NikonsAndVStroms Photography Thread

[r00t4rd3d]

Fake Tilt Shift :

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by r00t4rd3d

Fake Tilt Shift :

Smudge tool? For this image I don't see it adding much since it bleeds into the houses you don't really have that crisp in and out of focus area.

[r00t4rd3d]

Alittle better :

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by r00t4rd3d

Alittle better :

Beyond the image itself just for your processing technique can you soften the line a tiny bit, it seems like an on/off switch right now while with focusing you have a slight boundary.

[r00t4rd3d]

Yeah I noticed the line. I need to get a better city shot with less trees.

[knybanjo]

Did I make it better or worse?





I think the clouds may have gotten over cooked.......

[r00t4rd3d]

I have a weird bug picture taking fetish :

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by r00t4rd3d

I have a weird bug picture taking fetish :

You are not alone :





Just I recommend having a longer lens than me.....and if someone is taking a picture of you to shave and not have bed head

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by r00t4rd3d

Yeah I noticed the line. I need to get a better city shot with less trees.

Are you using a mask and then filtering it or using the tool and "painting" it.

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by knybanjo

Did I make it better or worse?





I think the clouds may have gotten over cooked.......

They look flatter than the previous page, what tools did you use?

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by NikonsAndVStroms

They look flatter than the previous page, what tools did you use?

The top one is the exact same pic I posted previously.. The bottom is cropped, of course, but I also ran it through a process in GIMPshop that went something like so:

White balance then duplicate.
Desaturate top layer then invert.
Set to "soft light" @ 50% then duplicate and set new to 75%
Duplicate base layer and move to top.
Adjust black level to between 50 and 100 (don't remember exact #) set layer to darken @ somewhere between 30-50%

When exposure looks OK merge layers.
Made 2 duplicate layers set top layer to "dodge" @ about 10% and middle to "burn" @ about 25% opacity.

On base layer adjust saturation then levels/white balance again (usually about 7 & 245)
Then added some unsharp mask and flattened.

I think I overcooked the "dodge and burn" and still left it a little under exposed......I'm just learning by trial and error, mostly error.

Thanks for your help....I'll gladly accept any criticism you care to share.

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by knybanjo

The top one is the exact same pic I posted previously.. The bottom is cropped, of course, but I also ran it through a process in GIMPshop that went something like so:

White balance then duplicate.
Desaturate top layer then invert.
Set to "soft light" @ 50% then duplicate and set new to 75%
Duplicate base layer and move to top.
Adjust black level to between 50 and 100 (don't remember exact #) set layer to darken @ somewhere between 30-50%

When exposure looks OK merge layers.
Made 2 duplicate layers set top layer to "dodge" @ about 10% and middle to "burn" @ about 25% opacity.

On base layer adjust saturation then levels/white balance again (usually about 7 & 245)
Then added some unsharp mask and flattened.

I think I overcooked the "dodge and burn" and still left it a little under exposed......I'm just learning by trial and error, mostly error.

Thanks for your help....I'll gladly accept any criticism you care to share.

Opps I was thinking the image by Doc.Synder I critiqued

I would try other methods than soft light, right now the colors seem more flat/pastel like.

The image itself is underexposed which is going to make processing for an "ideal image" more difficult.

[Thisguy]

My first dabble with a DSLR. Entry level lens with a lot of PP. I have upgraded the glass and hope to get better.

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by NikonsAndVStroms

Opps I was thinking the image by Doc.Synder I critiqued

I would try other methods than soft light, right now the colors seem more flat/pastel like.

The image itself is underexposed which is going to make processing for an "ideal image" more difficult.

You'll think twice before starting a thread like this again won't you.

All right....I tried to hack that same pic again, in spite of it's limited potential. This time I just tried to set the black and white points (not sure if I know what I'm doing though) then just played with the levels and curves ever so slightly. Not sure if what I did next was good or not but I added just a touch of saturation and unsharp mask......

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by Thisguy

My first dabble with a DSLR. Entry level lens with a lot of PP. I have upgraded the glass and hope to get better.

Exposure wise the top one is alright, the middle is a little under leading to a "muddy look" and the bottom you went too heavy on the processing....the key is to have it add to the image without the viewer realizing it's there.

For this type of shooting there are a few things you want to do.

First they are all almost dead center, put them off to either side to emphasize where they are going/have been.

Second, pan with the bike. You want to do the lowest shutter speed possible where the bike is still in focus and the background gets blurred.



Third and well forth, set your camera for continuous shooting even at 3FPS hold it for another frame....once you get in the rhythm you can keep the bike in the right spot and just hold down the shutter release. And the other part since you are using a base level DSLR pick an AF point and before the bike gets to where you want to shoot line it up and follow the bike there, have it set on continuous focus and then the focus has time for a initial lock on and you can keep the bead. I did a few with my E-420 and 40-150 lens so you should be fine just practice. (The above shot is with the D700 and a 75-300 which is actually a pretty cheap lens, I'll try and find the E-420 shot.)