Lunar Corona #1, HDR Variations

Even though the subject is a Lunar Corona, the story here are the surrounding clouds.  Here I used the color "Dark City" processing in Nik HDR Efex combining two exposures.  The second moon is lens flare.

The monochrome from Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 uses my "Toned Platinum" custom preset.

Finally, solarization in Nik Color Efex Pro creates a bas relief effect for the clouds.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 400, 2 brackets around f/2.8 @ 1s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Moonlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Ballwin, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2011, Processed May 18, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, OnOne PhotoFrame Free

Lunar Corona, HDR Variations

A Lunar corona is seen when the clouds are thin enough that each single corona light ray reaching the eye (or camera) is scattered or diffracted by only one droplet or ice crystal.  When I composed the moon off center, the corona vanished.  This first variation was processed in Nik HDR Efex for tone contour mapping, Photoshop for levels adjustment, Nik Color Efex Pro to create a Fresson print and finally Nik Dfine to reduce noise.

I wanted to see how well the image would hold up as a monochrome, so this is the result of processing in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 with a strong blue filter and Cyanotype toner.

I'm really on the fence with regard to purchasing OnOne PhotoFrame.  I love a number of the effects, but do I really need this one?  It is kind of creepy, so maybe I do...

Finally, a acid wash variation from OneOne PhotoFrame Free.  Nice grunge feel, I think.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 400, 5x brackets around f/2.8 @ 1s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Moonlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Ballwin, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2011, Processed May 16, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, OnOne PhotoFrame Free

Dominique #31 Processing Series

While I love the new features in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, I do wish that the custom presets I created for the first version could be imported to the new.  The "Grainy Nude" preset I used for earlier pictures of model Dominique was one of my favorites.  To recreate the preset, I started with an unprocessed image of Dominique and went through the processing steps a few times until it matched the other pictures.

A new preset I worked out is one for vintage Platinum prints.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 D
Exposure:	ISO 200, f/4.0 @ 1.2s, Auto WB
Lighting:	Two Calumet Quattro beauty dishes
Support:	Gitzo Basalt tripod w/Acratech GP head
Location:	Grand Center Artists' Studios
Dates:	Capture - August 15, 2010, Processed - April 23, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Nikon D700 and Nikon D3 ISO Noise Demonstration

I confirmed using data from DxOMark that this test is valid for the Nikon D3, too.  Both cameras are perfectly noiseless from ISO 100 (LO 3) to ISO 640.  For each ISO in the camera's range, a frame was made with the lens cap on, manual exposure, f5.6 @ 1/250s. Then in Photoshop CS5, each frame was cropped to 3x actual pixels and adjusted with auto levels to uncover any trace of noise.  I highly recommend running this test, especially if you shoot Canon gear.

This new version is updated for HD, with changes made to allow viewing in Germany.  Music by Chris Guiney as Second Signal.

Portrait Theory: Single Light #2

I was going through my old fashion portfolio and came across this shot of Ron Ames and thought is would make a good illustration for a second installment about classical portraits and single light setups.  I think it is always the case that that a classical style photographic portrait aims to emulate window light.  I this case, the "window" has Venetian blinds to add a little drama and mystery.  I found when I was lighting this shot that adding any additional lights or reflectors detracted from the overall graphic effect.

The lighting came from a single Broncolor flood/spot head in spot mode shown through blinds suspended from a boom arm.  Lighting from the left adds tension because is breaks from the convention established in painting.  The background is just white seamless paper. 

This picture is a digital copy of an 11x14 gelatin silver print made on the rich warm Agfa Portriga Rapid, which was partly bleached in potassium ferro-cyanide, then treated in Kodak Selenium Toner.  I always liked the blue/sepia split tone effect this processing yields.

Technical
Camera:	Leica M2
Lens:	Leica 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M
Exposure:	Agfa Pan 400, f/5.6 @ 1/30s
Lighting:	Broncolor studio strobe
Support:	Gitzo Studex Tripod with #2 Pan/Tilt head
Location:	Globe Building Studio, St. Louis, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 1991, Processed April 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3

Blue Moon, HDR Test

This picture is the result of five brackets stacked in Nik HDR Efex using the "Foggy Night" preset as the starting point.  The long exposures smeared the trees and clouds somewhat.  I'll be working on it further, but thought I'd share this first test.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 400, 5x brackets around f/2.8 @ 1s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Moonlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Ballwin, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2011, Processed April 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Full Moon, April 17, 2011

View from our back yard this evening.  The image was processed in Lightroom 3, Nik HDR Efex, Photoshop CS5 and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Technical
Camera:	Nikon D700
Lens:	AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED "Leni Lens"
Exposure:	ISO 400, f/4.0 @ 1,3s, Daylight WB, RAW
Lighting:	Moonlight
Support:	Gitzo Basalt Tripod, Acratech GP-2, RRS L-Bracket
Location:	Ballwin, MO
Dates:	Capture - April 17, 2011, Processed April 17, 2011
Processing:	Lightroom 3.3, Photoshop CS5, Nik HDR Efex, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

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