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Lightshow Redo (Attn. Sam)


MrAndMrsIzzy

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Was going to tack this on to the original "Lightshow" post but decided to go with new instead.

 

Been using the CC photography package for a little over a year now. Prefer the pay for it once and use it forever plan rather than the by the month or by the year plan, but $10.00\month or $120.00\year for full version Ps and Lr Classic, I decided ok.

 

With regards to Lr Classic, I have (for the most part) been using its cataloging capabilities rather than its editing capabilities. Your reply to the original "Lightshow" post, referencing camera raw and reading the article got me thinking that maybe it's high time I started learning about them. Got a book from a local B&N, flipped trough it, decided to try a B&W conversion.

 

First image is the same one I posted in the original post. Second is the Lr version.

 

Misc19x27A-1GSmallPnet.jpg.a2311bf1cee3e182fd7e02b75d13b167.jpg

 

 

Misc19x27AGPrctcPnet.jpg.1768cc39c5389fc6b48183462581b226.jpg

 

 

Not perfect, but definitely improved.

Izzy From Brooklyn
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Not perfect, but definitely improved.

Significantly improved, yes. I think you handled the highlights much better. In your new version, there's a lighter band in the lower sky behind the buildings which makes for a less contrasty skyline and impacts the sense of depth. Don't know if that's what you wanted and not necessarily advising you one way or the other. Just pointing out the difference. The noise is still very prominent, and I'm not experienced in scanning and night shooting enough to know how to advise you on that.

"You talkin' to me?"

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"In your new version, there's a lighter band in the lower sky behind the buildings which makes for a less contrasty skyline and impacts the sense of depth. Don't know if that's what you wanted and not necessarily advising you one way or the other. Just pointing out the difference."

 

Actually I don't think I even particularly noticed. I did the conversion in Lr, played around with the controls till I got what looked to me like an ok result, exported, opened it in Ps, tweaked the brightness and contrast a little, looked at the result as a whole, liked what I saw and saved.

 

"The noise is still very prominent,"

 

I know! But, and you (as well as many others) may disagree. I see noise as simply another element of the image. It may hurt, it may help, or it may just sit there and do nothing. It depends on the image (and its intended use).

Izzy From Brooklyn
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I know! But, and you (as well as many others) may disagree. I see noise as simply another element of the image. It may hurt, it may help, or it may just sit there and do nothing. It depends on the image (and its intended use).

 

I like noise and grain when it seems part of the crafting. Putting the noise to work for you is always a possibility. With that in mind I found that selective use of noise&grain can often enhance an image. Something I noticed with some Japanese photographers. This would be a very easy photo to play with selective partial noise reduction. Depending on your choice to reduce noise in the water & cityscape or to reduce the noise in the clouds I think it is worth a try. It makes the noise seem more like a technique and less of a limitation or compromise that many would automatically see.

Edited by inoneeye

n e y e

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I like noise and grain when it seems part of the crafting. Putting the noise to work for you is always a possibility. With that in mind I found that selective use of noise&grain can often enhance an image. Something I noticed with some Japanese photographers. This would be a very easy photo to play with selective partial noise reduction. Depending on your choice to reduce noise in the water & cityscape or to reduce the noise in the clouds I think it is worth a try. It makes the noise seem more like a technique and less of a limitation or compromise that many would automatically see.

 

Actually Inoneeye, I did. Not much though, 1 or 2 pixels maybe, but globally rather than partially.

 

Yes it is improved but emotionally the original speaks to me more. I am weird, the noisier and dirtier the better !

 

Shrug! Doesn't mean your a bad person!!

Izzy From Brooklyn
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"Actually Inoneeye, I did. Not much though, 1 or 2 pixels maybe, but globally rather than partially."

 

Yeah. What i suggest is exploring selective noise reduction. It's easy in LR or PS. You can brush or isolate or layer or history it.... whatever you're comfortable with. For the photos you have been posting it has the potential to be a technique that enhances your work.

This technique can be is used to great affect by nature photographers wanting selective sharpening or noise reduction to specific details or used by street shooters or any photographer who appreciates grain or noise viscerally. By reducing in selected areas they have more control & impact over the entire image. Much like bringing up highlights or blocking shadows and vice versa. This also gives an additional control for playing with depth.

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n e y e

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"Actually Inoneeye, I did. Not much though, 1 or 2 pixels maybe, but globally rather than partially."

 

Yeah. What i suggest is exploring selective noise reduction. It's easy in LR or PS. You can brush or isolate or layer or history it.... whatever you're comfortable with. For the photos you have been posting it has the potential to be a technique that enhances your work.

This technique can be is used to great affect by nature photographers wanting selective sharpening or noise reduction to specific details or used by street shooters or any photographer who appreciates grain or noise viscerally. By reducing in selected areas they have more control & impact over the entire image. Much like bringing up highlights or blocking shadows and vice versa. This also gives an additional control for playing with depth.

 

 

Definitely something to play with. In fact I think I already have with layers in PS. Not much though, probably less than half a dozen images over I don't know how many years. Not with noise though (sharpening, brightness, contrast, etc., but not noise). Not yet anyway.

Izzy From Brooklyn
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Distinguishing the signal from the noise requires both scientific knowledge and self-knowledge.

—Nate Silver

Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid.

—Mark Twain

In the beginning, there was noise. Noise begat rhythm, and rhythm begat everything else.

—Mickey Hart

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"You talkin' to me?"

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