Tag: Spicify

Studebaker Boneyard

Posted on by Nick Roberts

Studebaker Boneyard

Every vehicle in this shot is a Studebaker truck. The location is in western Arizona along US 50. Even though it was midday I was able to create a memorable shot which comes back to my belief that with practice and study a photographer can capture good images no matter what time of day he is shooting.

I really like the way Topaz Adjust helped me bring out the colors in this shot. I have printed this image at 24″x36″ and the detail is amazing.

I use a local print shop, Unique Imaging Concepts, to print most of my work. They print on many different substrates but my choice is their glossy aluminum. Their process is dye-sublimation which really works well to preserve the vibrance and detail that I require in my work for gallery exhibition. I still print on paper when the client or gallery requires that but my preference is printing on aluminum.

Great Basin Survivor

Posted on by Nick Roberts

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These images were taken a couple of years ago when I travelled across the “Loneliest Highway in America” US 50 through Nevada and Arizona. I have been photographing abandoned vehicles for many years and when I came upon this 1950’s Chevy truck I had to stop and capture it.

This is part of the Great Basin area of the United States; the climate in this region is extremely arid and that makes it possible for these old vehicles to last for decades. If you look through the passenger windshield in one of the shots you can see my Harley-Davidson that I was riding on this photo trip. Using the bike puts me in a more intimate relationship to the environment and allows me the freedom to explore the world off the beaten path.

I processed these images in Aperture 3 and Topaz Adjust to create the faux HDR look. By using the “Spicify” setting and then by tweaking the adjustments I was able to bring out the textures of the rusted metal and weathered wood while enhancing the colors in the scene. I really like the way Topaz Adjust allowed me to open up the shadows and bring out the detail in them.