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LIGHT Photographic Workshops blog discusses everything photography related. Adobe updates, computer suggestions, accessories that can save your life and more!
Topaz Labs released a new program/plugin called Clarity this morning. Quick video to show some of the new features. I am a fan of Topaz and have been working this one for a couple weeks. I really like where they are going.
Clarity is 49.99 but you can use the code "claritynew" until the 31st of May and pick it up for 29.99.
The three part video demonstrates and discusses my favorite features of the Lightroom 5 beta. The full feature list is below but my favorites are: Improved spot removal and retouching, the Radial Filter, improved crop overlay, import functionality, Smart Previews, and Upright for auto lens corrections.
In the video I reference additional keyboard shortcuts for the Spot Removal and Radial Filter tools. The shortcuts are shown below.
Spot Removal (Q)
-New circle spot (auto-find source): Single click
-New circle spot (user-defined source): Ctrl drag
-New circle spot (scale from center): Ctrl Alt drag
-New circle spot (scale from anchor): Ctrl Shift drag
-Connect two circle spots: Single click + Shift click
-Increase circle spot size: ]
-Decrease circle spot size: [
-New brush spot: Click drag
-Constrain brush spot to straight line: Shift drag
-Cycle Spot Type: Shift + Q
-Auto-Find New Source: /
-Visualize Spots: A
-Hide Spot Overlays: H
-Delete spot: Alt select
-Delete selected spot: Delete
-Delete multiple spots: Alt drag select
Radial Filter (Shift + M)
-New elliptical mask: Drag
-Apply new mask to crop bounds: Ctrl double-click
-Expand existing mask to crop bounds: Ctrl double-click on mask
-Duplicate: Ctrl Alt drag
-Invert elliptical mask: ’ (apostrophe)
-Hide/show guide: H (short press)
-Hide guide on press, show on release: H (long press)
-Apply & dismiss: Double-click on photo
-Delete selected elliptical mask: Delete
Major feature list
-Smart Previews
-PNGs now supported in Lightroom
-New fullscreen mode. F key is true full screen. Legacy full screen mode is Shift + F
-Configurable grid overlays for Loupe view
-New searchable criteria for Smart Collections - File size, Image size, Image bit depth, color channels, Color mode, Color profile, Smart Preview statsus, and PNG
-Advanced healing brush for Spot Removal
-Radial Filter
-Upright auto lens corrections
-LAB color readout on histogram. Right click on the histogram for a flyout menu.
-New book features
I will do additional videos to show some of these upgrade features.
Fiat Lux!
I am certain you have already done this but just in case you have not make sure to go in and modify your metadata presets. This is also a great time to verify you made a new parent folder reflecting the new year.
In the quick video Hal shows the update process for Lightroom and the Bridge.
If you have not seen this announced yet, Elephorm is streaming Hal's Lightroom training videos free until the 31st of January.
We are biased but there is no better Lightroom training available and FREE for the next two weeks makes it even better.
Elephorm Lightroom
Have fun!
Fiat Lux!
My recent Topaz DeNoise webinar is available to watch on YouTube.
Enjoy.
Fiat Lux!
A recent video showing my Topaz Denoise and Detail process.
Thanks for the questions that help generate these videos!
Fiat Lux!
Ambrosia Coating: Application to Canvas with a roller.
from Hal Schmitt on Vimeo
A quick video showing the process and disussing tactics, techniques, and procedures for effective canvas coating with a roller. For this demo, I used a Canon ipf 6350, Alpha Strike's new Lucia/Lucia EX ready canvas, and Ambrosia.
With this new coating you can also coat water resistant photo and art papers;archival protection without glass or glazing, very, very cool. More videos on those soon.
For all of the product specs check out Ambrosia.
Backpack: Universal Player FAQ
We have received a lot of questions regarding how to use the Elephorm Universal Player with Hal's Lightroom videos. Here is the entire FAQ for the player with step by step description and images.
For those who might not be familiar Hal's Lightroom training is available via streaming video or you can download the content to your desktop/laptop. If you download the interface to play the videos is the Universal Player.
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Currently, you can stream all of the videos on your idevices but the content is not downloadable there yet. An iOS app for iPad/Phone is almost ready though.
Thank you to everyone for providing the great feedback and reviews!
If you have not checked the training out yet, you can find it here
Connect to en.elephorm.com with your email and password, and locate the Universal Player Blob, as shown on picture below. Click on the Install button and follow instructions.
After installation, the player will open automatically. You will then be prompted to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and to enter your details (same email and password you use to connect to en.elephorm.com)
You are now in your library, and you’ll be able to download your tutorials to HD in a few clicks.
Please move on to next section to understand what’s happening behind the scenes
NOTE
: To access the Lessons Summary shown in the picture below, you just have to click on the Chapter Access button in the Library.
A few things you should know:
Guest V-Blog with Rick Sammon: Think Wide-Angle and Macro
When you want to shoot close, shoot with your macro lens and your wide-angle lens. Sometimes, the wider the better.
Gear: Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 15mm lens
Induro tripod and ball head
Black Rapid strap
Explore the light,
Rick
Canvas Gallery Wrap Techniques - Cutting and Folding the Corners from Hal Schmitt on Vimeo.
Here is a quick video showing Hal Schmitt's corner cutting and folding technique when finishing a canvas gallery wrap.
Hal is working a 24 x 36 gallery wrap with Alpha Strike Matte Canvas photo grade coated with Ambrosia.
Fiat Lux!
A quick demonstration of an effective and efficient local adjustment workflow using Lightroom 4's Adjustment Brush feature to optimize Exposure and White Balance. Although Lightroom is the example software the exact same process is available in Adobe Camera Raw.
Fiat Lux!
Happy New Year from the crew at Light. Here is a quick video discussing a few changes we should all make to keep our Digital Asset Management process working smoothly.
Fiat Lux!
New Croton Dam, NY
I am in New York this weekend with Rick Sammon. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene just passed through the area. My discussion in NYC was cancelled so we spent the day shooting around Croton-on-Hudson.
We recorded a quick video discussing the top slow shutter speed and waterfall photography tips. Rick and I, along with Juan Pons and Jennifer Wu, did a battle of the sunset photo tips last year at the California Photo Festival (2011 California Photo Fest) so we thought we would do a smaller version.
The top tips on the video, and one or two more, were:
1. Use a tripod for stability. When shooting slow a tripod allows you to keep everything solid except for the moving water.
2. Use your cable release or camera's timer.
3. Bring a neutral density filter or polarizers.
4. Use live view.
A small "stream" that had popped up as a result of Irene.
5. Reference live view's magnification frame to act as an expanded spot meter for perfect exposure. I normally place the frame over the brightest area of the water I am trying to blur. This area is normally (but not always) the shot's highlight and drives the overall exposure.
6. After the shot reference your histogram to make sure the exposure is tight.
7. Target half a second as your shutter speed. As water speed changes you may need more or less.
8. Keep a lens cloth and absorbent cloth nearby to wipe your lens and LCD.
9. Maintain your SA (situational awareness,) always look behind you to make sure you are not missing a great shot.
Those were just a few we thought of on the spot in beautiful Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
Same as above but with "enhancement." Took the image to Silver Efex and then blended the result using the Luminosity blend mode in Photoshop.
Check out a bunch of cool tips at Rick Sammon's blog here.
Fiat Lux and see you at the California Photo Festival!
Topaz Labs just posted the webinar I did with them a couple weeks ago. Enjoy and, as always, send me any questions, comments, or concerns.
Fiat Lux!
Bull
Hobart Bay Pano with Northern Song bookends
An early morning fisheye pano I shot recently. I liked the effect I was getting with the boat framing the vertical edge of the image but the only way to bookend was with a pano. With the 15mm FE on my 5D Mk II, I was able to get the effect with only two shots. I knew from previous efforts though I would have a problem trying to stitch just two fisheye images together with Photoshop. In order to make the stitching process go a little simpler (or go at all) I shot an additional frame for a total of three.
I stacked all three shots, expanded my canvas, and moved each into position manually. If you ever need to do this the trick is to switch the Layer Blend Mode of the layer you are moving to Difference. This will give you a weird ghosted effect but you can easily see where to position. After everything was in place I selected all layers and clicked Edit-Auto Blend. With the Auto layout selected Photoshop did the rest.
In the end the image was just under 10K pixels wide so I almost reached a 2:1 ratio for the pano. More importantly, I got the effect I wanted. I think the main lesson is pixels are free. If you have an idea shoot away and see what can be accomplished in post. If it works, great. If not, find another way.
The video below is the final from our last trip ashore. I posted the other two already so I figured I might as well finish it. As you can see my lens is still wet and I was not microphoned up. Hopefully, it captures some of the flavor.
Send Off from AK from Hal Schmitt on Vimeo
The "sushi" bar comment in the video is when the fish rush ashore and the eagles stand in or near the water. They reach down with their beaks and snatch the fish up; just like a sushi-go-round restaurant.
A single eagle at the "sushi bar" with one on deck.
Notice the fish jumping out of the water in the foreground.
The final shot below is the yacht I reference in the video. I will admit it was kind of small in the frame so here is a closer view.
Fiat Lux!
Alaska Ice Cave from Hal Schmitt on Vimeo
Video shot as I was getting ready to make some HDR source images. Always be extremely careful when dealing with ice caves. Many are not safe at all so perform a good survey of the scene and judge integrity, traction, and overall security. It is also a great idea to not do this alone. With at least one other person assistance/rescue gets much easier.
The textures, color, and tonal range inside the cave were amazing. Shooting here was a challenge. The biggest issue was the melt water. Keeping the camera and lens relatively dry required full protection. I do not use any fancy type of rain gear. I prefer fish fillet bags and rubber bands or gaffer's tape. They make a simple, effective, and economical solution. Light levels overall were low so I used a tripod. Tripod setup was a little challenging with very slippery, uneven terrain (ice) as the cave floor. The ability to rapidly adjust my tripod leg length and angle was very helpful.
I shot a single image to assess the tones and decided I needed to shoot multiples to cover the entire range. For the HDRs on this blog, I shot only three source files at -2, 0, and +2 E.V with a Canon 5D Mk II. This gave me about 9ish stops of usable data which worked perfectly. Had I needed more shots I had my Promote Control with me.
HDR processed with HDR Efex Pro from Nik
I used Nik's HDR Efex Pro for this scene. As many of you know I am not all that faithful to one HDR software. I primarily find myself using Photomatix Pro but I will almost always try other options and pick the best result. Sometimes my final result is a blend of output from different programs. For this shot I wanted the result to show texture more than anything else. Click on the attached images for a larger version since only when big will the real texture come out.
On this version I pulled some saturation and pushed texture a bit more.
Now I need to go back in July with my Fisheye. Of course, this cave will be gone but I should be able to find another. Come out and join me.
Fiat Lux!
A little time lapse movie from last night's Meetup event.
Shot with a Canon 40D and EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye.
Used my Promote Control for intervalometer duties.
We recently finished a series of four shooting courses here at Light and there is one piece of gear that is consistently needed. Regardless of subject, technique, camera, etc. the HoodLoupe is a must have.
I did a video last summer regarding the HL (HoodLoupe Video) and every shooting session reconfirms.
There is such critical information available to us on the LCD whether in Live View before the shot or when reviewing images/histograms after the shot; try not to pass it up. The loupe will help you eliminate distractions and overcome bright lighting conditions to focus on the LCD.
As you know, I am always a full disclosure guy. Hoodman does not compensate me for endorsing their gear. It is just the best stuff out there.
If you do not have one yet, just do it.
Fiat Lux!
Bull
Holding the DSLR Properly from Hal Schmitt on Vimeo.
A quick tip from Secret Beach, Maui.
Hope to see you at the California Photo Festival.
Fiat Lux!
