LAB Day In Photoshop
This is shot some months ago.This is probably the most color correct HDR i have ever done. Its a simple tone map, with a low saturation. A bit lower than what it really looked like and in photoshop a single curves adjustment, with the following "rules" in mind.
Skies almost always fall to the green, not the magenta, side of blue and anything that grows, is always to the yellow, never the blue, side of green.
If the above sentence didn't make any sense then you could search the net for photoshop LAB mode and you will find a couple of site that offers tutorials on LAB mode. Some of them are really good.
As good as the tutorials are, they don't really come close to the book: "Photoshop LAB Color. The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerfull Colorspace". Its written by Dan Margulis. I have read it a couple of times and it always goes on vacation with me.
Its hard reading, but stick with it and slowly you will understand it. Well, it went slowly for me - you could be faster.
Camera: Nikon D200
Focal length: 27mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposures: 9
Nice detail and variety of colors. Well done.
I appreciate your processing tips! I really like the green in this image and the wide angle feel.
Well the grass looks natural - for some grass in some places - and the rest of the image looks normal but I would like to see the unadjusted image to see what it is you actually did.
I have no idea what the reference ‘HDR’ means. There are a number of meanings listed in Wikipedia and it could be a reference to at least two of them - but which?
For all of the near 4,000 digital images I’ve taken since going digital I have had no reason to feel there was any need to adjust color. Sometimes brightness, up or down. I’ve concluded that many who make adjustments do so simply because they can fiddle and not because it really improves things - just makes them different.
The thing in this image that really interests me is the painting behind the truck.
Great composition; love the light.
Will keep in mind. This one actually I like a lot. Something about it feels very “real” to me.
Interesting processing. I’m wondering if this is close to what the original scene looked like…which of course begs the question of why the special processing.
@Hugh Petrie: I should have written: HDRI and not HDR. My mistake. I would actually like to spend less time making adjustments and more time shooting pictures. Even the old “masters” did a lot of processing, both in choosing film, paper, developing time and so on. Today with digital, photoshop has replaced it. It does not mean that it is more simple, it just means its cheaper to make mistakes ;) @Jim: Its as close to the original scene as i could remember it :) I think that there is always the need for adjusting colors, mostly because a camera does not capture colors the way we humans see them. A camera is not influenced by a subjects surroundings, but the human perception is. So we need to break the colors apart, by contrast and (often) increase saturation. Not the overall saturation, but by making sure that a color is actually the correct color. Like green is actually green or … “always to the yellow, never the blue, side of green…” :)
It seems a little flat in the color range. but it’s a nice composition!
I like the contrast of the depressing bland building that is towering over the colorful walls below it.
Very nice composition and colors and great processing as always! Thank you for the tips! :)
Like the contrast .. and good composition
To me the color is dynamic and precise! The image stands on it’s own with subject matter, but the color is the punch power! Another great one.
I like this, dramatic sky and lots of details
Love the strip of interesting colours contrasting with the hazy darkness at the top there.
Interesting shot. Would like to also see a tight shot with the beautiful murals.
Excellent wide angle view, love the colors and details. Interesting subject, like looking at all the unique things in this shot. Bo, apologize for the problems you had with my old site. I’ve moved to a new provider and redesigned my new site at www.sirius2photo.com
the building behind looks so ominous. maybe it’s the sky. i like this composition. and good to know about Margulis book - i’ve been considering ordering it.
Very good work with hdr and colours.