Hello,

Polishing handles for kitchen doors.


Here's how I processed it



1. A single image hand held no flash

2. 5 separate exposures created using a raw converter 1 stop variance.

3. Combined and tone mapped in Dynamic HDR

4. Exported as a 16 bit Tiff

5. Noise reduced with Noise Ninja in PS

6. Converted in PS to B/W using gradient filter

7. Curves tweaked

8. Sharpened with high pass and soft light blending mode

9. Grain added using Alien Skin exp 2

All the best Alan

Alan,
Beautifully presented. Being a non-techie I can only imagine the time and skill necessary to even all the light and dark areas out and make it all work. Of the nine steps you followed, I understand only the first. So this neophyte salutes you.
This is a real workplace, with everybody having their noses to the grind...., uh....polishing brushes. Only one man is even peeking at you. I suspect that there was nothing "set up" that involved the workers. You did what you did and they polished door handles, the same as they had the day before, and the day before that.
It's interesting to me that all of the workers are wearing cotton breathing masks. Of course, it's a health measure because of the fine metallic dust being thrown into the air. Twenty years ago when I visited several Chinese factories, nobody wore health/safety gear of any kind.
It's reassuring to see some care being given to the workers.
Charlie

Alan,

I must say, this is my favorite shot yet from you since I began frequenting this forum.

-Tim

Excellent work, Alan.
Thanks for detailing the steps.
Lots to see in this excellent capture. Keeps me coming back to find more.
Scott

oh, for a minute I thought you worked this one over!!!
how did you get in?!?!? in the USA it is RARE,RARE to get into a shop to shoot. good going. show us more.
regards, tom

Hi Alan
There is a lot of interest in the shot, the processing is great and thanks for the mini tutorial

Cheers Ray

Good processing Alan.
Thanks for posting the steps

This picture brings me back to the time when I was working in one of these factories in Budapest.

Actually, this place looks much cleaner.

Charlie Shugart wrote:
Alan,
Beautifully presented. Being a non-techie I can only imagine the time and skill necessary to even all the light and dark areas out and make it all work. Of the nine steps you followed, I understand only the first. So this neophyte salutes you.
This is a real workplace, with everybody having their noses to the grind...., uh....polishing brushes. Only one man is even peeking at you. I suspect that there was nothing "set up" that involved the workers. You did what you did and they polished door handles, the same as they had the day before, and the day before that.
It's interesting to me that all of the workers are wearing cotton breathing masks. Of course, it's a health measure because of the fine metallic dust being thrown into the air. Twenty years ago when I visited several Chinese factories, nobody wore health/safety gear of any kind.
It's reassuring to see some care being given to the workers.
Charlie

Thank you Charlie, I strive to improve working conditions for these people.

All the best Alan

T-bone1 wrote:
Alan,

I must say, this is my favorite shot yet from you since I began frequenting this forum.

-Tim

Thank you Tim pleased you like it

Alan

tomandmarj wrote:
oh, for a minute I thought you worked this one over!!!
how did you get in?!?!? in the USA it is RARE,RARE to get into a shop to shoot. good going. show us more.
regards, tom

Unlimited access Tom, being an Auditor

Alan

Dougo wrote:
Hi Alan
There is a lot of interest in the shot, the processing is great and thanks for the mini tutorial

Cheers Ray

Thanks Ray

Alan

lazlo369 wrote:
Good processing Alan.
Thanks for posting the steps

This picture brings me back to the time when I was working in one of these factories in Budapest.

Actually, this place looks much cleaner.



Thanks lazlo the steps are brief, however the fundamentals are there.

all the best Alan

Auditor!? need an assistant?
tom