Picture Of The Week (POW) Information and Submissions

[Ink stained Fingers]

sound records or other connection data have not been recovered yet

 

[stratman]

who the hell were they calling…

1. Pizza delivery
2. Uber
3. Home to say they are working late

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

or Microsoft because they got a blue screen........

 

[The Hat]

or Microsoft because they got a blue screen........

 

[The Hat]

This weeks POW.... ? ? ?
The POW will resume as soon as possible..

 

[turbguy]

Here's one from a recent trip.

 

[stratman]

Here's one from a recent trip.

A magnificent image. Ethereal.

What software and alterations did you do to get the image to look this way?

 

[turbguy]

A magnificent image. Ethereal.

What software and alterations did you do to get the image to look this way?

Thanx. It's an combination of 3 different quick JPEG exposures (High Dynamic Range) of +2, 0, and -2 stops. My point-and-shoot Canon has a dedicated (bracketing) setting that does this. This overcomes the tendency of small sensors (and JPEG capture) to produce incomplete exposure of the highlights and shadows (most of the time).

Combining the 3 images in Photomatix software opens up an vast array of different "looks". I always adjust the combination to assure that there is no over or under clipping on the histograms, not only for overall luminance, but also for any color channel. Photomatix conveniently displays the histograms as you make adjustments.

Then I smooth any noise with NeatImage noise reduction software. I may touch-up (clone out) hot pixels afterwards, if they are too noticeable.

For this particular scene, I was lucky with the weather and lighting as well. "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" still applies...

Paying attention to color channel clipping is particularly important. Have you ever noticed that some photos of a blue sky look 'strange'? Typically it's because the blue channel is "clipped" (overexposed). Sunsets can be particularly challenging to control the red channel.

The result can be closer to what you actually see in person, since your eyes/brain can have a much larger dynamic range that a camera sensor.

I do have an identical model point-and-shoot that has been full-spectrum converted (heat mirror removed), that I use in the same manner for Infrared photography, although that limits the output to monochrome, and then I only have to deal with the luminance histogram.

 

[Redbrickman]

Was just playing with the phone camera on Pano mode during a nice afternoon on the Isle of Wight. They built that superb lifeboat station well out to sea to help with a speedier launch in any tide.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Combining the 3 images in Photomatix software opens up an vast array of different "looks".

That's a good and reliable method to get such great pictures - and it is not overdone.
But doesn't have your Canon Camera as well a RAW mode which could help in situations it is not possible to shoot 3 images since the RAW mode would give you a wider exposure latitude to start with. ?