Photoshop Tutorial #5: HDR - the quick and dirty...

Ok, so anyone with any moderate interest in stepping beyond the tortured, perfectly centered subject, point-and-click shot would have come across HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography.  HDR is a photo technique (increasing in popularity due to the over-abundance of digital photography and post-production image editing software) where a combination of exposures (under, balanced and over) generate a single image displaying an almost surreal range of tonal values - very dramatic shadow and highlight detail. 

Here we go, a before and after shot form my trip to the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona (Yes, I'm aware that its centered, but i had to lay on the floor, desperately dodging the sock-sandal clad hooves of the ambling herds of crispy-fried tourists, to get this shot!)

NOTE: this is only available for Photoshop CS5 and up...
 

I've done quite a few of these on older CS versions - though i had to shoot 5 exposures of the same shot, while using a tripod - but that is for another time...

1. Select a regular digitized photograph.
2. Adjust it accordingly – rotate, scale and crop as desired.
3. With the Background layer selected, navigate to:  Image>Adjustments>HDR Toning…
   NOTE. This part is a bit tricky – and does warrant some trial and error.  The degree to which each of the specific sliders need to be adjusted depends entirely on the type of image – outside landscape, human close-up,  flashy car, etc. (When working with an inside shot, the main focus is on the amount of light (preferable natural) entering the enclosed structure, and how it illuminates the immediate surroundings).
4. In the HDR window, I adjusted the sliders as shown (I always start with the Detail slider –matter of preference):
   Tone and Detail: brings out the fine detail of the image – basically sharpening the information that are usually washed out in the shadows and highlights. For a nice rich contrast on dimly lit interiors, a reduced Gamma and Shadow, along with a slightly elevated Exposure and Highlight brings out the most dramatic contrast.
   Color: I like to keep the Saturation at reasonable levels (especially when printing the shot later) and only push up the Vibrance to boost specific hues.Edge Glow: brings out the sharpness of the image – the lower the Radius the sharper the image detail becomes (Strength controls the intensity of the highlight glow).
   
   
5.  Once satisfied with the results then click OK.
6. The image now has dramatic detail but the contrast in the lighting seems a tad diminished – Levels will easily remedy this.
7. Select Image>Adjustments>Levels…
8. In the levels pop-up window, on the histogram,  adjust the dark (left) slider toward the right – to intensify the shadow areas, and move the light (right) slider towards the left a bit to boost the highlights slightly – click ok.
9. Finally, I like to apply a little Gaussian Blur to take down the crispness a hair – I find a value between 0.8 and 1.2 does just nicely.
10. If the image has lights in it, creating a faint, blurred halo always adds  a simple, yet dramatic effect…  

Zombie Pandemic First Response Kit

As the post title indicates, this is a First Response kit...

not to be mistaken with the gun-behind-glass survival kits, or lame made-in-china novelty throw-away packs, which one can acquire at any old comic store for an insanely overpriced amount...

This kit is a collection of the basic tools necessary to make the first few weeks of chaos, ensuing the initial news of a zombie pandemic, a little more survivable (assuming there's enough sustenance around the home to ensure sufficient energy to use these tools properly)...prior to venturing out for better weapons, more food and stronger fortifications.

So...fill the sinks and tubs with water, gather up all your food, secure all exits and hunker down until the sirens and screams stop...

CONTENTS

• 18 inch steel machete (US Army)
  silent and needs no reloading, great to keep the dead and/or nosy delinquents at bay.
• Bic lighter (x2)
  power is the first to fail - Bics are light and never fail to start a fire
• Compass
  best way to find ones bearings when technology and power are history
• Permanent markers (x2)
  great for emergency communications and warnings
• Mag-lite (mini)
  energy efficient and damn tough
• Basic first aid kit
  NOTE: will not help when infected! However, great to treat small surface wounds from become an easy point of entry for a variety of germs and bacteria.
• Pocket AM/FM radio
  to stay up-to-date with the news, evacuation sites, and survivor pockets.

The contents are neatly packaged in an easily accessible hand-crafted wooden crate (featuring a hinged side door) with a glass front-facing display window. the kit is lined with a bright green felt (for visibility) and all items are contained with strong Velcro straps.

I have built several at $200 a piece...and even if there is no pandemic of the living-dead in our immediate future, these kits make for a unique addition to any office, game room or man-cave!

Technical Difficulties

Dear Readers,

as a direct result of the past months' pack-in-as-much-as-possible work challenge, and the ensuing sensory overload, my laptop as well as myself are experiencing severe technical difficulties...

luckily, there is a cure for the mind and body...

look for new material coming in August!