May 5, 2010 | B&W Photography
My eyes literally just can’t focus, wearing cheaters doesn’t even help! Photoshop CS5 packs a ton of new power, tools and possibilities and I just keep exploring them all in an attempt to find better answers for myself and ones I can share with you.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCUTBB0077.swf, 585, 453 [/swf]
I have three goals in this process: speed, flexibility and quality. Quality is a given because without that then it’s all a waste of time. Speed, that’s become more and more important as my shooting has vastly escalated and when clicking landscapes, digital darkroom time increases but that’s not where I want to spend my time. So a faster workflow is a must. And flexibility, well, I don’t want to be locked into anything a year from now that I’ve done today. My style and tastes do change! So as Sharon says, “You in Class?”
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCUTMV0539.swf, 397, 600 [/swf]
With finishing images from our Monument Valley adventure and getting all the lessons written and recorded to finish off the classes a top priority, I’ve been chained to the computer. I am very excited to have found a new B&W technique that fits my goals, runs at 64bit speed (which just rocks!) and all of it comes from right in CS5! No pluggins, no giant files and it really takes seconds. Gotta thank my bud Scott Kelby for giving me the start and my brilliant assistant Stephanie for providing a pivotal step. I like the results. Best thing, I can vary it slightly to give me slightly different tones in the B&W like you see above. I can’t wait to test/share it with folks next week at DLWS. And it will be on video shortly at Kelby Training. Excuse me now though, off to working on new techniques and classes.
Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E / 70-200VRII on Lexar UDMA digital film
Apr 22, 2010 | B&W Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6445.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I think the answer is pretty obvious, my director didn’t appreciate it though
Apr 21, 2010 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography
Yeap, Sharon & made it to Monument Valley for the first time today. This was our first view and it didn’t disappoint. We’ve seen many a beautiful image made here which has always pulled us in. We are very fortunate to be here with perfect photo weather and spring green just coming up.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DLCUTMV0002b&w.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Couldn’t have planned better if we wanted to. Even better, we’re here with a film crew from Kelby Training as we’re creating a two part Romancing The Landscape series. So you’ll be able to see all the successes and failures and explore this gorgeous place for the first time right along side us. It’s going to be a great week, well blog clicks as I go.
Photo captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Apr 17, 2010 | B&W Photography, Moose Adventures
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5763.swf, 460, 600 [/swf]
The moment called for B&W.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5782.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
All finishing done in CS5
Photos captured by D3x, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film
Apr 16, 2010 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
When we park at the old rail warehouse and I gather the folks, there is a uniform look on their faces saying “WTF?” It happens every time with every group. This comes in part because many don’t understand how I go about “landscape” photography. It also comes in part because Keeler at first glance is anything but a photographic heaven. But once you let Keeler in….
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You wouldn’t know it by the looks of the town now, but it was once the place where tons of gold was shipped and society was in full swing. The warehouse now stands quiet, time is its only visitor. That and us when I bring a group to town.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5513.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
I don’t know what it is about these old TVs but they suck me in every time. I approached them differently this time and finished them differently and like these results but I know there is more here. I’ll be back.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5546.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The Shadows take over Keeler as the sun slips behind the Sierra fifty miles away. This is a another stop I wish I had tagged along with Fausto because he made images I’ve never seen come from this town. Stephanie headed out and made a couple of real sweet images as well, one with my 24PC-E that she borrowed from my bag. I can see that being an expensive loan in the time to come :)
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5634.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
It was near the end of the day when the group meet up with one of Keeler’s residents and they found the treasure that is Keeler that the goal of the afternoon was meet and a window into what I think landscape photography is all about that we found Keeler’s true gold. While I didn’t make the best images of the afternoon, I was rewarded just as much as the rest of the group with a simple stop at a simple place!
Photos captured by D3x, 24/45/85PCE on Lexar UDMA digital film
Apr 16, 2010 | B&W Photography, Landscape Photography, Moose Adventures
Good thing the sun came up, it was my only possibility for redemption for the morning. Seriously, to blow such a killer opportunity, I loose sleep over those. Well, the sun came up and that great, killer skies for star trails became ouch for sun.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5371bw.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
It is no wonder that one of the first shapes I saw in the rocks of Alabama Hills was that of an ass! Now to get the shot I needed the 16Fish to get the shape. To use that lens to get the shape, I had to be in the photo. That kinda took away from it all. Having CS5 and knowing what Content-Aware fill can do, I simple put the camera on Interval Timer, stepped out of the frame, had the camera take some clicks and then a quick finish in post. You can’t see the camera or tripod or where Content-Aware made them go away. Damn, freakin cool!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5360.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Not really moving too far, I came across this nose. Now I wanted to do a little HDR because it brings out some of the cool color in the rocks. CS5 does have a new HDR engine which does a good job but it’s too many steps for impatient me so I still prefer Photomatix Pro which I used here. Matt does a great job explaining CS5 HDR basics here so check it out.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5217.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
And then back to plain and simple. I like plain and simple of after this morning, I could handle plain and simple. The finishing again was all done in CS5 using the technique Stephanie & I taught at Photoshop World, no pluggins, all CS5. Ah, this morning is over with, time to go lick my wounds and learn from my mistakes.
Photos captured by D3x, 16Fish / 45PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film
