Monthly Landscape 2009 Side Challenge

02/12/2009 05:31:38 PM · #126

Originally posted by bobonacus:

These are the 3 originals ...

alright...but then what do you do???? Do you play with curves and levels before you merge them? And what software are you using to merge them...very curious about the "process" that you have to do to get the finished product...

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/12/2009 08:28:26 PM · #127

Originally posted by ssocrates:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by Ja-9:
I took the advice of doing some sharpening to this photo...it is my first experiment with sharpening in PS...let me know what you think

worked on this one more time, as I was able to see what you were talking about the "white halo"...I think this might be it...added gradient - reflected/reversed and I lowered the sharpening...you will notice that this is a different picture (bird placement) but it was essentially the same photo...

Well I like the "new picture" better. I did some PP (mostly levels and curves). Did not try saturation cause I am color blind!
Here it is hope you like it!

Thank you Yannis..yours is a little softer than mine...looks good...

bobonacus

Canon EOS-7D

02/13/2009 04:20:59 AM · #128

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by bobonacus:
These are the 3 originals ...

alright...but then what do you do???? Do you play with curves and levels before you merge them? And what software are you using to merge them...very curious about the "process" that you have to do to get the finished product...

I set my camera to auto exposure bracketing (AEB), set the exposures to 2 stops apart and set to 6.5 frames per second. The camera then takes 3 separate shots (above)

I used photomatix to open the 3 raw files, no editing on them at all, using the Generate HDR image option. I ticked align source images by matching features (as this will try to correct for horizontal, vertical and rotational shifts which is essential if you are hand holding the camera for the 3 shots. Ticked attempt to reduce ghosting.

Into tone mapping, set preset to default settings, then increased white point, gamma and black point a bit. Increased strength (which is unusual as normally I decrease the strength to make it more normal) and set the ligth smoothing to medium high (which also helps it look more "normal")

Processed and opened in CS3 and applied a curves layer, maybe a levels layer but only pretty weak.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

02/13/2009 10:05:55 AM · #129

Originally posted by bobonacus:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by bobonacus:
These are the 3 originals ...

alright...but then what do you do???? Do you play with curves and levels before you merge them? And what software are you using to merge them...very curious about the "process" that you have to do to get the finished product...

I set my camera to auto exposure bracketing (AEB), set the exposures to 2 stops apart and set to 6.5 frames per second. The camera then takes 3 separate shots (above)

I used photomatix to open the 3 raw files, no editing on them at all, using the Generate HDR image option. I ticked align source images by matching features (as this will try to correct for horizontal, vertical and rotational shifts which is essential if you are hand holding the camera for the 3 shots. Ticked attempt to reduce ghosting.

Really good job!! I am so very curious about the HDR process...sorry to hit you with so many questions...I didn't know if you did color editing before you merged them...but as you said...you did it after... Thanks

Into tone mapping, set preset to default settings, then increased white point, gamma and black point a bit. Increased strength (which is unusual as normally I decrease the strength to make it more normal) and set the ligth smoothing to medium high (which also helps it look more "normal")

Processed and opened in CS3 and applied a curves layer, maybe a levels layer but only pretty weak. [/quote]

Message edited by author 2009-02-13 10:27:29.

twmax

Nikon D300

02/14/2009 12:53:09 PM · #130

Here is my February landscape. I decided to do a black and white this month, even though I like the photo in color. The sky was pretty dramatic that afternoon, and seems to come out a little better in black and white.

digifotojo

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III

02/15/2009 12:02:54 PM · #131

Hi Konrad,

A little late off the tarmac here, but I'd like to enter this in the January Landscapes if that's ok. It's one of my High Rock Vista scenes which is an area I'll be photographing in the months ahead as the seasons change.

Thanks,
Jo

lifeafter2am

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

02/17/2009 01:45:54 AM · #132

Here is my February entry:

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

02/18/2009 07:35:31 PM · #133

February 2009

Removed - It may be an entry for an upcoming challenge....I will put it back later! :-)

Message edited by author 2009-02-22 06:13:38.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III

02/20/2009 03:21:50 PM · #134

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by ssocrates:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by Ja-9:
I took the advice of doing some sharpening to this photo...it is my first experiment with sharpening in PS...let me know what you think

worked on this one more time, as I was able to see what you were talking about the "white halo"...I think this might be it...added gradient - reflected/reversed and I lowered the sharpening...you will notice that this is a different picture (bird placement) but it was essentially the same photo...

Well I like the "new picture" better. I did some PP (mostly levels and curves). Did not try saturation cause I am color blind!
Here it is hope you like it!

Thank you Yannis..yours is a little softer than mine...looks good...

Well, I have been waiting and I keep hoping that I will get some more comments from those that are signed up for this side challenge...but..I'm not sure...plus I am trying to keep this in the threads...so I thought a little "whining" might help...anyone got any cheese?

Message edited by author 2009-02-20 15:22:46.

digifotojo

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

02/20/2009 09:14:25 PM · #135

February 2009

An inversion effect done on this image..

Message edited by author 2009-03-10 01:09:38.

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

02/21/2009 10:43:08 PM · #136

need to resurface this puppy....anyone out there taking more photos or have some left over from Jan??? I don't think most of those listed, posted a picture for Jan...probably forgot about this...so let's bring it back to the surface again...

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

02/21/2009 10:54:30 PM · #137

I'm really on the ball, but here's my shot for January 2009. The Amish people in the buggy are using an umbrella as a wind shield - driver has to peer around in order to see.

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

02/21/2009 11:40:41 PM · #138

Originally posted by darnok:

Now that the free study voting is over...

January

I may come back and revise my cropping. Since I want to make a 2010 calendar from the 12 images it might be best to stick to a single aspect ratio and orientation for all the images. What does everyone else think about this?

Having done a few calendars... FWIW... You are working on a 2011 calendar whether you know it or not (if you intend to sell them). Calendars must be complete, to press, and available for sale by September; October at the latest. And remember, you're competing against Wal-Mart calendars priced at $1 - $5 each. You have to have something niche enough that people are willing to pay the extra bucks for a custom calendar. Your best sales are from people buying Christmas gifts for that certain special someone that they have no idea what to get for them.
You need to know in advance the format of your calendar (portrait, landscape, edge to edge or white border, one page/month, two pages/month, etc.) Then, the pictures you shoot should conform to your format (landscape for a landscape calendar, etc.)
Shooting for a calendar is also a bit tougher because you not only have to have 12 great shots (after all, people will be looking at them for a whole month), but you have to have the right 12 great shots. For example, a car calendar. You probably don't want to put two yellow cars back to back in two consecutive months. The pictures probably should fit a theme, but be different enough so that if the person is tired of looking at a picture for a whole month, the next month's picture provides something new to look at.
Doing a calendar is great. I enjoyed it a lot - just can't figure out how to make money at it. May I plug the place I used - lulu.com - they make it easy to put together a calendar, but your options on format, etc. are fairly limited. The good thing is that you retain copyright to your work, the quality of their product is excellent (nice, heavy paper - much nicer than the Wal-Mart specials), and after you pay the production costs, they only take another 20% of your profits.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/22/2009 09:30:08 AM · #139

Originally posted by dtremain:

Originally posted by darnok:
Now that the free study voting is over...

January

I may come back and revise my cropping. Since I want to make a 2010 calendar from the 12 images it might be best to stick to a single aspect ratio and orientation for all the images. What does everyone else think about this?

Having done a few calendars... FWIW... You are working on a 2011 calendar whether you know it or not (if you intend to sell them). Calendars must be complete, to press, and available for sale by September; October at the latest. And remember, you're competing against Wal-Mart calendars priced at $1 - $5 each. You have to have something niche enough that people are willing to pay the extra bucks for a custom calendar. Your best sales are from people buying Christmas gifts for that certain special someone that they have no idea what to get for them.
You need to know in advance the format of your calendar (portrait, landscape, edge to edge or white border, one page/month, two pages/month, etc.) Then, the pictures you shoot should conform to your format (landscape for a landscape calendar, etc.)
Shooting for a calendar is also a bit tougher because you not only have to have 12 great shots (after all, people will be looking at them for a whole month), but you have to have the right 12 great shots. For example, a car calendar. You probably don't want to put two yellow cars back to back in two consecutive months. The pictures probably should fit a theme, but be different enough so that if the person is tired of looking at a picture for a whole month, the next month's picture provides something new to look at.
Doing a calendar is great. I enjoyed it a lot - just can't figure out how to make money at it. May I plug the place I used - lulu.com - they make it easy to put together a calendar, but your options on format, etc. are fairly limited. The good thing is that you retain copyright to your work, the quality of their product is excellent (nice, heavy paper - much nicer than the Wal-Mart specials), and after you pay the production costs, they only take another 20% of your profits.

I have made 2 calendars in my time (the first I will not talk about...it was about 100 years ago that I made and products and quality have changed so much since then) but this 2nd one...I made through Shutterfly.com It was a family one (my mother was/had just passed, so I wanted to complete what we (my mother and I) had started. I was able to put anniversary and birth dates on it...could have added more (was limited on the little 1/2 days to 1 event, which was tricky as those were some holidays) the stock they used was really good and the price was really good...when I was almost done I realized that Costco.com also does one...for 1/2 the price, mind you I never got to order even one from them...as I would have had to start the process all over with all their information (my family's, what I did was put a picture of each family members event (birthday/anniversary) all 54 of them!!) It really turned out nice and we used it as a final gift from Mother (as I had started it when she was in the hospital and she knew what I was up to). I need to make one for this year as I am "out" of calendar!!! That is a project I need to get going...

bobonacus

Canon EOS-7D

02/22/2009 09:55:56 AM · #140

Originally posted by ssocrates:

A small path near the highway.
(Peloponnisos Greece, 2009)

More suggestions on how to improve this shot are welcome!

I've added a How To to your image about blending two different exposures using layer masks, hope that helps

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

02/22/2009 10:02:12 AM · #141

30.691299,-81.459535

I just added my coordinates (took me awhile to do it....but then everything computer takes me awhile...hmmm) to my pictures...if anyone is interested...

bassbone

Nikon Z8

02/22/2009 10:07:13 AM · #142

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Ja-9 - I realize you are hoping that everyone that 'signed up' for the thread will comment on your images, but you really can't expect that. Your original January post garnered 12 comments and it looks like you had several discussions and edits on that first image that really helped out the image. It seems like these comments were really useful and that is the point of these side challenges. Expecting everyone to stay with the thread, and for everyone to comment on every image is not practical.

I myself have a total of 10 comments for my January entry, and am extremely pleased with all of them.

You have to remember that comments are a gift, and people should not demand gifts, but accept them and be happy with them.

ikopanas

Nikon D7000

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/22/2009 11:21:16 AM · #143

Originally posted by bobonacus:

Originally posted by ssocrates:

A small path near the highway.
(Peloponnisos Greece, 2009)

More suggestions on how to improve this shot are welcome!

I've added a How To to your image about blending two different exposures using layer masks, hope that helps

It sure helps. I think you should make a tutorial out of this. I already used very succesfull the gradient thing!

Cheeers.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/22/2009 10:17:18 PM · #144

Originally posted by bassbone:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Well, I have been waiting and I keep hoping that I will get some more comments from those that are signed up for this side challenge...but..I'm not sure...plus I am trying to keep this in the threads...so I thought a little "whining" might help...anyone got any cheese?

Ja-9 - I realize you are hoping that everyone that 'signed up' for the thread will comment on your images, but you really can't expect that. Your original January post garnered 12 comments and it looks like you had several discussions and edits on that first image that really helped out the image. It seems like these comments were really useful and that is the point of these side challenges. Expecting everyone to stay with the thread, and for everyone to comment on every image is not practical.

I myself have a total of 10 comments for my January entry, and am extremely pleased with all of them.

You have to remember that comments are a gift, and people should not demand gifts, but accept them and be happy with them.

Sorry...

ikopanas

Nikon D7000

02/23/2009 08:07:36 PM · #145

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by bassbone:

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Well, I have been waiting and I keep hoping that I will get some more comments from those that are signed up for this side challenge...but..I'm not sure...plus I am trying to keep this in the threads...so I thought a little "whining" might help...anyone got any cheese?

Ja-9 - I realize you are hoping that everyone that 'signed up' for the thread will comment on your images, but you really can't expect that. Your original January post garnered 12 comments and it looks like you had several discussions and edits on that first image that really helped out the image. It seems like these comments were really useful and that is the point of these side challenges. Expecting everyone to stay with the thread, and for everyone to comment on every image is not practical.

I myself have a total of 10 comments for my January entry, and am extremely pleased with all of them.

You have to remember that comments are a gift, and people should not demand gifts, but accept them and be happy with them.

Sorry...

I suppose Ja-9 is trying to keep this thread alive. And she is very supporting all the time, with a very impressive number of comments (more than 2000 if I remember) as you can see in her profile page.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/23/2009 08:27:16 PM · #146

That was my intent....but I guess it got side lined and I miss communicated as is easy in these threads...can anyone tell me how to embed your user names into a note...I have tried...and computer junkie that I am, I still can't seem to get it....would appreciate a helping hand...

ikopanas

Nikon D7000

02/23/2009 08:31:42 PM · #147

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Well its easy, as you write down your post you will see some buttons upper left chose the right one (the last one in the line)and paste the users, username in the dialog box.

Thanks for commenting on my marketing calendar by the way.