Aurora Public Library Camera Club

Photo Exchange Challenge - “Sun Rays” from Doug Underwood

Barry Bridgeford, Feb. 2Nd, 2015__________________________________________________________________________

Doug Underwood is my photo-exchange-challenge partner. He sent me three different photos to work with.

This document deals with his photo titled “Sun Rays”.

Doug sent me 3 bracketed “dng” (raw) files of this subject .. the first one being regularly exposed, the second one being under-exposed by 2 stops, and the third one being 2 stops over-exposed.

Bracketed shots like these can be processed through an HDR (High Dynamic Range) program, so as to blend the best exposure detail across the entire tonal range.

Here are the three bracketed files rendered 'as shot' in the Photoshop Elements 11's Camera Raw utility ...

I firstly processed these 3 shots through the Photomatix Essentials HDR program, using its 'Photographic' preset settings which resulted in this image, which simply maximizes the detail visible across the entire tonal range available in all of the three files ...

This method of enhancing a photograph could be considered highly “automated”.

Secondly, I then took the regularly exposed file 'as shot', loaded it into the PSE regular editor and altered selected areas of it with various adjustments to their exposure levels and degrees of saturation.

My intent here is to produce a dramatic emphasis to both the details of the actual 'sun ray' area and to the surrounding areas of dark forest.

This method of enhancing a photograph could be considered more “personal”.

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