Untitled detail In Dark City Variations

This detail of "Untitled" by Keith Haring in City Garden was taken from a vantage point just a few feet away from my last post, "Arch and Old Courthouse In Dark City".  The faint detail in he middle is the top of the Old Courthouse.  Pete Turner used to pump up the saturation and contrast of his pictures by making multiple generations of Kodachrome dupes.  I did the same thing here using Nik Color Efex Pro to convert the picture to Kodachome 64 Professional twice.

The Tintype preset for Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 uses a sharp blue filter to emulate the vintage process.  The result here feels very Zen-like to me.

This is the first generation Kodachrome conversion and the basis for all the monochrome conversions.

Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 has a vintage preset called Yellow 2 that I've uses a few times now.  I like the dingy yet glowing feel it can impart.

This cyanotype conversion has the longest tonal scale of any of the processes I used.

Finally, this partial solarization made in Nik Color Efex Pro was split toned sepia with blue shadows in Lightroom 3.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED
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 - April 9, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Arch and Old Courthouse in Dark City

This starting picture of the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse, as seen from City Garden, is the result of an autochrome processing experiment.  I started by introducing noise with Nik RAW sharpener, then ran the file though Nik HDR Efex to emphasize the grain and map tones using my "Dark City" preset.

To add to the impressionistic effect, I added a Glamor Glow in Nik Color Efex Pro.  I think it now have a Steam Punk Autochrome.

The partial reversal was made using the solarization tool in Nik Color Efex Pro, followed by a blue/sepia split tone in Lightroom 3.

A cyanotype, from Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 makes a good day for night conversion.

Photoframe Free has a number of hand coated emulsion effects.  If finally realized that you can resize them!

To finish, a gum bichromate made with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED
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 - April 8, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Dark City: Door of Return

 The "Door of Return" by Kan Yasuda has entered Dark City, by way of Nik HDR Efex, Vivenza and Nik Color Efex Pro.

Monochrome courtesy Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 using the Yellow 1 preset and selective color tool.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED
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 - April 6, 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

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

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