More work on photos from the Poland trip in March. Not much time at the moment to go out and take photos with a few workshops coming up and a few games of golf. So with my 'doing something photographic each day rule' my focus is on processing.
@rosiekerr I used a series of steps. First, I combined three shots using Photomatix. Then I imported into Lightroom and used the distortion correction to get it aligned (that was the trickiest part). I also did some contrast adjustments in LR. Then I exported to Silver Efex and used high-key (I think #2) as my starting point. Reduced structure, decreased brightness, left contrast alone. Then back into LR. I used the neutral density filter just at the top down a bit to smooth out the sky. So, with all that, I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.
@888rachel Thanks Rachel. I don't know for sure, but it seems that the photo books I had done were destroyed in the fire. We'll know for sure in a few weeks...I'm hoping I can work out some kind of a deal for getting them reprinted. VERY sad at the moment but trying to stay optimistic!
@888rachel They are on the site and I've been trying to get them to respond to me. About 4 times a year you can reorder any book you've made for $US25.00. So, I tried putting in the order for them twice since the fire and the site locks up. I email them, and they ignore me. I call and they don't return the call. This is My Publisher, which I've used for years. It's been really frustrating to say the least. It's been off my radar since the last offer, but now that I know that the books are most likely lost (and I'm not being reimbursed by insurance at the level of cost of the original book, unfortunately). Anyway, probably too much information, but that's why I'm sad about losing them. I'm guessing with time, I can get them to respond, but it's just that 'one more thing' that's too much to deal with!
This is just such a fantastic capture and processing. Wow Taffy. Amazing..FAV With so many lovely photos to share, no need to apologize. Keep em coming!
Quite a laborious and time consuming process which you have taken this through. Clearly HDR end result, but much softer than what I am used to seeing from your architectural/city images.
This is stunning and thank you so much for posting the detail of how you achieved this result. I love it. Fav So sad about your phonebooks and so frustrating not to be able to contact the publishers, I hope you get it sorted soon.
I saw this on TP so had to look to see who did it. This is fantastic! Love all the textures and details. Love the way the marble shines, the lines and perspective and just fantastic. You processing skills are to be envied!
I really like how your processing has brought out such exquisite detail and textures in all those different surfaces. I hope you eventually get a response and are able to arrange replacements of your books; I know how much effort goes into them.
Fabulous lead line into the shot and great processing Taffy to bring out the details. Wow that's an awful lot of processing to go through, not sure whether I would have the patience. My ps/software skills are quite limited. How long do you think that process would take you, do you do the processing in one hit or save and return to it? I hope you manage to find your photo books that would be sad if you have lost them. I know how much time and effort goes into producing these books.
@elaine55 Thanks Elaine. I assume over time all this will sort itself out. Re processing, it takes maybe an hour give or take to go through the steps I outlined above. Usually I work in phases...maybe do the HDR combining and then put aside, then next phase, etc. Even when all done, I usually try to put it aside for a day as I get too close to it to tell if there are obvious things to fix (e.g., hotspots I don't notice as I've focused on too much other stuff, or dust spots, or weird lines). On a rainy day, it's a great way to spend time. Sometimes while watching TV. Sometimes while avoiding doing work...and I kind of work on this kind of stuff in spurts usually when I don't feel like taking new photos for some reason.
Goodness- it looks so regal whatever the structure is! I would not have your patience for this kind of processing. It looks incredible but so intricate. Awesome capture.
