Official Photo Tutorial Thread (Photoshop, Camera Settings, Lightroom, etc)

Planter · Dec 19, 2012

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

:bowdown:

Checking in, haha.

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

Planter said:
you got a pc right?

do you have the software utility disk that came with your camera?

there's a program on there that lets you control your camera and settings with the software.

for HDR you need to take bracket exposures.

so let's say you shoot a picture at

100 ISO
1/250th shutter speed
f/4

you need a picture at

100 ISO
1/250th
f/5.6
(which is considered +1)

and another at

100 ISO
1/250th
f/2.8
(which is consider -1)

+1 means a step up. -1 means a step down.

you need at minimum 3 images of different exposures with a differential of at least 1 f/stop to merge an authentic HDR image.

some of the better one's are done 5 and 10 exposures. but the EOS Utility program will let you set that on the computer and shoot the pics.

then it's just all about manipulating the settings in Photomatix.

another thing, you're trying to do night HDR's, and you may not have enough light. some night HDR's come out, some don't. I have some night shots of Nashville that just never came out. some do, some don't.

but try doing HDR's during the day to start with, and once you get the hang of it, then try night HDR's.

Sorry for the confusion but I wasn't in search of HDRs for that shoot. I just was messing around with the program and posted the results. The originals I posted were the objective. But thank you for this information. I will try that out. I will see if I have the CD still. I bought this camera back in like '09 or maybe earlier. I believe I still have everything in my camera bag though.

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

I think I am going to start doing daytime shoots for a while until I get the hang of it. Last night's shoot was a spur of the moment situation. Friend of mine is in town from overseas and I wanted to mess around with the camera.

Those PDFs did extract without issues and I skimmed through a few but need to pick one to start with and read through it.

What did you think of the originals?

Blown_By_You · Dec 19, 2012

Planter said:
there's a program on there that lets you control your camera and settings with the software.

for HDR you need to take bracket exposures.

so let's say you shoot a picture at

100 ISO
1/250th shutter speed
f/4

you need a picture at

100 ISO
1/250th
f/5.6
(which is considered +1)

and another at

100 ISO
1/250th
f/2.8
(which is consider -1)

+1 means a step up. -1 means a step down.

you need at minimum 3 images of different exposures with a differential of at least 1 f/stop to merge an authentic HDR image.

some of the better one's are done 5 and 10 exposures. but the EOS Utility program will let you set that on the computer and shoot the pics.

then it's just all about manipulating the settings in Photomatix.

another thing, you're trying to do night HDR's, and you may not have enough light. some night HDR's come out, some don't. I have some night shots of Nashville that just never came out. some do, some don't.

but try doing HDR's during the day to start with, and once you get the hang of it, then try night HDR's.

Lol Drew. You shoud start off by giving proper advice, or stay away from HDR's.

HDR should be shot in Aperture Priority aka AV on Canon's. The different exposures are created by varying SHUTTER speed, while ISO and Aperture stay the same.

If you were to vary the aperture for bracketing, you would have a fuzzy image with different depths of field due to the change in aperture. (slight, but still noticeable)

Best Newb HDR advice.

Get Tripod.
Set up your shot
Set ISO to 100
Make sure camera is set to record in raw
Set Drive mode to high speed continuous
Set Camera to Aperture Priority
If it has exposure bracketing, start with +- 1 EV
You don't need a remote shutter button, but it will help.
Turn OFF image stabilization
Use autofocus to focus on the subject by depressing shutter button half way but without taking picture.
Once focused, switch autofocus to off so it doesn't try to refocus during the 3 shots.
Hold down remote or shutter button..
Voila

OR, if you have a "fast" lense and a camera with a high frame rate, you can take handheld 3 shot bursts like I do

03SVTCobraDave · Dec 19, 2012

Thanks for posting this Planter! :beer:

mstg46 · Dec 19, 2012

Great topic idea.

I think posting before and after processing in this thread would be cool as well.

myblackgt · Dec 19, 2012

mstg46 said:
great topic idea.

I think posting before and after processing in this thread would be cool as well.

+1

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

I agree Mike! I hope you continue to post in here as well. A lot of yall have a lot of advice to give that I'm going to be needing! Haha.

Planter · Dec 19, 2012

Don't give me props...give Kat (Hybred) props. she's the one that spurned the idea. I just implemented it. :shrug:

sorry Matt, I don't do much HDR, got it backwards. blah.

Planter · Dec 19, 2012

original post updated to provide the links to the tutorials, and photomatix 4.2.5

charba951 · Dec 19, 2012

Planter said:
Don't give me props...give Kat (Hybred) props. she's the one that spurned the idea. I just implemented it. :shrug:

sorry Matt, I don't do much HDR, got it backwards. blah.

I had no idea Hybred was a lady...blew my mind lol! If you guys use before and afters I'd like to know the settings that were used :beer:

What kind of tri-pod is recommended? Is it like the remote and just get a cheap one? And I can't seem to get the photomatrix to work.
My computer keeps saying it's a trojan and deletes it...what you trying to pull here

oke:

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

I like Manfrotto tri-pods. The one I have recently broken (my fault) after years of having it so I'm going to be ordering another from them. Personally I wouldn't go for a cheap tri-pod. I want to get the one Hybred has but it's abour $600 IIRC. You get what you pay for when it comes to tri-pods, like other things.

Blown_By_You · Dec 19, 2012

charba951 said:
I had no idea Hybred was a lady...blew my mind lol! If you guys use before and afters I'd like to know the settings that were used :beer:

What kind of tri-pod is recommended? Is it like the remote and just get a cheap one?

A quality tripod will provide many years of service. I have a Manfrotto 190 Xb, but I would much rather have a Giottos. I used to have a Manfrotto ball head and I also swapped it out for a giottos, which is lightyears better.

Unless you are a backpacker, you can opt for a heavier, more sturdy one, which will also be cheaper..

Brian95SVT · Dec 19, 2012

I am going to look at Giottos on B&H right now. Thanks Matt.

mstg46 · Dec 19, 2012

Here are a couple of before and afters.

Photo settings
Shutter 1/100
F11
ISO 400
10mm

Before

Before by Mike M. Photos, on Flickr
After

Cars and Coffee 12/1/2012 by Mike M. Photos, on Flickr

Photo settings
Shutter 1/200
F11
ISO 400
10mm

Before

Before by Mike M. Photos, on Flickr
After

Cars and Coffee 12/1/2012 by Mike M. Photos, on Flickr

I take all my photos in RAW so I have the maximum amount of adjustments possible. When I open them in Photoshop, I adjust clarity, contrast, exposure, and white balance. Then I remove any noise, and adjust sharpness. Lastly I adjust highlights and shadows.

charba951 · Dec 19, 2012

Carbon tube tripods huh?

Blown_By_You · Dec 19, 2012

I think it would be great for everyone to post the exif data on all the pics posted in here as well.

charba951 · Dec 19, 2012

mstg46 said:
I take all my photos in RAW so I have the maximum amount of adjustments possible. When I open them in Photoshop, I adjust clarity, contrast, exposure, and white balance. Then I remove any noise, and adjust sharpness. Lastly I adjust highlights and shadows.

I know enough to know that noise is that grainy distorted look in photos, what tool in PS gets rid of that?

mstg46 · Dec 19, 2012

charba951 said:
I know enough to know that noise is that grainy distorted look in photos, what tool in PS gets rid of that?

When you open a RAW file in Photoshop it opens in Camera Raw which gives you some options that you don't get when you open a JPEG. One of these options is Noise Reduction. You adjust the sliders until the noise goes away.

Official Photo Tutorial Thread (Photoshop, Camera Settings, Lightroom, etc)

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