I want to thank all of you for your advice on blending images. I still have a lot to learn and several more bracketed examples to work through. I can see how you can basically abandon grads with these techniques. I still want to experiment with some of the other options presented by the group.
This example is a 2 image blend from my Oregon trip a few weeks back. This was shot on a Canon 5DM2 with my 24-105mm L.
RichieV
Posted by John Mumaw on September 21, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Congratulations!
You did a great job with blending with this one.
Posted by Paul Beiser on September 21, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Wow, great work, Richie. Would not even know it's a blend.
Posted by Bret Edge on September 21, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Welcome to the blender, Richie! I've really fallen in love with the process. Grads, we don't need no stinkin' grads.
Nice image, too. Looks like you did a great job with the blend. Is that vignetting in the bottom corners?
Posted by Scott Fricke on September 21, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Nice work Richie, what technique/software did you use?
Posted by Dan Gerth on September 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Nicely done Richie. Once you get it down it really becomes a powerful tool.
Posted by Steven Peckham on September 21, 2009 at 10:36 AM
As everyone is saying, well done. Looks really good and the sky is very nice. Maybe this one should be converted to b&w? Besides the nit about the corner, perhaps the hills on the left are a little too dark compared to the rest of the image. Your call on what looks best as you were there.
Thanks for the input. That could be some vignetting in the right corner. I was using the 24-105mm at 24. I used the luminous landscape technique to blend the two images. Basically it is a matter of dropping one layer over another in PS and then creating a mask to cover up the extra image. Then you just dodge/burn in the result you want for the blend. Just like working in the darkroom. This technique gives you the flexibility to have an ND grad of any shape or size. One place where I think you might get dinged though is with really dynamic fast moving skies. I will definitely be keeping this in my pocket of tricks and will also still use my grads since my preference is to capture the image right at the initial capture. And 4x5 film/processing is kinda expensive.
RichieV
Posted by Guy Schmickle on September 21, 2009 at 11:03 AM
You did well with this Rich! I agree that there's still room for grads in the arsenal as they can make life easier for dynamically changing conditions.
Posted by Morris McClung on September 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM
NIce work on the blend, and welcome to the dark side. Yeah, I still keep a grad, but use it only rarely.
Posted by Brett Deacon on September 21, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Perfect blend Richie. The best ones are undetectable, as this one is. I've learned to forget mirror lock-up for belnds with fast moving skies, and just shoot three shots in rapid succession. I'll have to check out the Luminous Landscape technique. I've only had terrible results with CS4's HDR tool, and have generally had good results with Photomatix. I'll be interested to see how the LL method compares. Anyway, keep 'em coming and show us more good examples when you have them.
Posted by Jack Garrett on September 21, 2009 at 11:22 AM
There is a very interesting article in this months OP on using grads, both on the camera in an RAW. It's called the Rembrandt Solution and sounds interesting. I'm gonna try it on my upcoming trip.
Posted by Art Escobado on September 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Nice blend Richie. I use the LL process all the time too, but Stan recommended something from Tony Kuyper. Haven't had a chance to check that out, but it looks intensive.
Anyone have comparisons to make?
Oh and the 24-105 is like a permanent fixture for me. Glad you're enjoying the Mark II.
Posted by John Mumaw on September 21, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Anyone have comparisons to make?
As noted earlier, TK's Luminosity actions work well with adequately exposed single images (e.g. no gross under/overexposure) that just need targeted tonal adjustments, while blending usually involves two (or more) differently exposed images and layer masking.
Even after flattening the layers when blending is completed, these actions can be quite helpful.
I almost always use them with my work to one degree or another.
Posted by Bill Brennan on September 21, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Nice work Richie. Thanks for sharing your experience with blending multiple images. I am noe more encouraged to try the process and add it to my work flow.
Bill Brennan
Posted by Brian Jackson on September 21, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Cool shot! Glad that the blending is working out for you.
I actually bought the TK Actions a couple years back and have never used them. I need to look into them since I always hear positive remarks about them.
RV
Posted by John Mumaw on September 21, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Here's a tip that Tony gave me some time ago that works well.
First, I use the Curve Adjustment actions and not the Channels.
After you choose the tone you want to adjust and get the Curve Adjustment layer in the layer stack, instead of fiddling with the Curve, simply choose 'Screen' blend mode to lighten or 'Multiply' blend mode to darken the tone, depending on which one you choose to edit.
Then adjust the layer's Opacity to taste and use the included layer mask to erase or lessen the effect where it's not needed.
Much faster than trying to fine tune a Curve!
Posted by Art Escobado on September 21, 2009 at 9:45 PM
John,
Thanks for the clarifications and tips...my wallet can't take this RMNP action. First Brett's post on Clik photo bags and now these TK luminosity actions.
Discussion
18 repliesThis example is a 2 image blend from my Oregon trip a few weeks back. This was shot on a Canon 5DM2 with my 24-105mm L.
RichieV
You did a great job with blending with this one.
Nice image, too. Looks like you did a great job with the blend. Is that vignetting in the bottom corners?
RichieV
Anyone have comparisons to make?
Oh and the 24-105 is like a permanent fixture for me. Glad you're enjoying the Mark II.
As noted earlier, TK's Luminosity actions work well with adequately exposed single images (e.g. no gross under/overexposure) that just need targeted tonal adjustments, while blending usually involves two (or more) differently exposed images and layer masking.
Even after flattening the layers when blending is completed, these actions can be quite helpful.
I almost always use them with my work to one degree or another.
Bill Brennan
I actually bought the TK Actions a couple years back and have never used them. I need to look into them since I always hear positive remarks about them.
RV
First, I use the Curve Adjustment actions and not the Channels.
After you choose the tone you want to adjust and get the Curve Adjustment layer in the layer stack, instead of fiddling with the Curve, simply choose 'Screen' blend mode to lighten or 'Multiply' blend mode to darken the tone, depending on which one you choose to edit.
Then adjust the layer's Opacity to taste and use the included layer mask to erase or lessen the effect where it's not needed.
Much faster than trying to fine tune a Curve!
Thanks for the clarifications and tips...my wallet can't take this RMNP action. First Brett's post on Clik photo bags and now these TK luminosity actions.