Trisha Bradshaw - 70s Portrait Variations #3

This third installment of '70s style portraits with model Trisha Bradshaw and make-up by Sarah Lynn begins with a natural color shot.  The processing started in Lightroom 3 for color adjustment based on the X-Rite Color Checker Passport, using the +1 portrait square with the eye-dropper.  Lightroom also cropped, added black and reduced clarity.  In Photoshop CS5, I adjusted levels, applied lens correction and did some clone tool type spotting.  Finally, Vivenza lowered brightness, boosted contrast and control points increased structure on the eyes and mouth.

The Fresson look was made in Nik Color Efex Pro.

Finally, the monochrome was made from the top picture in Nik Silver Efex Pro, using Agfa 100 stock, a K2 filter and coffee toner.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/4 @ 1/13s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Single Calumet Quattro beauty with 5500K fluorescent bulbs
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP head, RRS L-bracket
Location:	Grand Center Artists' Studios
Dates:	Capture - February 19, 2011, Processed - February 23, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Ray Between Shots

A shot of Ray, his face showing this time, as he was taking a short pause between shots at the studio yesterday.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 400, f/4.0 @ 1/60s, handheld.

Lighting: Window Light

Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios

Processing: RAW in Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Nik Vivenza 2

Climatron Detail #3, MOBOT

So, the Climatron turns 50 this month - Happy Birthday!

Technical: Nikon D700, Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8, ISO 20, f/11 @ 1/640s, hand held.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 and Nik Vivenza.

Zenobia In Chains, Study #2

Here is a front view of Harriet Hosmer's "Zenobia in Chains" at the St. Louis Art Museum.  The current lighting on her face is unfortunate, but it works for other details like her crown.  The image here is a faux-Fresson (see an exmple), similar to work by Sheila Metzner and others.  I found an interesting comparison of printing techniques at Durbin Photographics.  I'm still adjusting the technique.  For instance, I'm finding that I'll need to adjust the amount of grain noise for print size.

Technical: Nikon D700, AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4 G, ISO 1600, Tungsten WB, f/1.4 @ 1/250s, handheld. RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 to crop, noise reduction with Nik Dfine, color adjusted with Nik Vivenza and Fresson effect applied with Nik Color Efex Pro.

The center sharpness of the 50mm f1.4 G at f/1.4 is amazingly good.  In fact, it looks as sharp to me as the venerable 50mm f1.8 at f/4.0.  I've seen mixed reviews on NikonGear.com and other Nikon equipment blogs, but I think it is a solid performer.

Black-Eyed Susan with Insect #2

Last summer I posted a version of this photo where the flower and insect were colored a bright red after processing in Lightroom 2 with a split tone preset.  I thought the interpretation was interesting and, amazingly, none of my purist pals caught on that the red color was entirely false.  Armed with a new arsenal of tools from Nik, I thought I'd to the original for another go.  The colors here are fairly close to accurate, except for a little help I gave to the dull brown bug using two Nik Vivenza control points.

Technical: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4, ISO 200, 85mm @ f/4.0 @ 1/80s, macro mode, handheld.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 to crop and apply Nikon Landscape camera calibration, the edited in Nik Dfine to reduce noise.  Nik Vivenza was used to color the insect red and adjust structure.  Finally I added noise back for a faux-Fresson effect using Nik Color Efex Pro.
 

Dusk with Barbed Wire

As we were leaving the Grand Center Artist Studios today, Susan and I were greeted with this blazing sky just after sunset.  This picture was taken from the alley behind the building.  I have shots of just the sky, but I like how the barbed wire adds a little something extra.

Technical: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-f4, ISO 200, auto white balance, 70mm @ f/4.5 @ 1/60s, handheld.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 to apply the Nikon Landscape Camera Calibration, then run through Nik's Dfine, Vivenza and Output Sharpener.    

Degas Little Dancer with Monet Water Lilies, SLAM

Susan asked that I make this picture, so I must give her art direction credit.  We came upon this scene yesterday as we were walking through the few galleries still open at the St. Louis Art Museum since the expansion project started.  My first few shots were with a 50mm, but they failed to convey the impression one gets because the Monet is too small in the frame.  The picture was made with a 180mm to pull the painting closer to the statue.  A big technical problem here is the mix of tungsten and skylight, which tends to muddy the colors.  Lightroom actually could not fully adjust the color properly without introducing some posterizaton artifacts, so I tried further editing in Nik Vivenza 2.

Technical: Nikon D700, Nikkor 180mm f2.8 (Leni lens), ISO 1600, f/2.8 @ 1/200s, handheld.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 with further editing in Nik Dfine to reduce noise (some was visible in shadows) and Nik Vivenza 2 to tweak color and contrast.  As capable as Lightroom is, I can see the value add of the Nik products.