Dave_E wrote:
Lovely Gary, the dark backgrounds make the images pop. The poses are really nice and sharp as a tack. I love the water shake. It’s amazing w hat the evolution in software editing can do for old images. Voted
Dave
Appreciate the support Dave. When I say old I mean from just a couple years ago Editing on these was actually very light. Just run through DxO and then a levels adjustment and very light sharpening. I really like when I can expose for a subject against a dark background and let the BG fall off to black/dark. DxO Pure Raw2 used to lighten up my backgrounds way too much and then I had to mess with the file to get the BG dark again. No worries anymore
morris wrote:
Great looking set Gary. I have not tried DXO in a long time as it's always frustrated me. I get great results with ACR.
Morris
Here's a good example of what I'm referring to Morris. Both of these shots are unedited. The first is run through Pure Raw2 and the second Pure Raw5. Maybe there was a way to change that result in Raw2 but I could never figure it out. Some might say the first shot looks better but keep in mind I've done no editing yet. The result coming out of Pure Raw5 gives me much more control of the final image.
It's very obvious that the PR5 image is darker. To understand more I downloaded them both and normalized the white level using levels to make the brightest parts the maximum white. The result is quite interesting as there is nicer depth to the whites in the PR5 image yet the background detail is lost due to it's lack of brightness. I'll put the results up side by side with your permission. I can see how making all the adjustments in PW5 could bring a lot more out.
It's very obvious that the PR5 image is darker. To understand more I downloaded them both and normalized the white level using levels to make the brightest parts the maximum white. The result is quite interesting as there is nicer depth to the whites in the PR5 image yet the background detail is lost due to it's lack of brightness. I'll put the results up side by side with your permission. I can see how making all the adjustments in PW5 could bring a lot more out.
Morris
That bird was in pretty bright sunlight so I purposely exposed to retain detail in the highlights and my intention was to let the BG fall to black. That's why I wasn't happy with the PureRaw2 results.
Sure, go ahead. I'm curious to see which direction you would go with something like this.
I did not actually process for looks, just to normalize the white level. This is what I got.
As you asked what Id do with the image I did a quick edit from the PR5 image. I like to have a little bit of shadow detail so I went with your dark background idea removing a couple of very bright spots and darkening a few other.
It's always interesting to see how different people interpret the same seen or image. Is this close to what you were thinking?
Morris
Screen shot of both images with the white level normalized at max
sum1sgrampa wrote:
Before I looked at your edit I did my own the way I normally would. Thanks Morris. Interesting exercise
My pleasure Gary. This is a great way to learn. It appears you applied lens blur or something similar. Looking at mine, do you feel it was necessary in this case? I'll answer how I see it after I read you answer.
morris wrote:
My pleasure Gary. This is a great way to learn. It appears you applied lens blur or something similar. Looking at mine, do you feel it was necessary in this case? I'll answer how I see it after I read you answer.
Editing on these was actually very light. Just run through DxO and then a levels adjustment and very light sharpening. I really like when I can expose for a subject against a dark background and let the BG fall off to black/dark. DxO Pure Raw2 used to lighten up my backgrounds way too much and then I had to mess with the file to get the BG dark again. No worries anymore 
