Create an HDR look with Topaz Labs Spicify...

Cuban Colonial architecture is wonderfully textured and colorful!  There's a lot of detail in the scrollwork and interest in the old signs. The paint is worn and aged to absolute perfection, creating great photo opportunities everywhere you look!

One of my favorite filters is Topaz Labs Spicify, as it can make a dramatic difference with the overall look of an image. This filter enhances detail, color and exposure and can create a dimensional HDR look with a single image. The effect of Spicify looks differently with each photo. For a more detailed appearance, it's often just the finishing touch that an image needs.

Here's a timesaving tip to intensify the effect. After using Spicify (or another filter), Photoshop can automatically run the filter again for stronger results. Press Ctrl/Cmd F, or choose Topaz Adjust at the very top of the Filter menu. Adjust the opacity of the filter layer to suit your image.

I hope you will join me for my webinar on creating an HDR look with Topaz Adjust! Here's a link... Topaz Adjust Webinar.  You can use coupon code DEBORAHSANDIDGE for everything Topaz. Make great pictures! ~ Deb

Create an HDR look with cool classic cars and more! Topaz Adjust Webinar this Wednesday...

If you hail a taxi in Cuba, it's likely to be of the 1950's American Classic Car variety, such as the car above. These cars have such great personality! I like making pictures of these old cars by using a wide angle lens and getting in close and at eye level with the headlights. The lower angle accentuates the cars best features, and gives it more character. Capturing a little background gives the car a sense of place, adding another layer of interest to the photo.

I have just as much fun photographing old cars, as I do enhancing them in Photoshop! With this photo, I created an artistic HDR look with a single image. This is super easy to do with Topaz Adjust. You can create an illustrative or realistic HDR look with a single photo of just about anything! Cars, architecture, landscapes and even people photos can be enhanced with an HDR look. I'll be happy to share with you a few ideas for HDR look creativity with a variety of subjects. Follow this link to join me for an informative and fun webinar on Topaz Adjust this Wednesday, February 23 at 3 CST!  You can use code DEBORAHSANDIDGE for anything Topaz. See you there!

HDR - Working with Photomatix to create dynamic images...

HDR (High Dynamic Range) offers the photographer unlimited possibilities when working with scenes that would be impossible for the camera to record in a single image. I liked this alley in Lucerne,  Switzerland, with the repeating windows and bicycles that were parked along each doorway. The bicycles seemed to speak about how people get around in this area, and I felt it would make an interesting travel photograph.

The dynamic range in this scene was too great for my camera to record in a single image. If I exposed for brightness in the alley, the rest of the image fell in darkness. If I exposed walls and windows, the alley detail was overexposed. Taking a series of different exposures allowed me to merge the images to HDR. This created a single well balanced photograph that shows all the wonderful detail in the highlight, mid-tone and shadow areas.

Shooting for HDR is easy, the more challenging, but fun part is deciding how to portray the image. As a photographer, you are much the artist here and have sway over creating an image that is more illustrative/artistic, photo realistic, or somewhere in between. I used Photomatix to merge the images to HDR, and used the Photomatix Tone Mapping filter to define how I wanted the image to look. My goal was to emphasize the texture, color and detail on the interesting stucco walls, and cobblestone road and enhance the many colorful bicycles in the scene.

In Photoshop, the image can be fine-tuned even more. Plug-ins and filters can give your HDR image the perfect finishing touch. I used a touch of Topaz Adjust Spicify, and added a slight vignette. Have fun shooting!

Add a little spice to your photos with Topaz Adjust...

Topaz Adjust is one of my favorite plug-ins to enhance detail, color, and exposure. One of the many cool presets in Topaz Adjust is Spicify. This preset does just what it suggests, spices things up a bit! Roll your mouse over the image to see the original. Spicify warmed up the tones in the image, and brought out more detail, creating a more textured look. Creating a new layer for the filter effect lets you adjust the opacity of the layer (making the filter effect less intense). If you convert the layer for Smart Filters, a layer mask will automatically be created for you. Do try Topaz Adjust, it's a must have tool for your photography. You can use this coupon code for a discount for anything Topaz - deborahsandidge. Make great pictures! PS... If you are heading to PhotoPlus Expo in NYC later this month, please look for me at the Wiley booth on Friday morning, I'd love to say hello!

More Graffiti Fun...

Just for fun, I took a few photos of this car that was reflecting all the urban art surrounding it. The image was a three shot HDR and was processed through Photomatix. To add a little more drama, I used two filter's from Topaz Labs Adjust to enhance the texture, color and shine of the car,  namely Spicify and Portrait Smooth. The resultant image has a lot more depth and color, and interest. Photomatix and Topaz Adjust are a complementary combination of filters. It's good to vary the effects and opacities to come away with your own creative interpretation of the scene.

Interested in HDR? I'll be giving answering your questions at the Orlando Camera Club on August 23, and also doing a presentation/workshop with Naturescapes in early December, along with infrared and creative photography at the stunning location of Bosque del Apache, NM. In the meantime, please join me online with one of my courses - we'll have a lot of fun, and we'll work with many creative ideas during this month. Hope to see you there!

Creativity with Urban Art and Topaz Adjust...

With these photos, I used one of my favorite Photoshop plug-ins, Topaz Adjust. The Spicify preset intensifies color, and brings out detail, similar to an HDR image. The filter description... "Spice up your photo naturally, yet noticeably" which it does very effectively. Spicify can create an edgy-grunge effect that works well with certain subjects. With each photo, I reduced the opacity of the filter layer so the overall effect was less intense. If you have people in your image, you may wish to use the filter selectively instead of globally. Converting to Smart Filters allows you to do this easily, just invert the mask and you can brush in the effect where you want it (or vice versa). A Wacom tablet and pen is perfect for this, and you can adjust the opacity and hardness of the brush. The last image is a "before and after" of the effect of Spicify, quite a transformation! You can see how the filter impacts the detail, color and exposure. Have fun with your digital images!

Taming Dragons in Photoshop...

You can easily create a new look for an image by using a little creativity in Photoshop! The colors of this urban art dragon were inverted in Photoshop (Control/Command I) and then softened with Topaz Adjust Portrait Smooth for a painterly look. The image below shows the original dragon colors. 

If you really want to have fun with color, alter the Hue by making a Hue Saturation adjustment layer! For the purple dragon below, I inverted the original and adjusted Hue to create a new look. An adjustment in Hue gives you control over colors, and can make a very different interpretation of the original image. 

We do this, and more in my four week online course, Photoshop - Enhancing Images and Creating Works of Art at Betterphoto.com. Classes start in July! I hope to see you there!

Pensive...

This little boy from Cienfuegos seemed to be concentrating on something important, like he had a lot on his mind. I liked being able to capture his expression without him noticing me. I hope he has it all figured out by now. Like the rest of us, there is always something important to ponder.

Using a long lens with street type photography allows the photographer to go unnoticed sometimes. I didn't want to disturb his thoughts, or lose the moment with his pensive gaze. I like the opportunity to engage people I meet, but other times it's equally as nice to just observe and take photos quietly.

Cuba is a wonderful country to visit. One of the most amazing things about it are all the textures and colors that surround you. There is personality in every corner, crack and crevice. The people are most friendly, and provide endless photographic opportunities.

Just a touch of Topaz Adjust 4 enhanced this image by bringing out detail and color. The effect was partially removed from the little boy, but left in the surrounding areas creating an interesting contrast in textures. Make great pictures! ~ Deb

Have a seat...

Happy Monday! Have a seat! This colorful corner wall mural offers a great opportunity for a cool shot. The artist did amazing work with the tropical motif and cute penguins! To create an HDR look, I used Topaz Adjust and Topaz Clean 2. The combination brightened up dark areas, and enhanced the colors and detail in the image. Today is the last day to take advantage of the Topaz promotion (20%), coupon code newadjust for the latest version of Adjust 4, or adjustup for the bundle. Topaz Adjust 4 is one of the absolute "must-have" plug-ins for Photoshop. I wouldn't have near the fun without it! ~ Deb

Sharing a different view...

These windows tell an interesting story, having been around a while. They are elegantly aged to perfection. One is closed to the world, while the other is open to all possibilities. This pair was photographed in Europe, where the many windows and reflections provide endless photographic opportunities. Just a subtle touch of Topaz Adjust (see previous blog entry) brought out the crusty textures and warm tones in this composition. Have fun shooting, and make great pictures! ~ Deb

Infrared Dreams...

Infrared photography offers the photographer limitless options in creativity. This image was captured in infrared using the new super color infrared filter (590nm). This filter offers the most vivid and beautiful colors, while retaining the classic features of infrared photos. A simple texture background was added for depth and dimension. Topaz Adjust 4 works beautifully to enhance texture, and brings out small details in infrared images. I especially like the "Feature Enhancement" preset with this image. There's only a few days left on the coupon codes, newadjust for Adjust 4 and for the Topaz bundle, adjustup. By the way, my BetterPhoto.com courses start this week... Photoshop - Enhancing Images & Creating Works of Art, and Digital Infrared Photography! There is still time to sign up. I hope to see you there! ~ Deb

Getting Creative with Photography and Photoshop...

Fisheye lenses create a wonderful distortion that you can use in favor of your photographs. With this photograph, I used a Nikon 10.5mm fisheye on my infrared camera. This allows all the elements of the composition to come together in a creative way!

The camera I'm using is converted to infrared using the new Super Color infrared filter (equivalent to 590nm compared to the standard 720nm filter). More visible light reaches the camera sensor, more fun to work with while still retaining the surreal quality of infrared photography!

This photo is the result of three different exposures merged together using Photomatix, creating an image with more dynamic range. I used the Tone Mapping filter, and several filters in Photoshop to enhance the image. For a painterly touch try Venice Painting, a new preset in Topaz Adjust 4.  Make great pictures! ~ Deb

Ghostly...

Okaaaay, so I remember typing on a typewriter! Please tell me I'm not the only one! At this point, they're kind of vintage objects, collectors items, and fun things to photograph. My compact infrared converted camera came in handy for this quick close-up shot. I used Topaz Adjust 4, and one of the very cool presets called "Dark - Ghostly." It just seemed to fit this image! Make great pictures! ~ Deb

Topaz Adjust 4... New!

Check out the new Topaz Adjust 4! This is the latest version of everyone's favorite Photoshop plug-in. If you haven't tried it, now is your chance to take advantage of a fantastic photo editing tool. This is the effect you might have noticed in beautiful photos and wondered just how it was accomplished. To make your photos "pop"- it's the plug-in that will make a big difference in your photography.

If you already have Topaz Adjust 3, the upgrade is free for you! If you want to purchase it, now's the time and here's your coupon code - newadjust. (You'll save $15) and have fun with the new presets included.This code is only effective March 1 - 15 however. If you would like to get the Topaz Bundle, use this code - adjustup. You'll save $30 towards the this excellent set of tools, including Adjust, Simplify, Clean, DeNoise, Remask, Detail, and DeJPEG.

Take a look at the new user interface, very clear and easy to use... Here,  I chose Photo Pop to subtly enhance the color and detail in my image. Do try Spicify, it's another one of my favorites! See below.

You can create a variety of effects by using Topaz Adjust 4. I use and recommend everything Topaz!   Clean 2 creates wonderful effects (browse through my past blog posts to get an idea. Have fun working with everything Topaz! Please send me your photos, I'd love to see what you are creating!

I use Topaz Adjust in a variety of ways as part of my work flow with both color and infrared photography. Want to work a little more with this idea? Join me for one of my online BetterPhoto.com courses starting March 10... Photoshop - Enhancing Images and Creating Works of Art, or Digital Infrared Photography. Hope to see you there!
~ Deb