I have been using Photomatic Pro for quite a while but decided to try out Nik’s HDR Efex Pro. I am very happy with the results. The realistic presets get very close to my desired results and the U-point technology lets me fine-tune while working with the HDR image. Previously, I had to create multiple versions of the HDR image to fine-tune the highlights and shadows.

This image was taken at dusk with extreme backlighting. It is bracketed by 10 stops. I added 7 control points to locally adjust. This is the first time that I have been able to process it successfully.

  

16 Street, San Francisco

These directions are for exporting from InDesign CS3 to Blurb’s Booksmart software.

Open your book in InDesign.

• If you are doing full bleed images, make sure that your document as an extra 1/8″ bleed on all margins.

In InDesign, choose File | Export.

• Choose for Adobe PDF Preset: [High Quality Print]
• Check Spreads
• In the left-hand side, choose Marks and Bleeds item
• Check Use Document Bleed Settings
• Click Export

Open Bridge and select your newly exported PDF

• Right click on your PDF and choose Open With -> Adobe Photoshop CS3

In Photoshop, you now have the Import PDF dialog open

• Select all the pages to convert
• Choose Media Box from the Crop To choices. In the dialog, look at the image size values to make sure that you have a full bleed image. Mine has an extra 1/8″ on all margins.
• Click OK and your will have all your page spreads open as images.

In Photoshop…

• Assign the sRGB profile to your images. Use the Edit | Assign Profile command.
• Save your pages to a directory.

Open Booksmart software.

• Create a new book of the correct size and choose blank for the template
• Import your page spread images that you just created in Photoshop.
• Drop your images onto your blank pages.

Adding Clarity

I just finished my second tutorial for Digital Stop. This details adding clarity to an image which adds pop! Read here.

Motion with High-Dynamic Range (HDR) Images

I just completed my first tutorial for Digital Stop. You can read about how I made this image here.

David Julian Workshop

This weekend, I attended the David Julian workshop through Digital Stop. I had a great time and all the stars aligned. David is a great teacher, inspiration and working on simulating alternate processes digitally. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking one of his workshops on creativity. He really can teach creativity. We also learned compositing skills as shown by this image.

Sunol #17

I have been watching the Luminous Landscape "Camera to Print" video. I learned an important printing tip. When printing from Photoshop CS3 to your inkjet printer. You should always let "Photoshop manage colors". Why? Because, Photoshop converts colors MUCH more accurately than letting the printer driver and OS do the conversion using the ICM or ICC. Hmmm. I always let the printer driver manage colors when using the Epson papers with my Epson printer.

Sunol Drive-By #2

I have been watching an excellent video called "From Camera to Print" by Luminous Landscape. Highly recommended.

Pattern Interrupted

Another from this weekend’s workshop with Vincent Versace. This is in the Presidio. A tip from Vincent. A pattern is always interesting but a pattern interrupted is much more interesting.

Photographic Style #2

Yesterday’s post shows one photographic style (ie a photo montage). For my Photographic style class, I need an example of three different styles for my infrared landscapes. This is my second photographic style, and is a simulated pinhole camera shot that I mimicked in Photoshop. I tried shallow depth of field with my infrared camera but I have not mastered the focus differences to have my shot turn out.

I toned this shot with Ken Lee’s Bronze Quadtones. See http://www.kenleegallery.com/bronze.htm.

Sacramento Train Museum Abstract #4

Ooops, found one more abstract from the Sacramento Train Museum’s ceiling.

I recently discovered Lenswork podcasts called "Vision of the Heart". Brooks Jensen discusses an image (or pair of images) published in Lenswork. His discussions are very insightful and revealing. For me, hearing these discussions gives me a much greater appreciation of the work. For the podcasts, see here.

By listening to the podcasts, I discovered the amazing and gorgeous work of Chip Forelli. His B&W work is gorgeous. In the podcast, he quotes his mentor, "Never trust air that you cannot see." In Chip’s work, the air is a vital component of the composition and mood.