Month: March 2013

West of the Wharf

Louisville Shoreline
Louisville Shoreline

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This image was taken on the west end of the Louisville riverfront between the Third Street Wharf and the McAlpine Locks. The source files are all bracketed HDR images that were merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 where they were first tone mapped before returning the merged file to Aperture 3 and then processing it in OnOne Perfect Effects where I applied a slight vignette.

Under the Interstate
Under the Interstate

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This image is from under Interstate 64  just past 6th Street. The view is looking east toward the Kennedy Bridge. Once again NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 was used to merge the three bracketed files. After that was done I opened it in OnOne Perfect Effects where I experimented with stacking several different effects to bring out the colors and contrast in the scene. I really should write down what I use but many times I am experimenting and go through many different filters before settling on a particular one. One feature I really like about using the OnOne Perfect Effects filters is that they can be stacked and that I can control the amount of strength I want by varying the opacity of each one and stacking several filters together using the layers feature. I then finished the image in my normal way using Aperture 3.

Solitary Sentinel
Solitary Sentinel

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This is an image from a merged bracket set processed in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 and finished in Aperture 3. The bridges in the background are K&I Railroad bridges that connect west Louisville to New Albany, Indiana.

Ninth Street Ramps
Ninth Street Ramps

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This final image is also Processed in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2, OnOne Perfect Effects and Aperture 3.

Combining Different Maker’s Software

Big Four Lighting #1
Big Four Lighting #1

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Last night I was playing around with some images I shot last week from the Big Four Bridge at sunset. I was intrigued by the patterns that the lights cast on the deck and how they contrasted with the somber sky above. The images were all created from three frame bracket sets of, -2, 0, +2 Exposure Values. The artificial lights on the ramp were set to red and I thought I would experiment with the resulting photos after merging and tone mapping them in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2.  For this image I took the HDR image into Aperture 3 and adjusted several sliders in the exposure, enhance and sharpening panels before loading it into OnOne Perfect Effects where I added a vignette. The OnOne suite is another iceberg that I have barely seen the tip of; the range of effects that are available and the ability to combine them in layers within the software leads to an infinite range of looks to explore. Anything you build up in the layers can be exported as a custom preset which you can then apply to similar images and get consistent results.

Big Four Lighting #2
Big Four Lighting #2

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 This image is another HDR that I merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2. I was pleasantly surprised by how the colors of the red lights combined with the silvery blue of the overhead LED lights to create such an incredible color palette. I kept the anti-ghosting set at 20%  which allowed the fast moving clouds to soften and blur as well as keeping the lone runner on the bridge in a state of motion too. I used Photoshop CS5 to do some lens correction and straightening to the image before finishing it with Aperture 3.

Big Four Lighting #3
Big Four Lighting #3

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This image too is a three frame HDR but in this case I stayed within NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 to enhance and play around with the colors before taking it into Aperture 3 where I further altered them with the Vibrance slider. After that I simply sharpened the image and adjusted the horizon using the straighten tool in Aperture 3.

Big Four Lighting #4
Big Four Lighting #4

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This final image is also an HDR with some OnOne adjustments and final finishing in Aperture 3. I’m beginning to discover more and more ways that combining different software from different makers can open more avenues of expression in my photography.

On a similar note there seems to be a price war going on right now between the software makers, NIK has some incredible pricing like their entire Suite for $149.00, you can add in a 15% additional discount if you use the discount code MOATS at checkout. OnOne is having a spring sale at 40% off; you can see what they are offering by clicking on the OnOne Banner in the sidebar on this page. Topaz hasn’t announced anything yet but I suspect they will be joining in on this discount war soon. There is also a link for Topaz in the sidebar. I am an affiliate for OnOne and Topaz so clicking on the banners allows me to earn a small commission should you decide to order anything.

One more plug here is for my good friends at Outdoor Photo Gear whose banner is also in the sidebar. These guys and gals are the friendliest and most knowledgable photo gear suppliers I have ever done business with. They run specials all the time and I would recommend you take a look at their site too.

 

Why Blog?

iRobot eyes
iRobot eyes

I was reading Renard Moreau’s blog this morning http://renardmoreau.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/just-pondering-part-352/ and his daily post got me thinking about what blogging has done for me.

Here’s what I wrote:

“For me blogging about my photography has opened many new doors and at the same time it has forced me to search for meaning in my work. I have only been blogging for about ten months and already I am in contact with a worldwide network of creative people who share my interests.
I could not have planned this but through writing about and sharing my art I have grown in so many ways. I’ll soon be 65 years old and only wish that something like blogging had been available to me 40 years ago as I set out on my journey into art school and my path of creativity.
To those who are just beginning their journey I say; write every day, create every day and stay engaged with the world around you. The planet is shrinking one post at a time and there are so many creative minds to connect with. What exciting times these are and what wonders await us all.”

Happy St.Patrick’s Day

Greendrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Greendrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head

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In the tradition of honoring my Irish roots I thought I’d post some green images today. For me green is the color of spring, hope, rebirth and my eyes. This first image is my favorite shade of green too. All these images come from the past several years of the NSRA Streetrod Nationals held here in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bullet Nose Beast
Bullet Nose Beast

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Bullet Nose Beast #2
Bullet Nose Beast #2

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REO Speed Wagon
REO Speed Wagon

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Emerald Buick
Emerald Buick

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