Photography technical advice, questions, tips and techniques.

[jumbojak]

Having a bit of trouble here trying to get the "sun dogs" to show up on film. Those are the columns of light that shoot through cloud cover down to the ground. In this case there were three brilliant sun dogs streaming down from that cloud bank. I suspect that some digital trickery like HDR might be required but I'm not sure.

[hermes2015]

Having a bit of trouble here trying to get the "sun dogs" to show up on film. Those are the columns of light that shoot through cloud cover down to the ground. In this case there were three brilliant sun dogs streaming down from that cloud bank. I suspect that some digital trickery like HDR might be required but I'm not sure.

I would say HDR is called for here. Even single-shot HDR should make a big difference, so you could try it, provided it is NEF file. I think you said before that you always shoot NEF anyway.

[jumbojak]

I'm a little confused - my thinking was that HDR required multiple shots at different exposure levels. You can do it with a single shot?

[hermes2015]

I'm a little confused - my thinking was that HDR required multiple shots at different exposure levels. You can do it with a single shot?

Yes, because there is enough dynamic range in a RAW or NEF file to extract different "exposures", which are then combined in the orthodox HDR workflow. Programs like Aurora HDR can do it quite successfully. It cannot give the same results as three or more different shots, but it can be pretty good. I'll see whether I have any tutorials on it.

[hermes2015]

Later: look at these videos:

[Icarus]

Have any of you photo wizards experimented with UV light while reducing or modifying IR illumination?   Some surprising colors shifts take place. A pure white flower becomes blue or purple or other colors, depending on the chemical composition of the flower..................I reckon that our chem guy, Hermes, will know all about such things.

[hermes2015]

Have any of you photo wizards experimented with UV light while reducing or modifying IR illumination?   Some surprising colors shifts take place. A pure white flower becomes blue or purple or other colors, depending on the chemical composition of the flower..................I reckon that our chem guy, Hermes, will know all about such things.

I have seen many examples of photography in the invisible parts of the spectrum, but have never done any myself. Another nice thing to do is play with a UV light and examine the fluorescent and phosphorescent effects of different minerals and other materials.

[jumbojak]

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, HDR really does make a big difference! Nothing to share until I purchase a license for Photomatix but I like it. I really, really like it!

[hermes2015]

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, HDR really does make a big difference! Nothing to share until I purchase a license for Photomatix but I like it. I really, really like it!

Well, that's the good reaction I was hoping to get from you and I feel like an evangelist that has saved a soul.. This is one of the benefits of shooting in RAW, and now you see why I have been advocating it all this time. Photomatix is considered the best tool, but recently its position has been challenged seriously by Aurora HDR, so before spending any money, also take a look at Aurora HDR. I want to warn, though, that it is very easy to create some really kitschy, eyeball-searing abominations with HDR software.

There is also some free HDR software out there, but I haven't found anything nearly as powerful as Photomatix and Aurora HDR.

[jumbojak]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

[Tank]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

We need some before and after examples.

[hermes2015]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

Of course, it is perfectly legitimate to produce over the top effects, provided it is what one intends to do. One man's abomination is another's art.
You did not make a mistake purchasing Photomatix; it is the industry standard. There are lots of colour and other tweaking options you can implement once you know the software well.

[jumbojak]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

We need some before and after examples.

It might be Sunday before I get somewhere that has sufficient Internet access again, but you'll have them.

[jumbojak]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

Of course, it is perfectly legitimate to produce over the top effects, provided it is what one intends to do. One man's abomination is another's art.
You did not make a mistake purchasing Photomatix; it is the industry standard. There are lots of colour and other tweaking options you can implement once you know the software well.

I'm sure there are lots of options. It's amazing just how much information is stored in an NEF file. My jaw literally dropped when I saw the difference it made in the cow photo.

[Tank]

Too late Hermes, I already blew my weekly tool budget on Photomatix. And, I might've created a few eyeball searing abominations already but the results really impressed me. Not perfect by any means but much more true to the eye than what came out of the camera.

I've noticed that the reds are brought out just a bit too much in the skies. Still need to do some tweaking I guess.

We need some before and after examples.

It might be Sunday before I get somewhere that has sufficient Internet access again, but you'll have them.