didgital ND

[nikkortorokkor]

I thought that I'd post this here rather than in filters, since its actually digital 'cheating' rather than cheating with filters.

I'm without any ND or grad filters at the moment. Correction, I have the filters and Cokin holder, but not the correct adaptor rings for my lenses. *sigh*

I found a handy tool in the Picasa suite that helped 'correct' some exposures, echoing what I'd normally do on-site with an ND grad.

Do you think the effort an improvement?


Original


after tinkering in Picassa

The tool is easy to use, and the program free to download.

The camera, BTW, was an SRT 101, Lens: Phenix 28-70 (I think). 200 print film

Location, the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki on the South Island's West Coast. Looking South.

[mickeyobe]

Michael,

Whatever you used certainly did an excellent job.
The foreground is lighter but the sea and sky and shrubbery along the sea are darker.
I don't understand how that was done. Perhaps a split ND Filter?

Mickey

[herron]

Wow...that's a dramatic change!

I've used graduated ND filters before and really like how they allow you to effectively use different exposures across areas of the film, like capturing darker detail without blowing out a lighter background...and this looks almost exactly like that!

You say Picasa is a free download?

[olroy2044]

Michael, tell us more. That's awesome! Roy

[nikkortorokkor]

well, glad you all like the effect. Looking at it again, I think that the 'filter' does make the photo much more memorable.

Picasa is a Google product. Yet another example of how we might become all pi**ed off and paranoid about the big G over the next 10 years like we have been about Mr Gates & co for the last 10. But I love their open source approach, so for now I'm having a lot of fun.

You can download Picasa at www.picasa.google.com. I got it with the google pack when I went through my Google Earth obsessive stage. I've since chucked Earth away, but have become a convert to other google pack products, especially Firefox internet browser, Star Office and Picasa.

Picasa is quite different to from any other photo management system I've used. Lets say I find it quirky rather than intuitive. It's quite a beast and I haven't put the time into learning all its file management features. Here's a review of the product that'll be more useful than anything I can write to assess its file management features.

www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,1752155,00.asp

One odd quirk that I've got used to, If you open an image with Picasa and dicker with it, Picasa will store your new version of the image without altering the original. Whenever you open the file with Picasa, you'll se your alterations, but if you open it with another program, say Windows Picture & Fax Viewer, the alterations won't show. If you save your alterations with Picasa, the original will be altered, but Picasa automatically backs it up. Thus, you can use Picasa to restore the image anytime. I, however, being a bit old fashioned, save all changes as a copy. This can be accessed through the 'File' tab and will save a copy beside the original with the a numerical suffix (1, 2, etc) on the filename.

Now to the fun part, using the image enhancers.

When you first open Picasa it'll automatically search for all images on your computer. These are organized chronologically and displayed as thumbnails in a tile on the left of your screen. Left click on a thumb and the image will pop up into the main tile. The left tile now gives editing options in 3 tabs: Basic Fixes (crop, straighten, etc); Adjustments (I think, I'm at a University computer right now, which doesn't have Picasa installed so I'm working from memory); and Effects. Hit the Effects tab and you are offered a range of tools, including 'graduated tint' . This tool gives you a set of crosshairs which allow you to place the 'grad filter' vertically and laterally, just like a Cokin system does. It only works top down, that is, dark at the top, light at the bottom, but you can always flip the photo upside down before working on it if you want to work the other way.

Other cool effects include sharpen, which often can be very effective, but at other times results in an overmanipulated look. Perhaps the most intrigueing effect is 'filtered black and white' which is quite fun to use and can act as a good, instant lesson in the use of B&W filters for ignoramuses like me who eschewed the monastic delights of the darkroom for the seductive charms of Velvia. Glow, soft focus, focal B&W, Sepia and Warmify are some of the other effects on offer.

Now my hint for those who aren't control freaks. After adding an effect, go back to Basic Fixes and hit 'I'm Feeling Lucky'. that's what I did with the above image of the rocks. Often you won't like the result, but sometimes, as in this case, the clever little elves in the program do just the right thing. In this case it was the 'I'm Feeling Lucky' function that heightened the contrast just a little, causing that front rock to 'pop' and become a focal point.

If this is cheating too much, you can go into 'adjustments' and set fill light, highlights and shadows manually.

I hope you find this useful and fun. It can certainly result in increased time playing with images: a mixed blessing?

[herron]

nikkortorokkor said:

....When you first open Picasa it'll automatically search for all images on your computer. These are organized chronologically and displayed as thumbnails in a tile on the left of your screen....

A-h-h-h, now I remember. Just took a moment for this old brain to kick in again. It's this odd fact that I remember, and the reason I didn't download this the last time I heard about it. It's the software's desire to move things from the carefully arranged places I've put them over the years, and arrange them chronologically (rather a strong indication of machine intelligence, isn't it?) that put me off in the first place.

If it's not really like that, please tell me...because then I can use it. Otherwise, I have no desire to bring that kind of chaos into my neatly bundled and organized (if rather organic and quirky) file structure!

[nikkortorokkor]

Ron,

As a kind of bozo on the computer who learns what he must and blithely ignores the rest, I'm quite gobsmacked by the way Picasa works. It does not rearrange your files other than to add a database file and a configuration settings file to each folder. So, if you open Picasa, your FOLDERS (not files) will appear chronologically, unless you choose another option: last modified, name or size (all the usual suspects).

If I can explain clearly, Picasa doesn't move your files, but rather accesses them in a certain way. It's pretty quick once you're set up. When I load a new CD of 24 or 36 exposures and then open Picasa, it usually takes 15 or 20 seconds to create the database and load your images.

I don't actually use Picasa as an image management program but as an editing tool. I've found its effect on my folders quite benign. You should be able to download it without the program shoving your files every which way.

Does that help?

[herron]

Yes, it does, Michael. Thanks.

I've read about Picasa before, and almost downloaded it, but my interpretation of what I read about it told me it rearranged things...and, as interesting as the rest of it was, I was dead set against that. I have enough trouble managing what I do have. It currently takes a half terabyte of space, as it is (320GB main drive, 160GB secondary drive, and a 120GB external drive - the latter two completely full)...and I've been thinking of adding more.

Now that you've set me straight, I'll give it another look.

Thanks again.

[nikonbob]

Michael

I had Picasa installed and removed it because it was annoying me for some reason I don't recall now. After reading this thread I reinstalled it and had another go at it. I find it very useful as an adjunct to PS Elements 2 that I use. The only things that I would prefer to do in PS is colour correction and sharpening as the Picasa misses it on occasion by introducing a colour cast or over sharpening. I also find the demo version of Neat Image useful in removing noise if you don't mind printing from JPEG.

Bob

[nikkortorokkor]

Bob, thanks for the info about Neat Image.

I too cherry pick features from different programs. I agree about the sharpening in Picasa. If there is too much detail, it just looks awful. Likewise the colour correction, which often seems to end up too pink.

[Rachel]

I find that Picasa is handy as a photo catalogue and for simple adjustments and is adequate for most of my "snapshots". For anything more intricate I would use Paint Shop Pro. There are lots of little programs around for doing particular jobs which might be easier to use.

[nikonbob]

Micheal

The pink colour cast has been my experience with Picasa too when using the auto colour correction feature.

Rachel

I have never tried Paint Shop Pro and unless it is free or bundled with something I buy probably never will. PS Elements came with my scanner. That is the trouble with being cheap. Lots of interesting programs I would like to try but.....

Bob

[Rachel]

Micheal

I never use any of the auto functions in Picasa.

Bob

PSP is very like Photoshop but considerably cheaper. A friend gave me a copy many years ago and I actually bought (gasp!) a later version. I did try PS Elements as it came free with some hardware (film scanner I think) but couldn't see it was any better than the PSP I was using and which I'd got used to.

[nikonbob]

Rachel

I am the same way with Elements as you are with PSP, I learned (still learning) it first and see no reason to change once I am used to it. There can't be a huge difference between various programs once you are used to them.

Bob