Continuing from the prior blog…

Yesterday morning we had wonderful mist around our local lake – Lake Junaluska. The light was incredible and getting better. So I did a lot of shooting…

Much of my work was done with a long lens; so, not only does the mist become more pronounced at 200mm (DX), but there was also a fine rain falling. So, I knew there likely  would be an issue with the quality of the images. Hopefully it could be fixed in Post Production.  However, all I could do now, in the field, is concentrate on composition.

Shooting Mute Swans, most further away than I would have liked, was done with the long. You will notice the build up of the mist. When viewing at 100% the detail is definately not there, and certainly the image would not be not publishable or suitable for a gallery.

The issues I expected did in fact show up on the computer. Here is the original of a Mute

Swan…

 

 

 

At 100% magnification, it’s easy to see how soft the swan actually is…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Do?

The Photomatix Pro 5 program I use (essentially the same at the $39 version) has a place to upload a single image. I had used it before so that may have given me a subconscious idea. So, I tried it.

Note**We often think of using HDR as a way to help the camera see as we see. And that’s a proper use of that technique – to put detail in the light areas and the black at the same time – for better tone and an image closer to what our eye sees, increasing the Dynamic Range.

This program produces 27 variations of results. I am constantly amazed at the options of images availlable with this porgram.

We did the single image HDR. Here are the results…

Gone is the mist build up …   YEA!!!

 

 

 

 

Next is the “Photographic” look that I cropped and used for the lead photo above.

 

I like this “Deep” look…

 

and I also like the B&W look…

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it… MAGIC!

Each of the “looks” has it’s own feel. And ultimately it is that certain emotional feel that one tries to communicate. Sometimes, it works best as a B&W and sometimes as a “painterly” or “deep” look. Now we have one more tool to put in our bag to help us solve a problem.

Incidentally, these we’re all shot in Raw. And another feature – any of these images can be taken back into our post production program and our regular tools there can be applied.

Photomatix Essentialss is only $39 while Photomatix Pro is $99. Both can be downloaded for FREE use while you familarize yourself with the program and there is a tutorial that stays in the program. During this period a Watermark will appear on your images. Once you decide to purchase the Licence, the Watermark will no longer appear. Let me know if this doesn’t work with your equipment at bobgry@aol.com.

See more images and tips at the web site Lens Lugger World  (Lens Lugger

Photographic Association – members that have passed through one of our photo workshops.) It is also open for new members. See the Membership page for details. New benefits include an hour personal tutoring, and a Think Tank Photo welcome gift.