Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 3: Haleakala National Park.
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station: Comparison of HDR Image Processing Programs. I used images taken at sunset last year to do a comparison of HDR (high dynamic range) processing programs. The first image is the original image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). The next three images are HDR composites from 5 exposures (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2 EV) using Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro, Photomatix Pro, and Nik HDR Efex Pro. The final image was processed using DxO Optics Pro 6 using a “single-shot” HDR technique. All of the new HDR programs have multiple, if not many presets as well as many controls to optimize the image. The HDR programs have come a long way over the last 3-4 years, where the HDR effects were often overboard. But then again, HDR can recover an uninteresting image i.e. “A derelict fishing boat along the Alaska Canada Highway”
November Full Moon — Also known as the Beaver Moon or Harvest Moon. 1) Image acquired with a Nikon D3x camera and 400 mm f/2.8 with TC-E 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 800 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). 2) Image acquired with a Nikon D3s camera and 400 mm f/2.8 with TC-E 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 800 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec).
Waxing Gibbous Moon (97% full). Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and Questar 7″ telescope (ISO 200, 1600 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). Image processed with Capture One 5, Photoshop CS5, Focus Magic, Topaz DeNoise.
Gibbous Moon. Image taken with Nikon D3x camera and Questar 3.5″ telescope (ISO 100, ~ 1600 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). Processed using Capture One Pro 5 and Photoshop CS3. With the smaller telescope I used the mirror up setting on the camera to dampen mirror vibrations for 30 seconds before taking the image.
First Quarter Moon. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and Questar 7″ Telescope (ISO 100, ~ 1600 mm, f/16, 1/50 sec). Processed using Capture One Pro 5 and Photoshop CS3.