The

Photo

Experience

   

Equipment

Intro 

    

      

To Home

  

What's New

 

     

Technical

   

 

 

 

 

      In the Field Cheat Sheets:

    

               1)  Now What Do I Do ?        (html)

              2)  Composition 1 & 2           (html)   

              3)  Technical - In Field          (html)

           

 1)   

   Pre Plan & Trip Prep:

 

5 Ps

 

 

  1)  Planning & Preparation 

  2 Photographing

              (Photography Advice)

  3)  Pre - selection - Incl. categorizing

  4)  Post - processing

  5)  Presentation

Extreme Close-up  (Venus 60 + LED) 

Dealing with cold  

 

Long lens technique 

 2)   

   In the Field:

 

Field Cheat Sheets  (180)

Body Settings  (160)

 

  (See SLO MO processing under PS.)

      

   Notes - Meetings   (html)    

   Football - 10 tips   (html)

  Setup on new bodies - conceptual 

   

     (See EQUIPMENT)

  

 

In Field Techniques (180)

 

 

 

   Panorama - Horiz / Vert

   Exposure Bracket

   Focus Bracket

   Long Exposure Multi Exposure

 

Extreme Close-up  (Venus 60 + LED)

 

 

 3)   

   Work Flow:

 

    Start to Finish80)

 
  1)  Open Windows File Explorer: Create 2 new folders on computer.
            Name 1 folder "xxx-temp", and the other "xxx-permanent".
            CRTL A ... CRTL X  all files on memory card to "xxx-temp".
  2)  Open Photo Mechanic, select 10% best images and copy to "xxx-permanent".
            Delete directory "xxx-temp" and all the files in it.  (Includes Raw and JPEG files)
  3)  Open Photoshop PS (WIN 10) with Adobe RAW, to process first RAW image file.  (16 Bit)
            Processes: Straightening & Cropping ... Content Aware Delete ... Shake Reduction
            Save image as TIFF file in name and location of your choice.
  4)  Open Photoshop CS2 (WIN 7) TIFF file and process.   (8 Bit)
            Filters: NIK, Pictographics, Topaz Lab
            Save image as full size flattened TIFF + Resize 540 pxlht JPEG + Resize 152 pxlht JPEG
  5)  Open FrontPage and insert a 540 / 756 pxlht JPEG image of choice and "tag" page.
  6)  Open Windows File Explorer and "tag" images.
  7)  Open FileZilla and transfer images to online web site.  (Instantaneous)
 

  

 

    Photoshop   (Each step requires closing & reopening file)

                  
       PS Desk Top:     HISTOGRAM / HISTORY / LAYERS / OPTIONS / TOOLS
       Dell Monitor     Brightness / Contrast:  5/50
       Dimensions:     10x14  (450x630)  /  10x10  (450x450)  /  7.5x16
     
1

  Save as TIFF:

  Spot:

  Straighten:

  Crop:

  Compress: 

  - file ... save as ... tiff  (no compression)

  - Use PS CLONE TOOL

  - Eye drop / measure tool...drag ruler...image...rotate...arbitrary

  - Perspectives: 10" x 14" Horiz./Vert. / 7.5 x 16 stitched images / 10" x 10" sq.

  - SELECT ... ALL  /  EDIT ... FREE TRANSFORM  /  pull or squeeze  /  enter  /  crop

     
2

  Dodge / Burn:

   

  Shadow /  Balance:

  

  - Use CURVES:  (image...adj...curves...bend curve) (history brush to spot)

         (curves changes color): Click HISTORY BRUSH... Mode > Luminosity

  - Image ... adjust ... SHADOW / HIGHLIGHT... SHADOW slider (50)...OK

  - Image ... adjust ....PICTOGRAPHICS I-CORRECT ... OK

     
3

  High Pass:

  Noise Reduction:

  - Filter ... other ... HIGH PASS ... HARD LIGHT ... OK

  - Filter ... IMAGENOMIC NOISEWARE ... OK

     
4

    opt:  High Light:

    opt:  Blowout:

  - 1)  Select subject with PS Magic Lasso Tool ... TOPAZ ADJUST 4 ... select FILTER

  - 2)  (repair blowout): IMAGE...ADJUST...LEVELS...Output white value: 245

     
5

  Sharpen:

  Bright / Contrast:

  - Layer ... dup layer ... filter... NIK SHARPENER ... opacity (50%) ...flatten  (history tool)

  - Image ... adjust ... BRIGHTNESS & CONTRAST... CONTRAST slider (8)...OK

     
7

  Structure:

: - Filter ...  NIK VIVESA: ... OK

     
8

  Hue & Saturation:

  Polarizer:

  Photo Pop:

: - Image...adjust...HUE & SAT...edit: select color...sliders...OK

  - Layer...dup layer...filter...POLARIZER ... adj opacity ...flatten... OK

  - Layer...dup layer...filter...TOPAZ ADJUST 4 ... PHOTO POP ... adjust opacity

     
9   Confirmation:   - Image adjust....AUTO LEVELS...OK     (skip if not effective) (also check Histogram)
     
10

  Resize & Copyright

  - image ... IMAGE SIZE ... HEIGHT: 450 / 630

  -  alt 0169

              
   When Is An Image Done:
1 View image for darkness on monitor from 6 or 7 feet.
2 View  image at 152 pixel height.
3

Check HISTOGRAM

4 Check AUTO-LEVELS for any change
                           
   Printing:  (to compensate for printer - dark)
1 Pictographics iCorrect Pro:   +10  /  -10 to +10 contrast
                           

   

4)

  Photoshop Cheat Sheet

 
CC 25+ CC 23.2.2 CS 2

  Generative Expand

  Remove Tool  (4th down on right)

  xx

  xx

  Content Aware Delete

  Shake Reduction

  xx

  xx

  B&W Polarization Filter

  xx

  xx

  xx

 

 

 

        Landscape - Travel   (Surface 6)

Wildlife

Football - Night  (D850)

 

 

  

  1)  Image / Mode / 8 bit   xx  PS 25.1
  2)  File / Save as    ..... tiff   xx      Straighten
  3)  Image / Canvas Size / Magic Wand Tool   xx      Generative Expand
  4)  Crop Tool / Straighten   xx      Remove Tool  (4th down on right)
  5)  Image / Adjustments / Shadows...   xx  PS 23.2.2
  6)  Filter / Topaz /   xx      Shake Reduction
  xx   xx      Image ... Adjust ... Shadows/Highlights
  xx   xx      Filter ... Radiant Imaging
  xx   xx      Filter ... Imagenic
  xx   xx  CS 2
  xx   xx      Filter ... Pictographics ... iCorrect
  xx   xx      Filter ... Topaz ... Adjust 5 .... Photo Pop
  xx   xx      Filter ... Sharpen (After reducing Image Size)

   

   

   

 

 

 
        20-xxxx-libraryfolder-subfolder-XXXX-filename-dumpfolder085mb-tiff
         CC 2022 -  (7700 4.2 GHz)        CS 2

   

  Filter ... Camera Raw ... Lens Correct (creates side car file)

   

  10x14  / 7x12 / 7.5x16 / 9x16 / 20x30 / 7.5x20 / 9x16

  Pano 2.35:1     

          Image / Canvas Size / Select Edge with Magic

          Wand Tool / Delete (Content Aware) / Deselect

          Straighten

   -  Filter ... Camera Raw Filter ... Auto

             (Texture / Clarity / Dehaze)

  - Filter ... Sharpen ...  Shake Reduction 

  - Filter ... Nik ... Vivesa 2  (History Brush)

  -  Save as TIFF ... reopen in CC or CS2


  - Image ... Adjust ...  Curves ... Auto  (Optional)

  - Image ... Adjust ...  Shadow/High  (Optional)


  - Filter ... Pictocolor ... iCorrect Portrait 2 ... blk / wht

  - Filter ... Topaz ... Topaz Adjust 5... Photo Pop


  - Filter ... Nik Color Effects ...  Super Punch


  - Image ... Adjust  ... Hue / Saturation

  - Image ... Adjust  ... Bright / Contrast ...   +8 / +4

  - Filter ... Imogenic ... Noiseware Pro ... (last) (50%)

    

  (PRE PROCESSED  in CC 2021)

   

  - Image ... Adjust ...  Curves ... Auto  (Optional)

  - Image ... Adjust ...  Shadow/High  (Optional)

   

  - Filter ... Pictographics ... iCorrect 4 ... select  blk / wht

  - Filter ... Topaz ...  Topaz Adjust 5


  - Filter ... Nik Color Effects ...  Polarizer

  - Filter ... B+W  Outdoor Set  ...  Polarizer

  - Filter ... Topaz  ...  Clarity


  - Image ... Adjust  ... Hue / Saturation

  - Image ... Adjust  ... Bright / Contrast ...   +8 / +4

  - Filter ... Imogenic ... Noiseware Pro ... (last) (50%)


  -  Layer ... Duplicate Layer ... OK

  -  Filter ... Other ... High Pass ... Radius _____ ... OK

  -  Layers Tab ... Hard Light

  -  Layer ... Flatten Image

 

    Histogram  /  History  /  Layers

    

 


For small files, see CC 2021 for "Super Resolution)

 

5)

  Examples

 

Techniques   (230)

con't  (250)

Actions - CC    HISTORY / ACTIONS

 

 

  

Sepia Tone

Perspective Control

 STITCH:   File ... Automate ... Photo merge

Grad. ND Filter

Lose Weight of model

 EXP. BLEND:  Edit ... open as smart  object

Fix White Outs

Move a head in group portrait  

     ... Move tool ... while holding shift

 Squeeze Image and Re-crop  

Portrait - smooth skin / softar

 

Add a Frame

High Key Portrait

 

   

   

   

     EXPAND IMAGE - Cropped too Tight   (CC)

   ADD FRAME TO IMAGE   (Content  Aware)      

     

  (Photoshop CC Required:)

   1. Create border:

         IMAGE / CANVAS SIZE / inches ... add .5 inch  (or as rqd)

         IMAGE / CANVAS SIZE / BACKGROUND ... OTHER ... RED

   2. Select Border & Extend Image:

        Use MAGIC WAND  (+) to select RED border ... DELETE

        EDIT  /  FILL  /  CONTENT AWARE  /  CRTL D   (to deselect)

 

    

   1. Create border:

         IMAGE / CANVAS SIZE / inches ... .5 / save / close / reopen

   2. Select Border & Extend Image:

        Use MAGIC WAND  (2nd column, 2nd row down) to select

            white border  (red border better color)

        If border bleeds:  select MAGNETIC LASSO

            (1st column, 2nd row down)

        Holding down ALT key, left click mouse around bleed ...

           (Upon releasing ALT key, updated selection will appear)

           EDIT  /  FILL  /  CONTENT AWARE  /  CRTL D  (to deselect)

   

   STACKING IMAGES:        

         

 

   SLOW MOTION STACK

 

      1) IMAGE CAPTURE: 

         Take multiple shots on tripod of same image.   

         20 images at 1/10TH second  =  2 seconds

             (with a micro second between image captures.)

             (Vary # of exposures in Post to change blur strength.)

 

      2) POST PROCESS IN PHOTOSHOP:     (Not in CS2)

        (Copy all JPGs or TIFFs into folder.)

    

         - Open CC ... File ... Scripts ... Load files into stack ...

               Browse  (select files) ... OK

                  Check -> Automatically Auto Align Source Images

                  Check -> Create Smart Object after Loading

        - OK

        - Layer ... Smart Objects ... Stack Mode ... Mean ...

        - Layer ... Flatten image

      

 

 


 

 

    BENEFITS:

          - No need to carry ND filter and install / remove it.

          - No problem shooting different diameter lenses.

          - No camera shake at longer exposures.

                (Just remove single blurry images in Post if any.)

          - No exposure compensation issues as with NDs.

          - Don't have to focus before putting on ND filter.

 

  This technique can be used to reduce noise in landscapes.

    

     

     

     

   NOISE STACK

 

      1) IMAGE CAPTURE: 

         Take 2 shots on tripod of same image, same exposure.   

 

      2) POST PROCESS IN PHOTOSHOP:     (Not in CS2)

        (Copy all JPGs or TIFFs into folder.)

    

         - Open CC ... File ... Scripts ... Load files into stack ...

               Browse  (select files) ... OK

                  Check -> Automatically Auto Align Source Images

                  Check -> Create Smart Object after Loading

        - OK

        - Layer ... Smart Objects ... Stack Mode ... Mean ...

        - Layer ... Flatten image

     


   EXPOSURE STACK  Auto Align 2 Images 

    

    Photoshop CC: 

       Open 2 images:   WINDOW ... ARRANGE ... 2 UP VERTICAL

       Left click on one image ... SELECT ALL

       Using MOVE TOOL ... hold SHIFT down & slide over 2nd

             image.

        Use HISTORY BRUSH to reveal lower layer.

        LAYER ... FLATTEN IMAGE ... SAVE

   


     FOCUS STACK -   (CC)

   

       (In lieu of Helicon Focus 5.3)

 

          (Fixes Focus Breathing)

   

     REMOVE PURPLE FRINGE  (CC)

   SUPER RESOLUTION   (CC)

     

  (Photoshop CC Required:  )

    1. Go to Camera RAW.

    2. Remove Chromatic Aberration.

    3. Open Defringe tab.

    4. Check purple area on image.

 

     

  (For images that are severely cropped. )

    1. Open images in Camera RAW but don't press OPEN

    2. Right click on image or ... on right..

    3. Enhance

    4. See both images on lower left..

    5. Automatically saves as DNG but can save a TIFF.

    

     B&W CONVERSION

    HIGH PASS FILTER

     

  Photoshop C2: 

         IMAGE ... ADJUST ... CHANNEL MIXER ...   check MONO box

 

Ilford
Ilford Delta 100: 21,42,37
Ilford Delta 400: 22,42,36
Ilford Delta 400 Pro: 31,36,33

Basic Settings

Normal Contrast: 43,33,30
High Contrast: 40,34,60

     

  

  -  Layer ... Duplicate Layer ... OK

  -  Filter ... Other ... High Pass ... Radius _____ ... OK

  -  Layers Tab ... Hard Light

  -  Layer ... Flatten Image

      PANORAMA   (in Photoshop)

          

   

     1) Stitching: 

          - File ...  Automate ... Photo Merge ... check "auto"

          - Browse files ... Open ... Blend images together ... OK

    2) Flatten Out:

          - Filter ... Lens Correction ... \

          - Custom Tab ... Geometric Distortion Slider

          - Transform (optional)

                a) Vertical perspective ... OK

                b) Horizontal perspective ... OK

     

  Alternative Programs:

  

      -  ICE 2.0.3 MSFT Stitch

 

  SHAKE REDUCTION FILTER     ( Removed after PS 23.2.2 )

    

     C:\ Program Files \ Adobe \ Adobe Photoshop 2022 \

           Required \ Plug-ins \ Filters \ .............

6)

  Web Page Layout

 
       10x14    7x12    7.5x16    7.5x20     9x16    20x30

Table Width:

Image / Frame:

Folio:

 

                                Pxl Height 

                            Image     Frame

    Horizontal:         540        645

    Vertical:              756        870

    Thumbnail:        190 

    

     16 x 9:                xxx        550

 

  

 Table Width:                   995

   Left Column:                120

   Right Column:              875

   Half Column:                437.5  

   Quarter Column:         218.75 

  

  Web Page Template 540pxl (html)

    

 Width:  120 + 1050 = 1170

 Format ... Borders: 75 pxl white

 Format ... Borders: 20 pxl white

   

 Height                Image     Frame

    Horizontal:         540        750

    Vertical:              756        950

 

7)

  Video

 

 Shot Cut Video Editor

 

YouTube:

 

  File ... open file

    (shift i) open cut (shift o) close cut

    press "+" to add to timeline

  Export file

 

  

CLIPS         EDIT

TIMELINE

 

 

8)

  Computer Stuff

 
Computer  (400)

Business  (450)

WIN 7 Computer 

           Antec Solo II
Computer Stuff

Site Legal Notice         

     i7 7670 4 GHz
Restore Points Bill of Rights  (pdf)      Asus X170 Deluxe ATX
Check Disk a Hard Drive Model Release  (pdf)        Samsung 1 TB SSD  (C drive)
         EVGA GTX 970 4 GB Video
            2x6 + 1x8 TB NAS Drives

 

9)

  Configurations

 

Size Mgmnt

Run CS2 in WIN 7

40 yr old Wed Pics

 

1,250 MB / 8,500 pics = 150 KB/pics

 

     Quality       JPG Size

          8                102 KB

          7                  95

          6                  90

          5                  83

 

 

   

  right click on the executable
  Select Properties
  Click on the Compatibility Tab
  Use the drop down menu to select

        XP SP3 mode
  Checked the box for Run as Admin
  Clicked okay
  Ran the installer

   

  Layer ... Duplicate Layer

  Image ... Adjust ... Auto Levels ... 75

  Layer ... Duplicate Layer

  Imogenics

  Spot

  Sharpen ... 50

   

10)

   Misc:

 

Photoshop Desk Top

Photoshop Desk Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Diag. (mm) Inches: % Full:
 Full  Frame  43.2 1.7 100%
 Nikon DX  28.2  1.11 65%
 Micro 4/3  21.6  .85 50%
 Sony 1"  15.86  .624 36%
 1/1/7  9.3  .366 21%
 Apple 1/3 6.0  .236 14%

 

 

   

 

 

 

11))

   Photography Advice:

   

   If it won't run away, use a tripod.

   The background makes or breaks a great image.

   Always follow the light.

   You are responsible for every square millimeter of the frame.

   If the light in front of you looks great or is doing something interesting turn around and see what

        it is doing behind you.

   Set the alarm clock for 3:00AM.

   Read the Manual.

   Always think what are you trying to say in a photograph before pressing the shutter.

   Photography is all about capturing light.

   An artist decides what to include in a painting while the photographer decides what to exclude

        from an image.

   The only difference between a good photographer and a bad one is the good one never shows

        his bad work.

   Get there before the sun comes up, and don't leave just because the sun has set.

   F1.4.

   A P&S in your hand is much better than the Hassie/Leica you left at home.

   Get closer.

   Unless you are into wildlife, telephotos are highly overrated.

   Most lenses are better 2-3 stops slower than at the widest aperture.

   Don’t be afraid to bend the rules.

   Edit ruthlessly and don't make excuses for a marginal photo.

   Open your eyes. Don't just see; LOOK!

   Surprise me!

   Never show anyone the bad ones...