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”
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Original image, no HDR (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photoshop CS5 HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). NIK HDR Pro (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Single shot HDR with Dx0 Pro (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). HDR with Photomatix Pro (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 3: Beach at Waipi’o Valley.
Comparison of RAW image converters. Waipi’o Valley is located along the Hamakua Coast on the northeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. The image was taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Four different programs were used to render the RAW image: 1) Capture NX2, 2) Photoshop CS5 with Camera Raw 6.2, 3) Capture One Pro 5, 4) DxO 6.5. The images were rotated 2.6° to level the horizon, sharpened with Focus Magic, and then converted to jpg and sRGB with Photoshop CS5. I am interested in feedback regarding the different renderings.
Turkey Vulture soaring. The Turkey Vultures population has increased significantly since the state quit picking up the road killed deer. This is both hunting and rutting season so we have many deer running across roads and being hit by automobiles. Robin feasting on fall “bittersweet” berries. I don’t know if this robin plans to winter, or is feasting before flying south. Finally, some fall mushrooms.
Gone to See America August 2010 Road Trip. Day 5: Eastern Sierra Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant.
A few images from the first day of the Eastern Sierra Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant. I actually missed the first locations that Michael took the group to earlier in the day since I was traveling from San Francisco (visiting my group as part of my day job). Michael provided me with the GPS coordinates for the Red Canyon Petroglyphs so I could meet up with the group for the petroglyphs and then sunset over the Owens Valley. I took the following images of the petroglyphs soon after meeting up with the group. You can tell that there has been vandalism as folks try to add their own “art” or have taken parts of the ancient art away.
Red Canyon Petroglyphs. HDR Composite of 5 images taken with a Nikon D3s and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2, various). HDR Processed using NIK HDR Efex Pro (David J Mathre)The Hand. Red Canyon Petroglyphs. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed using Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5
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The Hand. Red Canyon Petroglyphs. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed using Capture One Pro 6, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CS5
After the Thunderstorm. View looking south after a late spring thunderstorm in New Jersey. The sky cleared and there was a view of the moon over a thunderhead being lit up by the setting sun.
Moon over Thunderhead at Sundown. Last Day of Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/11, 1/50 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Color Efex (Tonal Contrast), Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5.
