I had big plans for this image. I love making images that contain captivating light and massive reflective surfaces. If you have ever visited Denver, you know the Denver Performing Arts Center (DCPA) fits the bill quite nicely. One thing I didn’t account for was it being closed. I’m not sure why I thought it was open to the public at night? It must be the Utopian in me……

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Sigma 15mm Fisheye
Gitzo Traveler

Processing Notes:
Capture (7 Images @ 1EV)
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – noise reduction (landscape profile)
Nik Color Efex Pro – ProContrast
Photoshop – Global Vibrancy Boost
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

A couple weeks back I decided to schedule up solo photo-walk. I hadn’t been out on one lately, and I was itching to get out and explore. If you remember from a previous post, photo-walks are a big component of my ‘Creative Scheduling’. These are great ways not only to create, but to relax as well. Something goes on the in the creative brain the tends to silence all other stresses that are begging for your attention. So I checked the weather, charged the batteries, put together a route, and quieted my mind.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PC-E (a big help here with converging lines)
Gitzo Traveler
Lexar UDMA

Aperture f/6.7
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 200

Processing Notes:

Capture – 6 images @ 1ev
Photomatix 4 (public beta) – HDR/Tonemapping
Photoshop – Curves adjustment
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Display 30% global
LightAsMagic.com

Another addition to my Spaceship Suburbia project. After reading Christian Cantrell’s Containment (a great sci-fi read I might add), I started looking around for an image that resembled a polymeth structure from a remote planetary colony. I found it; a fragile atmosphere contained within the conventions of humanity.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D700
Nikkor 45mm PC-E
Gitzo Traveler
Lexar UDMA

Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 200

Processing Notes:

Capture – 9 images @ 1ev
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Topaz DeNoise 5 – Noise Reduction
Photoshop – A Good Tip Form Trey Ratcliff’s eBook I will let Trey tell you.
Photoshop – Global curves adjustment
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow selective to the sky.
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

A while back I was searching for a reasonable backup camera to travel with over the summer. After quite a bit of deliberation, I decided on the Nikon D5000. I have been putting it through the paces and I am quite pleased. Here is a simple capture from the camera while we were out on a drive over the weekend. I will be writing up a more formalish review of it shortly, as for now, here are a couple things I like about it.

• Same image guts as its big (D90) and bigger (D300s) brother.
• Quiet shutter mode. It helped when shooting some street photos in France. Very stealthy.
• It has video! I made a quick movie while I was in France that I am still editing. Once it is done I will post it along with a more detailed review.
• Super light and compact.
• You can get the same image quality of a D300s, for under $500 (if you are willing to buy refurbished).
• Swivel LCD – Much easier on the back when having to shoot in yoga poses.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D5000
Nikkor 16-85 VR II

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 Image
Nik Silver Efex Pro (B&W Conversion)
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com

New ones await…….

This image is from the ‘Out My Front Door’ project. You can read more about it on the about me page. The basic idea of the project is to make images of sites I have found within a bike ride of my house. The goal of the project is simple, make images instead of thinking about making images. This is one of those sites. It is the last remains of a ranch that was donated to the city as open space. Story has it that the man who owned the ranch would spend over 4 days to mend the entire line of fence. Now it is home to many miles of trails for both cyclists, hikers, and runners. Philanthropy at its finest.

In an attempt to capture the essence of this wonderful space, I had a great time processing this image. I surely pushed it a bit more towards an impressionistic interpretation of the scene. However, to me the mountain itself is a beacon of green rolling grass, painted on a canvas of sky, that can be see from miles away.

Tech Note: I was experimenting a bit using the Promote Control which allows the camera to bracket any number of frames (up to 99) at 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV. Far more than most cameras are normally capable of. You can read a great review of it over on my ‘Bracketer In Cirme’, Brian’s Matiash’s site.

According to Brian, good Promote Control form.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Nikon CPL II
PromoteControl
Gitzo Traveler

Aperture:f/8.0
Focal Length:16 mm
ISO Speed:400 (oops)

Processing Notes:

Capture (21 images @ .3 EV)
NX2 – Raw Conversion
Photomatix 3.2 – HDR/Tonemapping
NIK Define 2.0 – Noise reduction auto profile
Photoshop – selective curve adjustments applied to grass
Photoshop – selective sat adjustment applied to grass (trying to tame it abit)
Photoshop – Global curves adjustment
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour glow
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com

After my run this weekend, I decided to swing by a couple locations I have had on the radar for a while. Surprisingly, this facility is fairly accessible at 7am on a Sunday. I approached it from a variety of angles, however because the sky was as clear as it has been in quite some time, I didn’t have the backdrop of interest I was looking for. I did find a couple of interesting foreground elements to incorporate, but nothing was really working. I thought to myself, what can I do with huge white silos and a blue sky? My decision was simple….Orange Filter! I applied an orange filter in my Silver Efex pro conversion, darkened the sky up, and created the contrast I was looking for to surround these structures.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 14 mm
Exposure Bias: -2 EV
ISO Speed: 200

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 images)
Nik Siler Efex Pro – High contrast orange filter
NIk Viveza 2 – Selective boost to structure/brightness in foreground
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Adaptive 40%
LightAsMagic.com

A stand of trees I have worked with before, caught my attention again. I probably tried 20-30 images as I was experimenting with various panning timings and techniques. I settled on this image because I enjoyed how a touch of detail was retained in the background. In order to capture the detail and still achieve the motion, I would turn the shutter over, pan quickly, then pause.

Click..Pan..Pause…Review….Click….Pan…..Pause…..Review…..until I got it right.

Capture Notes

NIkon D300
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR II (VR ON)

Exposure: 0.5
Aperture: f/32.0
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Flash: No Flash

Processing Notes:

Capture 1 image
Aperture – Raw processing (including definition and contrast boost)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

In preparation for my guest blog post on my fellow photographer and Urban HDR shooter, Brian Matiash’s website, I headed down to the rail yards. Paying attention to the sign, I laid my ear on the tracks listening for any approaching trains. When the coast was clear, I made my into position, quickly acquired focus, bracketed 9 frames, and fled the scene. Brain would probably want me back home typing as opposed to chasing images…but I promise, the text is well underway. Visit Brian’s site today for some incredible images, and in the near future to read my post “Looking Forward”.

To learn more about the use of selective curves, and other tips to help realize your creative vision, give the tutorials over at Chromasia.com a try.

Chromasia Photoshop Tutorials

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler

Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Processing Notes:
Capture (9 Images @ 1EV)
NX2 Raw Conversion
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
Noiseware – noise reduction (landscape profile)
NIK Sharpener – Selective to the sign (it was a bit soft)
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal contrast selective to foreground
Photoshop – (5 selective curves adjustments)
Size for web
LightAsMagic.com

This is another image I received some questions about, so I thought I would put together a quick (< 8 mins) processing video to show you some of the steps I took after generating the initial Tonemapped HDR .tiff. Also, I really dig Nik Silver Efex Pro. I dig it so much, I was trying to find ways of using it for color images. In this video, I use Nik's Silver Efex Pro High Structure preset to bring out the texture and character of the building. I liked results, and I hope you do to.

For my other processing videos, click here!

Also, if you are interested in the tools I used in this video, you can use the coupon code LIGHTASMAGIC to receive 15% off of Photmatix or any Nik Tools.

For more information on some of my favorite Nik filters, and how they fit into my work-flow, click here.