Creating an Image

Posted by Mike on

I have mentioned in a few of my more recent posts that I am using a different process to create some of my images.  Specifically, the high dynamic range (HDR) images.  In the past I have used tools such as Photomatix and even the newer versions of Lightroom or Photoshop CC.  All these programs work their magic wonderfully but they do not always allow for the fine control sometimes needed.

If you search for HDR or even digital blending you will be overwhelmed with options and selecting any of the links will get you started.  I found a few photographers (artists) that have helped me with a manual method or blending to allow more control over the final image.  Check out Blake Rudis or Jimmy McIntyre for great information about creating an image.

Both of these photographers have opened my eyes to the use of luminosity masks in my image creation process.  I will not attempt to duplicate either of these artist’s lessons but I will try to show you a little of the power of this methodology.

I know that it is mid December but we have been spoiled here in Upstate NY with great weather so when it was overcast and dreary I went looking through my summer images for color.  I found a bracket of images I captured down at the barge canal just as the sun was setting.  These images will work great for my attempt to show off this process.

Here are the three original images…

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; LuminosityStart-1

Normal Exposure

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; LuminosityStart-2

Underexposed

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; LuminosityStart-3

Overexposed

I start by making a few adjustments in Lightroom, correcting white balance, noise reduction, etc. and then bring all three images into Photoshop as separate layers. I set the normal exposure layer as the background layer as I will be painting in the information I need from the other two exposures.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash;

Starting Point

I have already created the luminosity masks and you can see some of them in the Channels panel on the middle right of the images. These channels are various portions of the image with different brightness values. I use a panel created by Jimmy McIntyre to easily create these masks.

The first area I wish to enhance are the edges of the canal. In the normal exposure the trees lining the canal are dark due to the back lighting of the setting sun. I will paint in the trees from the overexposed image by creating a layer mask on that layer, selecting the appropriate mask (Darks 6) and using the brush tools to add portions of the image to my normal exposure. By using the brush tool you can control the amount of the image that gets added. Painting over an area more than once will enhance the effect. The area in red has been painted in.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash;

Overexposed Info

I repeat this process with the underexposed image to add in detail and color to the sky and its reflection on the water. I do not need as much of this information so I select Brights 2 and lightly paint those areas.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash;

Underexposed Info

What I end up with at the end of this blending is an image that has a greater dynamic range than I was able to capture with a single exposure. I can then then use that image to start my normal post-processing and create my final image.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash;

Blended Image

This particular image was finished off with a few of the Topaz Labs filters such as Clarity and Adjust. I ended with a High Pass filter in Photoshop to sharpen the mid-tones. This was accomplished by using another of the luminosity masks and only applying the filter to those areas of the image. This way I could add detail to the trees but not overly sharpen the sky and reflection.

The final image…

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Sunset Canal

Sunset Canal
Nikon D7100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, {1/6, 1/13 & 1/25s bracket}, 21mm, f/16, ISO 100

I am in no way an expert in post-processing but I do have fun learning new techniques. Not every image needs this type of work but it is nice to have a different trick up my sleeve to create the view I remember when I was out exploring with my camera. If you are interested in exploring more about digital blending I would definitely recommend either or both sites for Blake Rudis and/or Jimmy McIntyre.

Around Future World

Posted by Mike on

Future World, Epcot, Walt Disney World

Whenever I am in Epcot late at night my general plan is to run around World Showcase grabbing as many images of the country pavilions as I can. On my last trip in October I changed it up a little one night and stayed in Future World looking for interesting locations. I was not disappointed.

I have a few of my standard “go to” locations like the Imagination Pavilion or Spaceship Earth from the entrance plaza but I went looking for additional opportunities. Oh, don’t get me wrong I stuck to my standards too! I just made sure I opened my eyes to everything else. Sometimes trying to see past your own view of a location is difficult.

I was sitting on a bench waiting for some people to clear out of the area in front of the Fountain of Nations when I noticed a great opportunity to capture Mouse Gears. This is one of my favorite stores in WDW as it has a little bit of everything. I knew I was going to have to use a long exposure so I waited until the group of moving people would work for me and not against me.

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; Mouse Gears

Mouse Gears
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 60s, 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

This next image is of the Joffrey’s coffee stand next to Innoventions East. I really liked the color and style of this stand. I waited on the bench for a clean opportunity but the people just kept coming for a drink. Eventually I realized a static image might not be what I wanted to convey so I grabbed a few frames with people in the view. This one was my favorite as it had some energy but still a clear view of most of the stand.

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; Espresso, Coffee, Coolers

Espresso, Coffee, Coolers
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 20s, 18mm, f/16, ISO 100

Oh Universe of Energy, what can I say about you. Your pre-show is a little dated (although still fun). Your attraction is a great place to relax for 20 minutes in your nice cool building. Your best features though are your exterior views. I always stop to capture a new side of you.

I liked how the sign and even Spaceship Earth was being reflected in the illuminated water. I must confess though… this image required some work. I manually blended four separate images to get the look I wanted for this picture. It was a lot of fun though as I learned a better way to handle images like this and experimenting on this really helped solidify the concept.

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; Spaceship Universe Reflection

Spaceship Universe Reflection
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 30s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

I have a few more images from around Future World that I might eventually work on but these three were my favorites (of my non go to locations). I will definitely be spending more of my nights in Epcot exploring the often over looked corners. I know there are more image possibilities out there…

Field House from the Field

Posted by Mike on

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Another interesting night as I was leaving work. The sun was setting into the clouds and everything was washed in an orange glow. By the time I reached the SUNY Poly campus the sun was gone but there was still great color in the sky and with the wind some very cool movement in the clouds and field grass.

I hadn’t captured an image of the Field House from the hill above so naturally the car drove itself right to the parking lot on the hill. I was having a hard time capturing the view in my head until I worked my way down toward the soccer field. The tall obstructions changed from thistles and goldenrod to some nice sway grass (just a guess). I wanted to capture the movement of the clouds and the grass with the campus buildings standing steady in the middle.

It sort of worked… 🙂

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Field House from the Field

Field House from the Field
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 6s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 200

Wordless Wednesday: Wishing You a Magical Day

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Boardwalk Area, Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Wishing You a Magical Day

Wishing You a Magical Day
Olympus OM-D E-M10, M. Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II, 1/160s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200

Trails to the City

Posted by Mike on

Utica, New York

Either I am getting more adventurous (I doubt it) or that voice in my head is winning more of the arguments but I stopped again last night to capture an image I have been passing by for over a year. When my daughter started going to the local college last year I would pass the time before picking her up at the shopping plaza across the highway from the school. The quickest way to the campus is to go up the road, exit, swing over the bridge and come in the back entrance. This view of the Mohawk Valley and Utica, New York is always on my left as I make my way to the campus.

I almost stopped late last week but something held me back. Last night the time must have been right. As soon as I was over the bridge I pulled the car over. Attached the camera to to the tripod and walked back to the bridge. The lights from the car dealership can be a little over powering in the image. They tend to drown out the lights of the city in the valley. I do like the light trails from the cars though.

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Trails to the City

Trails to the City
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 400

This image is actually a blend of two separate images. I wasn’t using the images to create a high dynamic range picture, I needed the different views of the light trails to create the look that I wanted. The drivers of the cars were not fully cooperating so using different images and painting the trails where I needed them was the best solution.

Moody Morning

Posted by Mike on

Fog Filled, Moody Morning

The morning did not have the perfect conditions for a glorious sunrise but it was perfect for another type of image. I love me some B&W, foggy morning images. As I mentioned yesterday I headed out early to go exploring before groceries.

I stopped at the abandoned Air Force radar site which I have been driving by for twenty-five years. This year there has been a lot of activity at the site. The grounds have been almost completely cleared and a new gate was installed. I was able to get my telephoto lens close enough to the gate to shoot through the chain link and capture this view of a few of the buildings. I would love to have the opportunity to explore the whole site with my camera.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Bygone Era

Bygone Era
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, 1.3s, 49mm, f/16, ISO 200

After groceries there was still great atmosphere hanging over the canal so I detoured up to Bellamy Harbor Park before heading home. The groceries would be fine in the trunk until I was done exploring. The view of the canal from the park was not anything to get excited about but then I remembered the city built a new boat launch on the other side of the Mill Street bridge. Luckily there is a small dock jutting out into the canal. These images are looking East and West from the end of that dock.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Moody Morning East

Moody Morning East
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/50s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Moody Morning West

Moody Morning West
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/40s, 25mm, f/20, ISO 200

It was a good decision to stop before going home. Abut 5 minutes from my house the sun broke through the clouds and the fog quickly lifted. I would have lost these images if I hadn’t detoured first… 🙂

Brrr!

Posted by Mike on

Barge Canal Area

It was a little cold this morning, just below freezing, but I wanted to stop before groceries to grab some images.  My original thought was to get nice, moody images as there was a lot of fog in the area.  My plans quickly changed as noticed the great frost on everything as I was driving down to the canal (the canal is my go to place for foggy, moody images).

I switched lenses to my macro lens and went out exploring around the parking area for the canal trail.  It didn’t take me very long to find some beautiful subjects.  I have a habit of going for the simple subjects but I think it definitely works for these.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Frost One

Frost One
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 200

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Frost Two

Frost Two
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/8s, f/3.2, ISO 200

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Frost Three

Frost Three
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 200

I did manage to grab those moody shots as well but I will save those for another post. I tried a new location along the canal and it paid off for me… 🙂

Cayan Library

Posted by Mike on

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

There is definitely something about this library on the SUNY Poly campus that I draws me in. I capture images of this building every time I pull my camera out. On Thursday night it was obviously the dark sky contrasting with the color of the building and light coming from within.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Cayan Library Front

Cayan Library Front
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 13s, 13mm, f/16, ISO 200

As I drive into the campus I pass the back of the library and have been thinking to myself what an interesting image it is as well. I finally walked all the way around the library to capture this view. I’ll let you try to find my correction… I had to remove a water spot from this image caused by a raindrop on my lens filter. I think I did a pretty good job removing it. 🙂

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Cayan Library Back

Cayan Library Back
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 10s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

My playing on campus also allowed me to try out the remote shutter release for the Olympus camera. Well worth the purchase. This camera has a ton more bracketing features than my Nikon but no great way to trigger all the exposures so the remote works out perfectly.