Dead Leaves Redux HDR

The color workflow here was Nik Dfine, Pre-Sharpener, Vivenza, HDR Efex, Photoshop for minor retouching, Color Efex Pro.  

I still think it works best as a monochrome, processed in Silver Efex Pro with a green filter, then toned in Lightroom 3 for blue/sepia split.

Lens: Nikkor AF 24-85mm f2.8-4 IF 

Camera: Nikon D100

Exposure: ISO 200, 85mm @ f/8 @ 1/60s, Auto WB, handheld, RAW

Lighting: Daylight, dusk, on-camera fill flash 

Location: My house

Date: Capture - 2007-11-11, Processing - 2010-10-12

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik Suite, Photoshop CS5

Leaf Mass #3, Climatron

If there is a shade of green missing here, I'd be amazed.  This is my third attempt to find a composition in this mass of leaves on the Climatron floor and I'm really not that happy with it.  However, the colors really snap, so I thought I'd share it here as a Polaroid transfer.  

Technical: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-f4, ISO 200, 85mm @ f/8.0 @ 1/60s, hand held.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 and Nik Color Efex Pro.  

Dead Leaves Redux #1

Looking at the first Dead Leaves post from 2008, the picture feels a little flat.  I decided to throw the entire Nik suite at the picture to see it could be improved.  The workflow was Lightroom minor adjustments, Dfine, RAW Pre-Sharpener, Silver Efex Pro Landscape Sepia style w/Orange filter, Output Sharpener for Display, Lightroom JPEG export.  The result is definitely crisper, with a longer tonal range.

Technical: Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-f4.0, 84mm @ f/8.0 @ 1/60s, macro mode, on camera fill flash, handheld.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6 and Nik Suite as above.

Botanical Abrstract #2a

With an "Oh, that's creepy!" comment from Susan, here is a runner up version of "Botanical Abrstract #2" as a solarized film effect, shifting the same picture in from Blossfeld to Man Ray in feel.

Technical: Nikon D700, Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8, ISO 200, f/16 @ 1/20s, tripod. The pod is sitting on white plexi and lit with a single Calumet Quattro lights, sans shower cap.  RAW file processed in Lightroom 2.6, Nik Dfine and Nik Color Efex Pro, starting with Solarization style #7.

Botanical Abrstract #2

I've been meaning for some time to photograph the contents of a bowl of dried plants that took up residence in our house a few years ago, and kicked off the project today with the bottom view of a seed pod.

Technical: Nikon D700, Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8, ISO 200, f/16 @ 1/20s, tripod.  The pod is sitting on white plexi, lit with a single Calumet Quattro head without the "shower cap".  RAW file processed with Lightroom 2.6, Nik Dfine and Nik Silver Efex Pro for conversion to monochrome and toning.