Sunflower #28, HDR Fresson Series

This second attempt at a Lens Baby/Fresson print leaves out a few processing steps from Sunflower #27, but is still fairly involved:

• Combine three one-stop brackets in Nik HDR Efex
• Apply lens correction and adjust levels in Photoshop CS5
• Simulate the Lens Baby in Nik Color Efex Pro using the Vignette Control
• Adjust brightness and structure in Nik Viveza
• Crop and add grain texture in Lightroom 3

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

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

Diamondback Rattlesnake

This guy calls a dimly lit display case at the St. Louis Science Center home.  Processing steps include Photoshop CS5 to adjust levels, Nik HDR Efex to improve tone mapping and Nik Color Efex Pro to apply the "CSI Miami" glow.  

I think the monochrome "reads" better.  Processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a weak green filter and strong coffee toner.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Exposure:	ISO 1600, f/11 @ 010s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Mixed tungsten and fluorescent light
Support:	Handheld
Location:	St. Louis Science Center
Dates:	Capture - January 2, 2011, Processed - January 2, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Chrysthanemum Variations

This is my first test shot with my new AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED, improvised with a bowl of fortuitously wilting chrysthanemums sitting on our breakfast table.  The lens is a beauty.  Auto-focus is snappy, image amazingly crisp, color rich and its bokeh as good as it gets.

The monochrome is courtesy Nik Silver Efex Pro and blue/sepia split tone from Lightroom 3.

Ray-O-Gram solarization effect courtesy Nik Color Efex Pro.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/11 @ 0.5s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Heavy overcast window light
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP head, Really Right Stuff L-bracket
Location:	My house
Dates:	Capture - December 25, 2010, Processed - December 25, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex Pro

Bust of Hygia #3

A bust of Hygia hangs out at our studio, usually on a window ledge.  This is an iPhone 4 Instagram image, processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro for a monochrome conversion using my "Grainy Nude" preset.  The blue/sepia split tone came from Lightroom 3, as well as lens correction.

Technical
Camera:	Apple iPhone 4
Lens:	Apple 3.85
Exposure:	ISO 500, f/2.8 @ 1/500s, Auto WB, JPEG
Lighting:	Window daylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Grand Center Artist Studios
Dates:	Capture - December 5, 2010, Processed - December 19, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Water Glass, Duffs Restaurant

Al fresco dining with family and friends is my favorite way to take a meal.  This picture was taken at the end of one of those experiences with a Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 wide open.  This lens has a buttery smooth bokeh that I seldom use to advantage.  Nik HDR Efex applied with a light touch to a single image can help pull out detail and boost contrast.

Monochrome conversion and sepria/blue split tone thanks to Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4 G
Exposure:	ISO 1600, f/1.4 @ 1/5s, Auto WB, RAW
Lighting:	Streetlight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Duff's Restaurant GPS
Dates:	Capture - October 9, 2010, Processed - December 11, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Tangerine #1, iPhone HDR

I've come to realize that the iPhone 4 camera, with sufficient illumination, is has almost the depth of field of a pinhole device and can be exploited in much the same way.  In this close-up of a small tangerine on a frosted glass table, I worked in the reflection of a corner wall just beyond the table.  Shooting in HDR mode, the iPhone generates two pictures.  I pulled these into Nik HDR Efex and applies a realistic tone mapping, then added a glow, muted colors and introduced an acid wash border using OnOne Photoshop plug-ins.

The monochrome was created in Nik Silver Efex Pro using a green filter approximating the venerable X1 and sepia/blue split tone.

This is the HDR basis for the two pictures above.

Technical
Camera:	Apple iPhone 4
Lens:	Apple 3.85
Exposure:	ISO 500, f/2.8 @ 1/15s, Auto WB, JPEG
Lighting:	Southern skylight
Support:	Handheld
Location:	My house
Dates:	Capture - December 2, 2010, Procesed - December 9, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro, OnOne Tools, Photoshop CS5

Nautilus Shell #3, iPhone HDR

This is a slightly different take on the backlit nautilus shell that I think better preserves the effect.  The Lightroom 3.3 update included a lens profile for the Apple iPhone lens, which I applied.  Nik HDR Efex provided the extra texture given the two iPhone HDR shots.

This monochrome conversion is from Nik Silver Efex Pro using a split tone preset I made for still life subjects.

I liked the hand coated paper look of the Instgram picture and remembered that I have the OnOne Edge Effects free version.  This is the "Controlled Grunge" frame I applied in Photoshop after laying down a 2.0 Gaussian blur.

Technical
Camera:	Apple iPhone 4
Lens:	Apple 3.85
Exposure:	ISO 500, f/2.8 @ 1/17s, Auto WB, JPEG
Lighting:	Window light
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Grand Center Artist Lofts GPS
Dates:	Capture - December 2, 2010, Procesed - December 9, 2010
Processing:	Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Nautilus Shell #2, iPhone HDR

This picture of a nautilus shell started with the Instagram App on the iPhone 4.  I liked the composition and "Lord Kelvin" preset, but the shot was too flat.  To give it some life, I ran the picture through Nik Define, Nik Vivenza and finally Nik HDR Efex.

I've become a big fan of Instagram.  It is well suited to playing impressionistic work.

The monochrome comes from Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Technical
Camera:	iPhone 4
Lens:	Apple 3.85mm
Exposure:	ISO 500, f/2.8 @ 1/17s, Auto WB, JPEG
Lighting:	Window light
Support:	Handheld
Location:	Grand Center Artist Lofts GPS
Dates:	December 5, 2010
Processing:	Instagram - Lord Kelvin preset, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Vase #3, Nik HDR Efex Test

Working along with an instructional Webinar about the new Nik HDR Efex 1.0 tool, I applied it to my first HDR subject.  The tutorial was filled with valuable getting started tips.  The range of control is astounding, but it is pretty easy to organize your preferences.  This is an amazing tool.  

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni lens"

Exposure: ISO 200, f/11 @ 2.5s, tripod (Gitzo Basalt GT2830 and Gitzo GH2781QR ball head)

Lighting: Window light 

Location: My house

Processing: Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex 1.0, Nik Color Efex Pro

Vase #2 - HDR Test

This vase currently sits on a table next to the stairwell leading our basement.  This is a five shot of +/- one stop brackets processed in HDR Pro and the Nik Suite of tools.

This monochrome version was processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro with the blue/sepia split tone applied in Lightroom 3.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, f/22 @ 1s, auto WB, RAW, tripod

Lighting: Bounced window daylight

Location: Home GPS

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

Candle Holder HDR Test

This test shot turned into a poor man's Lazlo Moholy-Nagy homage.  The candle holder sat in a dark corner of the basement, reflecting bright window light, so HDR got a work-out.  I went on to make a monochrome solarization with a sepia/blue split tone.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, three around f/8 @ 1/20s, Auto WB, tripod w/Acratech GP ball head

Lighting: Window Daylight

Location: Home studio GPS

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

Protea #4, HDR

This is may be the last protea picture I'm going to process from last weekend's marathon HDR shoot.  The leathery texture and gold leaf patina of the dead leaves is well conveyed by HDR processing.  As with other shots in this series, three 1 stop bracket exposures are combined in Photoshop HDR Pro using my custom settings and s-curve as a point of departure, then processed further in Nik tools.  

I think I almost like this monochrome version, processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro, even better.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, f/22 @ 2.5s, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Calumet Quattro Dish and Flashpoint small bank fluorescent lights  

Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios GPS

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

Protea #3, HDR

Many thanks to Chris Krull who identified this plant as a Protea.  Susan purchased a bunch because she thought they looked primitive.  As it turns out, the Protea grew on Gondwanaland 300 million years ago.  Good call, Susan!

I almost for got the monochrome, split tone version.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, f/22 @ 3s, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Calumet Quattro Dish and Flashpoint small bank fluorescent lights  

Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios GPS

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

Mystery Flower #2, HDR Tests

Compared to Mystery  Flower #1, this is a more dramatic HDR treatment with some liberties taken with the tone mapping. The vertical leaf on the far right came out looking almost metallic gold and captures the leathery feel.  I plan to process it again using the restrained HDR processing.

The monochrome treatment here uses a sepia/cyan split tone.  It is hard to see in the JPEG, but the tone range is quite dramatic.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, f/22 @ 3s, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Calumet Quattro Dish and Flashpoint small bank fluorescent lights  

Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios GPS

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

Mystery Flower #1, HDR Tests

Because it looks like it would be comfortable in a supporting role in a David Cronenberg film, Susan picked up four of these guys, but we've not been able to identify them.  The versions here were created with a fairly restrained HDR technique that increases the apparent resolution only.  The colors and tone mapping are not enhanced.

 Because I'm still learning the ropes for HDR, I always try a monochrome version.  Lately I've been doing the monochrome conversion in Silver Efex Pro followed by applying a sepia/blue or sepia/cyan split tone.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D

Exposure: ISO 200, f/22 @ 1s, tripod, RAW

Lighting: Two Calumet Quattro Fluorescent Beauty Lights 

Location: Grand Center Artist Loft Studios GPS

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