DPP - Part 2 DR Digital Image Qualities - Exercise 1 - Sensor Linear Capture

DPP - Digital Image Qualities 

Exercise 1 - Sensor Linear Capture

The purpose of this exercise is to develop and appreciate the different way in which a DSLR sensor reacts to light as opposed to film

In this exercise I am required to simulate a linear image.

With JPEG image as a starting point:

I've adjusted the image as follows:

 - converted to 16 bits

 - applied an inverse curve

The final image as follows:

This final image is close to how the DLSR would have originally captured the image

The Before and after images with histograms

Before:

After:

On the linear simulated image its possible to see the differences in the histogram where for this image the tones are squashed to the left, e.g. the darks of the dynamic range.

I'm now going to use curves to adjust the image above to try and get it back to how it looked when it started:

Well as you can see I wasn't able to successfully adjust the image back to look as close to the original but I fully appreciate the set of activities and what I am doing.

This is a good exercise to understand how a digital sensor reacts to light in a different way to film; film reacts in nearer way to how our eyes work than what a digital sensor does.

Additional Research

I did some research and found a very interesting white paper called Raw Capture, Linear and Exposure by Bruce Fraser, which can be found here: http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/linear_gamma.pdf

Bruce comments on the importance of avoiding underexposing an image so that highlights aren't blown out since not only does this mean bits of data can be missed from the image capture but also that noise can be introduced to the mid tones and shadows. Bruce's paper suggests instead that with a digital camera try to capture an image as close as possible to blowing out the highlights without actually doing so. Some photographers know this technique as "exposing to the right" because you want as many of your highlights as possible to fall to the right hand side of the histogram.

DPP - Assignment 1 - Workflow

Assignment 1 - Workflow

This assignment requires a devised theme on a topic that interests me in the field of photography. I need to use what I’ve learnt so far in the earlier exercises to construct an effective workflow through to the final set of images

I've edited this to insert my tutors feedback and comments:

Tutor Feedback:

I decided to choose the second of the ponds at Cannop in the Forest of Dean for my shoot location.

My plan was to use my Nikon D80 which has been converted to Infrared with a 665nm IR filter. I’ve started an interest in IR photography and have been experimenting with IR images converted to IR. I had noticed that during a previous experiment that toning the mono image I could create an image that appeared to be one taken under moonlight with frosted foliage.

Whilst IR images are more commonly taken during hot sunny days the assignment would be taken in the Autumn but I did wait for a bright sunny day with skies that were mostly clear.

My pre-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

I now appear to have an ingrained habit of setting my camera back to the normal settings and reformat the SD card so that the camera is all ready for the next shoot. However I never take this for granted and always double check this as part of pre-shoot workflow before I set off.

For this trip I was pretty light taking just my D80IR camera and a small protective case to protect it during transport. The camera strap has a small pouch with lens cleaning cloth; I find these invaluable and prefer to have these attached the camera strap to ensure I always have it handy and not left in a bag at home. 

I refreshed my IR knowledge a few days before scanning through a book Digital Infrared Photography by Cyrill Harnischmacher. There is a distinct lack of quality / good IR photography books and there is definitely a big opening here for someone to take if they have the knowledge, ability and contacts. If I develop my knowledge and skills who knows, maybe I could have a tryJ.Cyrill mentions a low ISO setting and consideration to white balance but because I shoot in RAW this is less of an issue. However I am aware that setting the correct white balance for jpegs in camera can be achieved by using a an area of brightly sun lit grass instead of the traditional 18% grey card I might want to use on different cameras.

So at this point I set my expectations of what I want from this shoot:

-       Images containing water

-       Images containing water with sun reflection

-       Images containing the sun e.g. shot directly into the sun

-       Images containing trees

-       Images containing tranquil landscape, I wanted to with IR to simulate almost frosty, moonlit and peaceful images

-       Images containing all the above.

My mid-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

As part of my mid shoot workflow I’ve looked to integrate foreground into my compositions, varied camera height and looked at different angles and through using the histogram tried to incorporate images of contrast and ensure I was getting good exposure and whether I need to consider exposure compensation.

I’ve completed the shoot with about 46 images excluding some that I have deleted during in camera image review.

Until this DPP module I’ve not fully considered work-flow at this level and I certainly have not documented anything before for IR WorkFlow. I will use my core workflow then adjust for IR including the post processing changes I want to make.

My post-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

So returning home I transfer the images from my camera card onto the PC via Bridge. All images on my PC are backed up to the cloud on a daily basis and to an external hard drive on a weekly basis. I then check the camera is at its starting position, return the card to the camera and format the card ready for a future shoot with the camera

Within Adobe Bridge I tag all the images to confirm elements such as location, type of image etc

I’ve then rated the images giving a start rating of between 1-5 (5 being highest) based on my view of the stronger and weaker images. I can then sort and start processing based on this order.

The assignment brief calls for a final selection of 6-12 images. I learnt from TAOP that when producing the assignment images to try and produces images that appear to be part of a set rather than individual images.

I will use the workflow above and in addition amend this for my IR processing. I intend to process all the images for this submission roughly the same. I will therefore talk through my post processing work flow of one individual image in the knowledge the same will be applied to all the images subject to the specific detailed adjustments which may vary.

I’ve opened the image in Camera Raw and initially checked for shadow and highlight clipping, there is some clipping in the highlights of the suns reflection on the water. I’ve made an adjustment in Lens Correction for the specific lens I’m using:

I’ve then created a channel mixer adjustment layer to swap the red and blue channels.

I’ve created a levels adjustment layer to slightly bring in the whites to the edge of the histogram.

I’ve then saved this with layers as a PSD document in case I wish to adjust at a later date

I’ve then flattened the image and opened a filter in SEP2 to convert to mono with some adjustments then toned the image with cyanotype.

I’ve used unsharp mask to sharpen the image and then finally cropped the image to remove some of the water at the bottom.

Whilst there is some highlight clipping of the sun’s reflection in the water I think this adds to the image in terms of what I want to create, the appearance of a landscape with water lit by moonlight.

I shall now repeat this workflow for my other images and then begin the process of:

-       First selects

-       Group and Review

-       Final Choice

My first selects I’ve made by selecting only images I’ve ranked 3, 4 or 5 stars via Adobe bridge.

This initial selection was based on my first view of quality and how well they matched my brief. Having started this degree I’ve now adopted a slight change to my work flow where I know try to fulfil my brief, pre-visualisation etc and then when I have my key shots I then experiment attempt some further creativity. I suspect this may be how many photographers work but particularly wedding photographers where the standard set of images is likely key to the wedding album.

I have been back through to review those given 1 or 2 stars in case of mis-judgement etc but on this occasion I’ve made no further change.

I’ve then processed per my work flow above around 16 of the best images and grouped these for final selection.

For my final set I’ve made 10 selections however after having a break and reviewing again I’ve dropped two images which I felt didn’t match the level of the others.

My workflow may differ from others based on what elements I personally find key to what others may find key. Some elements of my workflow have been introduced as a result of previous mistakes e.g. using a camera with settings remaining from a previous and shoot and taking some time to realise, forgetting to replace the memory card from the card reader back into the camera and also not formatting the card ahead of the shoot. Each has had differing impacts.

As mentioned above I try to fulfil the initial criteria of my shoot and my pre-visualisation of how I want to do this. However this doesn’t prevent me from making changes and adjustments as conditions change. In addition I like to attempt something creative almost pushing what I may have completed already but adding a different dimension to the image. This may be something as simple as changing perspective or camera angle

My experience and understanding of Photoshop may be limited compared to others who may know more or see more things that need correcting with in the image, or perhaps simply be able to be a bit more creative with the image to get achieve their objective or visualisation. I find know that my pre-visualisation can also include my post processing approach e.g. it doesn’t stop at taking the image.

In terms of infrared some elements of IR workflow may be similar to others but I wonder if other elements are perhaps not so common or unique. IR is a fascinating subject and photography is about capturing what the eye does not see as much as what it does. I suspect that this it self cold be a good discussion point. The ability to manipulate a digital image is much more accessible now than it was to film photographers.

Images 

Tutor Feedback:

My tutor continues:

Image 1:

Image 2:

I agree that this image is cluttered. I think I've become carried away with capturing the filigree of the fallen tree and forgotten basic composition. Perhaps a much closer crop so that the tree filigree dominated the image would have worked better

Image 2 edit:

Though the image could still appear to be cluttered in this crop the subject of the image is more clear though perhaps this should not have made my final selection

Image 3:

Again I've tried to keep the original framing of the image but have left in elements which might be less interesting to the viewer e.g. foreground water and sky which offer little to the overall image. I couldn't however see the banding that my tutor refers to bit his eye will be much more expert at seeing this than mine. My edit below has the image cropped and again making the subject of the image much more obvious and in hinsight landscape format suited this image much btter than how I initially framed this:

Image 4:

Image 5:

Image 6:

Image 7:

Yes the blown-out element middle left does give a flat tone on the water and I agree that its not displaying typical IR characteristics, that say image 8 below does. In this instance I've become more focused on the framing and have I think a) forgotten my self imposed brief of IR images b) not successfully process the over exposed element of the water

Image 8:

Key Learning’s  

a) A disciplined workflow can be very time consuming   

b) I need to  study further post processing techniques and gain a greater understanding of Photoshop

c)  I need to investigate further ways I can batch process images, this may speed up some elements of pp process

d)   I’m thinking a lot more about workflow from the pre shoot to the final image

e)  I think I may need to study my images with a more skilled eye to determine some key elements / areas for adjustment. This is a skill I look forward to developing

f)    Using a screen calibration tool is key for helping to ensure consistency of images when viewing at different light levels. I’ve now learnt about what LUX is

Tutor feedback and comments:

Thank you tutor for the kind comments and epecially the suggested links within the feedback and the suggestion to contextualise my work.

I was disappointed with my marking of 54 for the TAOP assessment but looking at my feedback I received just 5/20 for Context. This reduced my overall mark significantly however it also correctly informs me that I have a significant weakness in this area and so this will be an area to focus on. I look forward to contextualising my work which my Tutor also suggests and I wonder what influences this will have or perhaps I will find that I seek photographic artist's work that further develops my own ideas - both I expect. Importantly though it will give me better awareness, ideas to explore. 

Cloud Storage

Cloud Storage

My normal workflow is to download my images off the card from camera via a card reader onto my PC. 

I have an automated weekly back-up of my images onto an external hard-drive in case the PC's internal drive fails. I had thought about buying a 2nd external hard-drive and alternating the storage of these at an off-site location but there was still the danger of losing images, this was becoming even more important as I progress my photographic degree studies.

Cloud storage then become the obvious choice. I performed a lot of research and given the reviews I chose JustCloud. One point to make here is that on attempting to leave the website the price just kept reducing. No doubt a marketing ploy but I could have accepted the original price, I think I got 70% off. 

My problem then was the 120GB of data I had, mostly images, to upload over an ADSL2 line. Well its taken 4 weeks of running my PC 24x7. Upload speeds are always slower than downloads. However now the data is up my PC when on runs a daily back-up to the cloud. This makes me feel safer about my data and precious images so I'm glad its done. Subsequent back-ups are incremental so I don't notice this.

If it helps anyone make a choice then cloud storage is a good idea and with regard to my personal choice I would say there customer service is 1st class and many other companies with customers should take note of what they do to look after their customers

Photographic images, and all data, if lost are irreplaceable. Whilst the chances of losing an internal drive and external hard-drive may be unlikely, think of cloud storage as insurance. how much you want to pay my depend on how valuable your data is

DPP Part 1 - Exercise 4 - Editing

DPP Part 1 - Exercise 4 - Editing

For this exercise I've used a set of images taken earlier and so combine this with images taken as part of another exercise. I'm following the steps as laid out in the course notes

I've taken a set of 83 images taken alongside the Severn Estuary in Lydney.

These are viewed below in Adobe Bridge CS6:

Step 1 - This is the technical edit and I'll mark-up all images that I'd want to delete with a 1 star because technically they are poor e.g. focus, composition, lighting. these I mark using a star system and giving these images a single star. I can then later choose to delete as I wont want to use these and will simply take up space

Step 2 and Step 3 - I've combined these selects and first selects by grading the images also using the star system marking these as stars from a total of 5, the higher the number f stars the better I think the image

Step 4 - I've not marked any images at 5 so I have an initial prime selection of images ranked at 4 stars, the images I consider of a lower standard technically and artistically I've ranked at 2 and 3 stars.

The course notes suggested a break and then to return to final selection with a fresh look. This actually made me increase the rating of an image to 4 stars.

This left me with 10 images that I ranked at 4 stars

Step 5

The exercise requires me to select just 2 images from my final 10

 - Image 1

The photo shoot was timed to coincide with a sunset and there is something wonderful about sunsets and water as the water reflects the wonderful colours of the setting sun and the sky


 - Image 2

A second image also shot into the setting sun but in this instance I've captured a fellow photographer. The quality of the soft golden sun is just amazing. This is highlighting the girl's hair and giving a texture and colour to the grass

I've chosen both of these images as the quality of light is just amazing in both of them. The first is a true landscape and the calmness and mirror effect of the still water. The second image becomes a portrait with a human subject herself looking at the quality of images she has taken and is quite apt for this exercise.

Exercise Learnings

a) I've always performed an initial check through my images in terms of a technical edit with a view to deleting technically incorrect images. Apply the star rating via Adobe Bridge is a good way of doing this. It allows for a later sort and enables me to re-verify those images before performing a potential delete

b) Again using the Adobe star rating against my images allows me sort and judge the images in terms of quality. Sorting these then makes it easier when considering which images to use. In the past I have written down image numbers and then gone back. I now have a much improved process

c) When making final selects, or a group of potential final selects the advice of leaving the screen for a short break is good advice. I find sometimes its easy to be focused on one aspect of the images when selecting them. Coming back later with a fresh mind in my case allows a further look at the images considering other creative elements of the images I had not given significant thought to before