It's A Small World

It has been awhile since I posted a Tilt-Shift image. I took the above photograph during the 2012 PPA conference in New Orleans. In the days of film Tilt-Shift photography was done using a Perspective Control lens. Perspective Control lens are somewhat expensive and there use is limited. Today you can create Tilt-Shift images using software like Adobe Photoshop. The above Tilt-Shift image was done in post-processing using Adobe’s Photoshop CS5. Adobe added a specific Tilt-Shift function to Photoshop CS6. In Photoshop CS6 the Tilt-Shift function is located in the top left pull-down menu (Filter>Blur>Tilt-Shift). In conclusion; Tilt-Shift photography can be interesting and a lot of fun.

 

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Exposer: 1/20s at f/6.3, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 58mm, Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Infinity, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Date: 01/17/2012 at 8:01 am, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4

 

Copyright © 2013 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

 

And Now For Something Different

I recently took one of my favorite photographs (top image) and using Photoshop CS5 to convert it into an artistic painterly image (bottom image). Then I had it printed onto canvas to complete the effect. It came out as good as I had hoped.

The following is a brief description of what I did in Photoshop CS5 to convert this image into a painterly image.

• First I selected Filter from the top menu selection in Photoshop CS5.
• Then I selected Artistic from the pull-down menu.
• Lastly I selected Post Edges from the Artistic menu selection.

Note: there are many other painterly and special effect options to choose from within the Artistic menu. Once you make an Artistic effect selection you can then further adjust the selected effect to your desired style. That’s it. Now create something that Michelangelo would envy.

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: 11.9 meters, Exposure: 1/600s at f/5.6, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 300mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 08/05/2009 at 11:57 am

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

 

Tilt-Shift (It's Just An Illusion)

The above photographs were processed in Photoshop CS5 as Tilt-Shit images. Tilt-Shift imagery is really an optical illusion. A Tilt-Shift image tricks’ the viewer’s eyes (and mind) in believing that they are looking at a photograph of a miniature diorama.

The following steps will assist you in creating your own Tilt-Shift images:

1. Choose the right photograph (typically an image shoot from above works best).
2. In Photoshop select the Edit in Quick Mask Mode (Q)
3. Then select the Gradient Tool (G)
4. Then within the Gradient Tool Bar select the Reflected Gradient icon
5. In the Gradient Editor use the pull-down menu and select Foreground to Background
6. Make sure in the Set Foreground Color that Black is the foreground and White is the background
7. Now select your focus area by placing your curser on your image and click and hold your left mouse button and dragging it across your focus area then release your mouse button. Your focus area should appear in a transparent red glow.
8. Now select the Edit in Standard Mode (Q) icon again.  You should see an outline of marching ants.
9. Select Filter > Blur > Lens Blur.  This will open your image in a new window.
10. In the Lens Blur windows adjust the Iris Radius (typically I find that 20-30 is a good number, but you’ll have to use your own judgment at this point).
11. When you’re happy with your Iris Radius setting select OK.
12. To remove the marching ants press CNRL-D.
13. At this point if you have not done it yet, you may want to consider increasing the Saturation, Contrast and/or Structure of your image to increase the modeling effect of your photograph.

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.

 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G lens, Subject Distance: Infinity, Exposure: 1/60s at f/6.3, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 24mm, Filter: Circular Polarizer, Lighting: Natural Daylight, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 07/31/2010 at 11:20 am

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Happy New Year!!! (2012)



If 2011 has been a little rough for you as it has been for many this year, remember that New Year's Eve represents an ending, while at the same time it also represents a new beginning. As the clock strikes twelve you can set new goals, fix wrongs or just make your life a little more meaningful by helping someone else who needs it. And, even if you have had a great 2011, may you have an even better New Year in 2012.

I edited the above photograph using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Bridge. I moderately increased the Color Temperature, Contrast and the Blacks of the image. Then I moderately decreased the Clarity and Color Saturation to give the image a slightly dreamy look. When using a digital photo editor remember to have fun. Try different configurations to learn what works and how to use them. Also, remember to always save your edited image with a different file name so you can preserve the original photograph for future editing. I can promise you one thing; you will be pleased and amazed at what you can produce in a digital photo editor.

New Year's Eve is observed on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. New Year's Eve is ofter celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages and watch or light fireworks to mark the incoming year. (Information source: Wikipedia)

For more information about New Year's Eve see the Wikipedia link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Eve

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Subject Distance: 2.0 meters, Exposure: 1/60s at f/5.6, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Nikon SpeedLight SB-800 (slave unit) with an Amber Diffuser Flash Cover and a Nikon Wireless SpeedLight commander SU-800 (master unit), Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Bridge, Date: 12/30/2011 at 11:12 am