to soften detail and introduce a feel of romance and nostalgia.

3. Nik Silver Efex Pro "Grainy Nude"

 The "Grainy Nude" is my own preset that I worked out in Silver Efex Pro for nudes to emulate the look pushed Ilford HP5 printed on Agfa Portriga Rapid paper.  It works well for some architecture subjects, too.

4. Nik Silver Efex Pro blue/sepia split tone

Finally, a slick monochrome from Nik Silver Efex Pro using the "High Structure" preset and blue/sepia split tone.  For me, the final pick is a toss up between 1 and 4.  

Lens:  AF Nikkor 50mm f1.8D 

Exposure: ISO 1600, f/2.0 @ 1/2s, Auto WB, handheld, RAW

Lighting: Night, sodium vapor street light  

Location: 555 Washington Ave # 150, St Louis, MO (Art St. Louis HQ) GPS

Date: Capture - 2009-03-07, Processing - 2010-10-16

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Grid #12a-e, Nik HDR Efex Test

Returning to the subject of Grid #12, this time with Nik HDR Efex single image processing, I settled on a preset that emphasizes texture as the starting point.  The next three images are base on this one.

It is hard to tell at first glance, but this monochrome is a solarized treatment made in Nik Color Efex Pro.  The texture emphasis is pretty startling.  

This is my own "CSI Miami" preset in Nik Color Efex Pro.  I like how the bricks look like fresh, raw bacon.

I think this monochrome, processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro, has very good presence.  The copper toning really helped this time.

Base RAW file after using Lens Correction to fix distortion, otherwise, it is just out of the camera.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4 G 

Exposure: ISO 200,  tripod, RAW

Lighting: Daylight  

Location: 3856 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108 GPS

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Color Efex Pro, Nik Silver Efex Pro