Wired for Sound (Westy 52)

Trying out the 35 1.8 this week - Seems to be a pin sharp portrait lens - Light and fast too.

I also picked up a copy of Topaz Adjust, so I thought would combine the two products.

Natural light portrait of Caitlin (along with iPod), taken with the D300 + 35 1.8.

Imported into Photoshop, and Topaz adjustment applied. It gives a nice overall contrast boost, which I like, but was too much on the eyes.

I added a layer mask and bought the eyes back to how they were in the original image, which I think works far better.

More practice needed on the Photoshop plug-ins front I think!

A game of opinions (Westy 52)

This weeks' shot was taken at Wembley Stadium during the 2009 Community Shield.

It is a handheld two shot HDR using the G9.

Once the two images were combined, I bought back the original 'pitch' image in photoshop (as the players had moved, causing ghosting in the HDR).

I have also applied a Topaz 'Colour Pop' action, which I think works well here.

I like the way the two guys at the edge of the frame help emphasis the feeling of watching and discussing the match.

Isolation (Westy 52)

This weeks' image was taken at Wild Britain in Bedford.

I really liked the way this single flower was standing on it's own in isolation.

I shot at 200mm f5 to further isolate the flower from the background.

Shot with the D300 + 18-200vr (not the ideal lens, but it did a fine job here).

Slight saturation boost in CS4, and darkened corners to emphasise the colour of the petals.

Blue and Blonde (Westy 52)

Back to the Portraits this week..

This is a quick grab natural light portrait of my friend and work colleague Faye.

Taken with the D300 + 17-55 2.8.

The 'studio' is a front door step - I positioned Faye so that she was just inside the door as the soft light fell on her face.

Spot metering on her eyes threw the background into darkness, as well as giving me the 'high key' feel I was after.

The background has been burnt slightly to make it even darker and eyes and lips sharpened a little.

I love the contrast between the almost porcelain like skin tones and deep blue eyes and dress.

Storming Ahead (Westy 52)

This week's image is another three shot HDR image taken with the G9.

This time I am a little closer to home (River Ouse in Bedford).

The shots were combined in Photomatix - Then imported into Photoshop.

I applied a grad layer to dark the sky the little (although it didn't need much!).