Project 52 by Geoff F

[Geoff F]

Thanks, Peter.

I don't know if you saw my post in the Image Processing forum where we have been discussing and experimenting with various HDR processing of some of these shots; including links to the original Raw files.

Auto HDR compared with manual HDR editing

In every case where I have edited bracketed shots, I found the manual edits, with layers and masks, gave me better results than auto HDR editing.

[Letrow]

Thanks, Peter.

I don't know if you saw my post in the Image Processing forum where we have been discussing and experimenting with various HDR processing of some of these shots; including links to the original Raw files.

Auto HDR compared with manual HDR editing

In every case where I have edited bracketed shots, I found the manual edits, with layers and masks, gave me better results than auto HDR editing.

Interesting Geoff. Enfuse is something that looks interesting. I'll experiment a bit with that one.

[Geoff F]

During the winter, most boats reduce the number of crabpots which they work.



7D with 24-105L lens F14 Iso 100. A merge of two Raw conversions to cope with brightness and saturation problems.

A slight crop to reduce a rather complicated scene. But I wanted to still show the overall business of the quayside.

One of the local rowing gigs passes the quayside and starts to stow their oars as they approach another slipway.



1/640 F18 Iso 800. I needed a fairly high shutter speed for the gig but using Iso 800 was simply 'a slip of the finger' and Iso 400 with a narrower aperture would have been more than sufficient.

[Donald]

During the winter, most boats reduce the number of crabpots which they work.



7D with 24-105L lens F14 Iso 100. A merge of two Raw conversions to cope with brightness and saturation problems.

And the technique adopted worked beautifully, in my opinion. Such wonderful bright, vibrant colours. Really making the most of the scene.

[Lon Howard]

Geoff, thanks for your explanation about how you blend images. I've also discarded the auto HDR programs such as Photomatix and have begun to blend them manually, using 'Load files into PS layers' in Bridge; and masking from there to achieve the desired exposure in all parts of the image. I'm generally happy with it but there are some images where I just can't mask effectively, such as those with tree foliage against a light/sky background. In those cases I've recently found something that usually works, which is using the Fusion option in Photomatix, as opposed to tone mapping. I say 'usually works' because the algorithm in Fusion doesn't always seem to know what I'm after, in that the foliage will be masked ok but the exposure blend will sometimes be a little 'off.'

Here is one explanation of Fusion from a professional photographer in our neck of the woods named Kevin McNeal:
http://kevinmcneal.wordpress.com/201...-blend-images/

At this stage I'm finding that sticking to just two images is more reliable for what I'm after, but I'll keep practicing and tweaking. Thanks again.

[Geoff F]

Something to think about there, Lon.

One different technique, but in a similar vein, which I have been experimenting with concerns those shots with different focus points.

Where appropriate, I take two shots but as well as different focus points I use different exposures. Or edit the two Raw conversions differently.

After auto aligning, I use the CS5 Auto Blend mode; unless I'm doing another hand merge. But the difference is that before the auto blend I edit one of the aligned layers with a Reveal All mask and a 'black' brush to reduce any areas which I don't want included from that layer.

This forces the auto blend to merge the sharpest parts of the layers; as I require.

It is even possible to add an Adjustment Layer to one of the layers, but merge the two before the auto blend.

Something which requires more work before I start to really understand how this can be used for maximum effect though.

[Lon Howard]

After auto aligning, I use the CS5 Auto Blend mode; unless I'm doing another hand merge. But the difference is that before the auto blend I edit one of the aligned layers with a Reveal All mask and a 'black' brush to reduce any areas which I don't want included from that layer.

This forces the auto blend to merge the sharpest parts of the layers; as I require.

Thanks a lot, Geoff ... I've never used auto align or auto blend before. This will be very helpful.

[Geoff F]

Getting perfect alignment (as near as possible) when shooting will give the best results, although there can be a bit of variation and still get sufficient alignment; although some cropping will usually be necessary.

[Geoff F]

I tried this scene last winter but the tide was higher so I didn't really have a sufficiently interesting foreground.



1/250 F11 Iso 200. 7D with 24-105 L lens on a tripod.

Another angle.



1/400 F11 Iso 400

And a close up of the hotel.



With the Sigma 150-500. 1/640 F11 Iso 200.
In reality, I could have taken my 70-200 lens and still got the same shot. But I wasn't sure what I would need and only wanted to carry two lenses.

Hundreds of years ago, Burgh Island, at the mouth of the River Avon, was inhabited by monks. The current hotel was constructed in the art deco style and visited by many famous people in the 1930s; including Agatha Christie.

It has been restored to it's original style.

A surprisingly still and sunny day for the UK in December, although a slight frost was still on the grass in places. In fact, I could have done with just a little more surf.

[oldgreygary]

I like the look of that hotel which the photo shows off extemely well! Nice photo Geoff!

Cheers for now

Gary

[Geoff F]

I started this project by saying that I intended it to be a mixture of a personal diary plus scenes and events from the area where I live. Well I'm attempting to end in the same manner.

One of those perfectly calm bright days which occasionally occur in December. Part of the harbour/estuary from one of the cliff paths.



7D with 24-105 L lens on a tripod. 1/160 F14 Iso 200

I took a number of shots with different exposures and focus points but finally preferred a standard single shot with a fairly narrow aperture, but a merge of two Raw conversions with different adjustment settings.

Crossing the Bar, and a completely different scene.



7D with Sigma 150-500 on a tripod 1/640 F8 Iso 400

I had been attempting to get some photos of fishing boats returning from sea for some weeks, without much success. The light was failing fast as the next storm approached so I only managed a few shots of two boats, and this was the best of them as this boat was crossing a sand bar at the harbour entrance.

Stonechats. Living in gorse near the cliff edge at Hope Cove.



7D with Sigma 150-500 on a tripod 1/800 F8 Iso 400

Another period of temporary calm just a few hours before the previous fishing boat shot.

This is actually a merge of two shots to show both male and female birds together. I converted the Raw files to Smart Objects (a subject discussed previously in another thread) which really helped as I was able to keep going back to the original Raw images to do extra tweaks on each layer.

Working in the Woods. I spent one grey day helping to remove undergrowth from a clearing in a local wildlife reserve.



24-105 lens, 1/125 F11 Iso400 plus flash



It was a dull day so a little fill flash was needed. I had intended to take more photos but was kept busy with a saw and loppers for most of the time.

These two are the best of what I did snap before increasing rain and backache caused me to retire from the area!


SO THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!

[Geoff F]

ps. Christmas Cards.

For this year, I used the harbour scene above on one side, but I do a two sided card with a cartoon on the other side. And the subject matter always concerns recent UK events.

This is my 'other side' for this year.



I find a lot of people don't realise that basic clipart images can be edited just like photos with most editing software.

It is usually fairly easy to create selections or use the erase tools to chop up and rearrange parts of images. Transform options allow for rotation and resizing.

In fact, messing around with simple clipart like this can be a good learning experience before tackling more complicated photo editing.

[Nicola]

I can imagine Agatha Christie sitting there and writing her novels!
very uncommon hotel!
I found on internet some pictures of the Burgh island sea tractor... did you post some pics about that time ago? did you?

and watch this video! ... crazy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAyaxw2CIs

[Geoff F]

Yes Nicola, I did post other shots of the same overall scene about a year ago.

[Donald]

SO THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!

Congratulations, Geoff on clocking up Week 52.

I have been in admiration of you folks who have managed to stick with this right through 2012.

I think that, in particular, the image above of the boat returning into harbour is an impressive a fitting way for you to draw your Project 52 to a conclusion.