The Polishing Shop
/forum/topic/718559/0

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Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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





Charlie Shugart
Registered: Feb 06, 2007
Total Posts: 16481
Country: United States

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



T-bone1
Registered: Jun 29, 2008
Total Posts: 8535
Country: United States

Alan,

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

-Tim



sbeme
Registered: Dec 23, 2003
Total Posts: 12716
Country: United States

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



tomandmarj
Registered: Jan 02, 2007
Total Posts: 5800
Country: United States

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



Dougo
Registered: Feb 10, 2006
Total Posts: 3223
Country: Australia

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

Cheers Ray



lazlo369
Registered: Mar 01, 2004
Total Posts: 8760
Country: United States

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.



Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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



Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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



Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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



Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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



Alan Young
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Total Posts: 4538
Country: United Kingdom

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



tomandmarj
Registered: Jan 02, 2007
Total Posts: 5800
Country: United States

Auditor!? need an assistant?
tom



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