A graceful span with a view on the Utah/Arizona border.
Two image blend for optimum DOF.
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A note on processing--
With the last few days left on a trial version of Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, I thought I'd give this image a whirl with b&w. I chose Preset 024-Full Contrast & Structure and was wowed by the amount of detail that it revealed. I wasn't quite wowed with the results from b&w, though. So, I changed the blend mode in the automatically generated SEP2 layer from Normal to Luminosity, and voila...I still had all of that fine revealed detail and in a color image! I adjusted the opacity down to about 25% here to reduce the effect and had to add a bit more saturation as the colors reappeared a bit more neutral (neutered?). Needless to say, sharpening was hardly needed with the final result.
Now I ain't sayin' that this will work with most images, but it sure does wonders to sandstone. I used that effect to a lesser degree on 'The Guardian' image below, and was similarly impressed. It's certainly a simple thing to try!
Note that no additional steps were taken to brighten up the rear wall of that alcove. Just more SEP2 magic.
Probably not worth buying just to achieve this effect, but if you alraedy own it, then it's just another tool in the kit.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts as always.
Posted by Art Escobado on March 30, 2011 at 7:25 PM
That came out very nice sir!! I like this tip-thanks for sharing. Nice piece of work here. Great lines and usage of windows!!
Posted by Jack Garrett on March 30, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Amazing detail and I like the colors as well!!
Posted by Joe Rogers on March 30, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Fine work John....I will put that tip in my tool bag....Excuse my ignorance, but, I do not think I have ever seen this arch before..it is tremendous....any hints as to where it is would be appreciated...if that is closed information, I understand.
At any rate, a great comp and treatment.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 30, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Wow, how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks do you figure this stuff out? Cool image, and really cool idea with SEP2.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on March 31, 2011 at 12:49 AM
Cool, John. This technique, blending a monochrome version with luminosity mode, seems familiar but I can't remember where I might have seen or read about it. In any case, nice creativity with nice results. Your prowess with PS and image processing is great! Nice image!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 31, 2011 at 1:04 AM
Very nice processing, John. One of the Nik webinars on SEP also demonstrated this luminosity blending mode technique. However, I never understand why this would be preferred to making the same adjustments directly to the color file using Nik's Viveza-Structure and Color Effex Pro-Tonal Contrast filters. Of course, it's a great option if SEP is the only Nik plugin that you have available.
Discussion
15 repliesTwo image blend for optimum DOF.
_____________________________________________________
A note on processing--
With the last few days left on a trial version of Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, I thought I'd give this image a whirl with b&w. I chose Preset 024-Full Contrast & Structure and was wowed by the amount of detail that it revealed. I wasn't quite wowed with the results from b&w, though. So, I changed the blend mode in the automatically generated SEP2 layer from Normal to Luminosity, and voila...I still had all of that fine revealed detail and in a color image! I adjusted the opacity down to about 25% here to reduce the effect and had to add a bit more saturation as the colors reappeared a bit more neutral (neutered?). Needless to say, sharpening was hardly needed with the final result.
Now I ain't sayin' that this will work with most images, but it sure does wonders to sandstone. I used that effect to a lesser degree on 'The Guardian' image below, and was similarly impressed. It's certainly a simple thing to try!
Anyway, here comes the before SEP2 image...
Probably not worth buying just to achieve this effect, but if you alraedy own it, then it's just another tool in the kit.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts as always.
At any rate, a great comp and treatment.
Joe Rogers
Bill,
That certainly makes sense that Nik would replicate that look in their other programs. As I don't have either of those, I didn't know that.