Faux IRs in Photoshop

Cristina asked me about faux IRs on my blog post from yesterday...so here is the information for you!

Faux IR (Infra-Red)

This is the tutorial I live by for my faux IRs written by Ken Rockwell on this page: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ps.htm#ir

Or follow these steps from his site:

1.) Make a duplicate of the background layer (in layers palette drag "background" over the new layer icon at the bottom of the palette next to the trash can)

2.) Make sure this new duplicate layer called "background copy" is selected (highlighted in blue)

3.) Make a new adjustment layer of type: Channel Mixer (click and hold the half black/white circle at the bottom of the layers palette and select "Channel Mixer" from the menu that pops up.)

4.) A menu box pops up for adjustment of the Channel Mixer.

5.) Check "Monochrome" at the bottom. (Leave it unchecked for a bizarre color effect.)

6.) Set R = + 100%, G = + 200% and B = minus 200% ( - 200%)

7.) set constant as needed for the correct brightness, usually about minus 28%.

8.) Click OK

optional:

9.) Add foggy blur: create and blur another duplicate layer and mix it to the percentage you prefer

10.) Add grain to taste (Filter > Noise > Add Noise)

Photographing Snow/Photomatrix Tutorials/Abandoned New Jersey

How to Photograph Snow and Sand

Ever wonder why blizzard or snow photos made on overcast days almost always look dark gray and not snowy white like real snow? Click HERE for more information on correcting this from Ken Rockwell.

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Photomatrix Tutorials?

I was just searching the web looking for some Photomatrix Tutorials and found this (what I am really looking for is more in depth tutorials on using the sliders to my best advantage. I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for yet...and this searching and reading takes up soooooo much time!):

HDR Tutorial: How to create ‘High Dynamic Range’ images using Photomatix

If anyone knows any other good Photomatrix tutorials for free - let me know!

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Below are today's favorite works of mine...all are 3 exposures HDRs tonemapped in Photomatrix and tweaked in Photoshop.

Found these abandoned houses just by chance a couple weeks ago and I went back to shoot in this area yesterday in order to capture them. There are a handful of these abandoned houses on this one street and I can't figure out why they are all boarded up (since they look like they were in good shape).

It felt like such a ghost town...very strange being in this deserted place alone I must say. It's hard to explain...it was an eerie feeling as if they had fleed the area leaving in a hurry...parts of their world were left behind...items were still in the barn like someone was still working at the workbench.

Abandoned New Jersey
Old Barn....and a clothesline

Worked on Some Landscape Shots from October - AND - Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR AF-S Reviews

Yes, I'm so backed up on editing photos from my Sunday excursions with my sister that I was editing shots from October. The funnier part is that I have shots from April - the present unedited!

Yesterday I decided I would work on some of the photos I took when we went to Assunpink (I wrote about it back around October 15th or so).

A few favorites that I put a soft filter on (click to enlarge):







I can't decide between the B&W and Color on these shots..I'll have to post them on the forum I'm a member of to see what everyone thinks...

Color


B&W


Color


B&W


I'm leading towards color...we'll see what everyone thinks.

And here is the favorite of today. I titled it "The Long Road Home." I converted it to B&W and then burn & dodged the sky to enhance the sky & clouds to their fullest potential.

Please click to enlarge because the small view looks pixelated:


I've been wanting the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR AF-S lens but before I say that I definitely want it for my Birthday/Christmas I wanted to read as many reviews as I could since it's a VERY big purchase.





B&H Photo is offering the lens for $759.95.

What I don't like is Ken Rockwell's review written Febrary 2006. He didn't recommend it at the time and he mentioned that he hoped the auto-focus feature would be improved.

PopPhoto.com gave a very good review of te lens.

The Nikonians give the lens a good review and showed a test photo as if was used a portrait lens.

DPReview site gives a full overview of the lens.

I was lucky to find a Nikon Micro 105mm VR Sample Gallery on Pbase.com and the images look really great. The details in this sample gallery is tremendous! I'm glad I stumbled upon it.

Buythom.com had a very thorough review of the lens that I found exremely helpful and helped me to really understand the use of the lens.

After Waiting 4 Months...I Finally Got It! The New Lens Has Arrived! 18-200VR - Yee Hah!

The lens I wanted (AF Zoom Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VRII) has been out of stock at B&H Photo since I got my Nikon D80 DSLR back in May. After a tip I received I ordered it this past Saturday at Best Buy with a price match (of all places!). If I had known about the price match I would have gone there and ordered it back in May!

I refused to buy it anywhere but B&H Photo because everyone else was charging way more. I had an 18-135 which worked well so I figured I would be patient and get the price I really wanted at B&H Photo.

I never even thought of Best Buy's price match policy! Not only did they match the price but they taken an addition % off to BEAT the competitor's price. The ordered it for me and shipped it free to my home! Got it within a few days.

Anyway, here's what she looks like (what a beauty!):



Check out Ken Rockwells review of this lens HERE.

Ken Rockwell also talks about how to get one HERE. I guess I'm not the only one having a hard time getting one....makes me think twice about not ordering all 5 that Best Buy had in stock and selling them for a profit on ebay! :(

You can also check out DP Review's forums to read more about how other's felt about the lens.

First shot with the new lens was my best friend, Lucas:



Then I went outside and did some test shots to see the lens zoomed out at 18mm and zommed in at 200mm with my best model, Lucas (of course).

At 18mm:



At 200mm:



At 18mm:



At 200mm:



I can't wait for work to end tomorrow so I can go out after work and get some shots with the new lens!

"Watch this space" as they say!