*OFFICIAL* Snapshot of the Day (one image per post please) #1

[DARK_M3]

Originally Posted by GTHAUS

Pulled the M5 out for some fun the other day.


E60 BMW M5 with Meisterschaft GTC Exhaust + Section 1&2 Pipes by GTHAUS-Meisterschaft, on Flickr

Love this and I love Meisterschaft exhausts! I am debating on which exhaust to go with for my car. The schaft or maybe a Tubi. Great shot btw!

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Where's he been anyway? Still editing his nakeditity pics from San Diego?

Pun intended?

[Cleanest135i]

.

[DARK_M3]

Ooooo pretty!

[EngineCo52]

This little SOB always getting into my trash -_-

[M_Six]

My shed revisited. This is a two shot merge. One exposure for the sky, one for the foreground. Both handheld. I may try a B&W conversion of this later.

(Just FYI, the bright line along the horizon really was there this morning. It was a lifting ground fog lit by the sun. I could take it out, though, if it's distracting.)

[DARK_M3]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My shed revisited. This is a two shot merge. One exposure for the sky, one for the foreground. Both handheld. I may try a B&W conversion of this later.

(Just FYI, the bright line along the horizon really was there this morning. It was a lifting ground fog lit by the sun. I could take it out, though, if it's distracting.)

I've been shooting single shot RAW and then changing the exposure post. Then merging two images together. It's so much easier than the whole 3 exposure with tripod thing.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My shed revisited. This is a two shot merge. One exposure for the sky, one for the foreground. Both handheld. I may try a B&W conversion of this later.

(Just FYI, the bright line along the horizon really was there this morning. It was a lifting ground fog lit by the sun. I could take it out, though, if it's distracting.)

Now, that's the way that HDR should be done. If you hadn't told us we wouldn't have known. Also, great composition with a fantastic sky.

I'd be curious to see a high-contrast B&W version, but I think I'm going to prefer these realistic colors.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by dark_knight

I've been shooting single shot RAW and then changing the exposure post. Then merging two images together. It's so much easier than the whole 3 exposure with tripod thing.

You can hand hold these if you just concentrate a little. Leave a little room around the edges to allow for alignment.

The single exposure method can work, but will be a stop or two short in dynamic range. Even with this example there's some blow out at the sun, but there's probably little detail to be had there.

Dave

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Now, that's the way that HDR should be done. If you hadn't told us we wouldn't have known. Also, great composition with a fantastic sky.

I'd be curious to see a high-contrast B&W version, but I think I'm going to prefer these realistic colors.

Dave

Thanks, Dave. I guess this does qualify as HDR, even though there's no tone mapping. I'll play around with the B&W later, but I agree, I think the colors here add to the image and will be missed in the B&W.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Thanks, Dave. I guess this does qualify as HDR, even though there's no tone mapping. I'll play around with the B&W later, but I agree, I think the colors here add to the image and will be missed in the B&W.

Tone mapping can be done well, but most use it as a crutch to add make believe drama to an average shot. HDR, in my view, should be used to bring the image closer to what our eye sees. Most tone mapping takes the image away from what the eye sees. Your shot stands up very well with no such nonsense required.

After railing against overly tone mapped HDR, I'll now put in a vote for high-contrast B&W. I guess Ansel Adams ruined us and a "realistic" B&W just looks flat. Your sky has lots of potential to show off high contrast B&W and getting those trees nice a black will result in a nice shot I think.

Dave

[M_Six]

Meh. I think I need practice or a good plugin for B&W conversions.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Meh. I think I need practice or a good plugin for B&W conversions.
...

I like it a lot. The light around the top of the tree to the left is really ethereal. I prefer that element to the color, but I still prefer seeing the blue of the sky. Still, both stand up very well.

What are you using for you B&W? I use DxO's FilmPack 3.0. I think it'll plug into LR, but I'm not certain without looking it up, which I'm too lazy to do.

Dave

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I like it a lot. The light around the top of the tree to the left is really ethereal. I prefer that element to the color, but I still prefer seeing the blue of the sky. Still, both stand up very well.

What are you using for you B&W? I use DxO's FilmPack 3.0. I think it'll plug into LR, but I'm not certain without looking it up, which I'm too lazy to do.

Dave

I'm just using ACR's grayscale conversion. I've heard folks extoll the virtues of Silver EFX (or whatever it's called) conversion plugin, but I don't do that many B&W images to make it worthwhile, I think. I may give DxO another shot. I tried it for a while and liked PS better, but that was ages ago and I know a lot more about post-processing now.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm just using ACR's grayscale conversion. I've heard folks extoll the virtues of Silver EFX (or whatever it's called) conversion plugin, but I don't do that many B&W images to make it worthwhile, I think. I may give DxO another shot. I tried it for a while and liked PS better, but that was ages ago and I know a lot more about post-processing now.

DxO does no local adjustments, all global. A committed PS wonk will probably not like it. It's great for RAW conversion to jpeg or tiff, correcting for lens errors and being great at maximizing dynamic range and color balance. If you still want to do detail work you'll need to go into PS.

Dave

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Meh. I think I need practice or a good plugin for B&W conversions.

Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

That's the one I was trying to think of earlier. You have it? If so, do you like it? Is it a PS plugin?

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by M_Six

That's the one I was trying to think of earlier. You have it? If so, do you like it? Is it a PS plugin?

Yeah, I have it. Love it. It can do global adjustments as well as local adjustments. I haven't messed around with it too much since I haven't had the time, but it's really good.

I'm not sure about a PS plugin since I use LR4 now. But, it interfaces well with LR.

[M_Six]

I just downloaded it and ran a conversion with it. Not bad. It does work as a plugin to PS. I like all the different presets and film replications.

[adrean8j]

Well here is one of my latest from the arachnid family (quick close your eyes). Not sharp or anything but its not everyday I see spiders running on water ;p Shot handheld as quick as possible before he ran off (exif on flickr):


Wolf on Water by Adrean8j, on Flickr

[AshbyJ]

Very cool looking, nicely captured!

[M_Six]

Nice shot. Looks like each of her feet is on an air bubble.