Marc Adamus
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davewolfs wrote:
These images are absolutely stunning.
I am curious, what type of techniques do you use to blend your exposures. All of these images are very high in Dynamic Range and also have wonderful subtle details.
I'm curious to know what type of technique you use for blending your images even if they are coming from different exposures of the same raw file.
Any info is appreciated.
Dave
Thanks for the comment, Dave. The only one of these exposures that necessitated a blend in any area, was the 'Enchanted Forest' scene, and even that was so close I probably didn't need one, but used one anyway to make sure I had the best possible information in the image, noise-free. The flowers shot was easily controlled with a 2-stop GND which I moved during the exposure to reduce the transition line, because the sun was at my back. Looking directly into the sun, however, it would have required blending to get the best result. The Punch Bowl Falls shot was much like the Enchanted Forest scene, mixing sunlight and shade, but didn't require as much shadow detail and the light was somewhat diffused, so I used one exposure only in which I simply metered for the highlights and brought the shadows back up in PS with some fill light. The last scene of the Rhody was a very easy single exposure with minimal processing, because the light was very even across the scene.
When I do need to blend, and that happens often with more dramatic and difficult lighting conditions than shown here, I prefer to use only manual techniques and may go with either a painting approach or a selection approach depending on the subject matter at hand. If it's easy to select, I'll use selection tools to blend from one image to the next, but more often I prefer painting from one image to the other at varying opacities.
Often, I use a combination of GND filters and blending at the same time to make my job easier. One example of this might be a singular sea-stack protruding through a horizon, or looking out into the sky through a wooded, V-shaped valley. In either case, I will use a grad to control my exposure, but I will still bracket and blend only small areas of detail instead of more extensive blending work. For the sea stack or sides of the valley, respectively.
I do not ever, in any situation prefer to use an automated approach to blending, such as a Photomatix HDR, or other 'HDR' software. I believe the term AHDR (vs. MHDR) should be applied to such methods to make a distinction between Automated and Manual blending. In my opinion, people who do not have less experience in digital photography today seem to believe more and more that an AHDR program is the best way, or even the only way, to achieve HDR - high dynamic range. In fact, developing a good eye (much like a painter) for tonality, contrasts and exposure (not to mention what blending technique to use when) will ultimately allow the photographer to create an even more realistic and accurate result through the use of manual blending. Therefore, I am an advocate of manual blending and do not use Automated programs at this point. Technology is constantly changing and advancing though...
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