n. david king. the digital landscape using digital photography & photoshop™ in landscape...

N. David King

The Digital LandscapeThe Digital Landscape

Using Digital PhotographyUsing Digital Photography&&

PhotoShopPhotoShop™™in in

Landscape PhotographyLandscape Photography

N. David King

Digital Landscape PhotographyDigital Landscape Photography

• Inevitable Film vs. Digital issues.

• Camera & Lens Issues (Equipment)

• Workflow

• Output

We’ll take a look at each in more detail…

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes


• Inevitable Film vs. Digital issues.– The Major Issues for Landscape Shooters are:

• Longevity

• Dynamic Range

• Resolution

This is important: let’s quickly examine each…© N. David King



IMAGE TYPE Est. LIFE SPAN (MUSEUM CONDITIONS)

• Type “C” Color Print 25-35 years• B&W RC Print 50-75 years (improving w/ new materials)• Fuji Crystal Archive Color 85-100 years• B&W Archival Fiber 150-200 years

• Normal Inkjet Dyes 5-10 years (Typical non-photo printer)• Photo Quality Dyes 35-45 years• Hybrid/Pigmented Dyes 75-100 years• Pigment Color inks 150-200 years• Carbon Pigment B&W inks 150-200 years.

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Image Longevity


• MEDIA STOPS GAMMA

• Film: Color Pos. 11 2.8+/-• Film: B&W Neg 12-13 2.9+/- • B&W Paper 9-10 2.0

• P&S Digital Sensor 8-11 <2.0-3.0 • DSLR* Digital Sensor 11-14 3.4+/-• High End InkJet Print 10-12 2.5-2.8

• * High end sensors in Digital Backs are better

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Dynamic Range


• Film resolution is effected by the lenses and developers. It can theoretically capture finer detail than virtually any lens can resolve because of its microscopic grain.

• A single grain of VERY FINE GRAINED FILM averages about 2 microns (1 micron (micrometre) is 1/1,000,000 of a meter) …

• However… film clumping severely cuts back on this theoretical potential since it takes 20-40 grains to clump to reveal increments of tonality or single element of resolution...

• High end digital cameras can also capture more than most lenses resolve though not as much more as film’s potential. A Common 6 Mp DSLR’s photosites are about 6 microns. In practice it can resolve finer detail than many films’ grain clumps however because each pixel can create any tone. (More pixels on same sensor size means smaller photosites.)

…continued

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Film vs Digital Resolution


• Of course with larger film formats the grain to image size relationship changes but it does so with larger format digital backs as well. So how do formats of film compare?

• It is commonly felt in the professional world that you can easily match…( 2006 technology)

– 35mm with a 6 Mp DSLR

– 645/6x6 MF with an 8-10 Mp DSLR

– 6x7 MF with a 12-16 Mp DSLR

– 4x5 LF with a 16-20+ Mp DSLR

– 8x10 LF with a MF multi-shot Back of 22+ Mp

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Film vs Digital Resolution


• Camera & Lens Issues– Camera

• Pixel Count Realities (Actual v. Effective)• Durability• Functions

– Lens• Resolution… (llpm, contrast, and MTF curves)• Zoom vs Prime lenses… (The “Sweet Spot”) • Optical issues for Digital… Continued

© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Equipment


• Lens Issues, Continued

– Optical issues new to Digital

• Angle of projected light on photo sites

• Circles of Confusion size re photo sites

• Internal Light reflections from sensor surface: Asymetrical lenses

© N. David King



• Camera & Lens Accessories – Tripod

• Why Digital Photographers need them• Sturdiness and weight• Heads and adapters• Pads for legs or Shoulder Straps

– Lens Shades/Hoods• Digital is VERY vulnerable to stray light.• ANY light striking the objective is captured

© N. David King



• Camera & Lens Issues

– Lens Shades and Hoods

– Here is NO hood:Notice light onDust on lens surface

© N. David King



• Camera & Lens Issues

– Lens Shades and Hoods

– With Hood no lightcan strike the lens

© N. David King



• Camera Accessories (Continued)– Filters

• Why most Professional Digital Photographers do not use them.

– Diffusion of image– Light flare– Ease of simulation in post editing

• Protection from Dust and Moisture– Lens caps and hoods/shades

© N. David King



• Workflow: Capture Issues– Camera Settings: Like different film for each shot

• ISO• White Balance & Color Space• Contrast• Saturation• Sharpening (Canons vs Others)• Exposure

– The Sensor is not digital film

– The Histogram and Monitor

– Calibrating Digital Cameras

– Light Meters

• Focus © N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Workflow


• Workflow: Conversion Issues

– RAW vs. JPEG– Shooting it Right / Exposure Latitude– Shooting TO the Right: myth or reality?– Various RAW Converters– Modifications/Editing to do in the converter– Output as…

• Tiff or PSD• 16 bit • sRGB vs Adobe RGB vs ProPhoto RGB

© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues– PhotoShop approach Paradigms

• Graphic Arts / Arts CREATION• Photography / Photo-Arts EDITING• Finishing vs Fixing• Non-Destructive Editing: Pros and Cons• Color Management• Why does Workflow Matter?

– Commutative and Non-Commutative Processes

Continued…© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop Photo-Editing Workflow

• (Optional) Crop if Desired• GLOBAL TONALITIES

1. Use Levels to set White and Black Points

1. WB on neutral target if not done in converter

2. Input and Output settings for specific printers

2. Use Curves to adjust contrast and mid tones (Treat like Zone System increments)

Continued…

© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop Photo-Editing Workflow (Cont.)

• GLOBAL COLOR1. Photo Filter (Overall Cast correction)

2. Hue-Saturation (Correction based on color)

3. Color Balance (Correction based on tonal range)

Continued…

© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop Photo-Editing Workflow

• SELECTED AREA EDITING– Using Layers and Layer Masking

• SELECTED AREA TONALITIES– Levels to set White and Black Points– Curves to adjust contrast and mid tones (Treat like Zone

System increments)

Continued…

© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop Photo-Editing Workflow (Cont.)

• SELECTED AREA COLOR– Photo filter (Overall Cast correction)– Hue-Saturation (Correction based on color)– Color Balance (Correction based on tonal range)

Continued…

© N. David King



• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop and Beyond

• Thinking Digitally– HDR/Tonemapping

– Layering to Expand Options

• Depth of Field extension and contraction

• Exposure extensions (Astro)

– Stitching

• Panoramas

• Mosaics (Multi-Row Panoramas)

• Plan print in advance (previsualization)




• Workflow: Editing Issues (Continued)– PhotoShop Photo-Editing Workflow (Continued)

• But What if I want it in B&W???– Camera processing vs. Photoshop

– Start with BEST Color then enhance for effect

– Proper conversion (CS3 and earlier)

• Grayscale, de-saturation, Channel Mixer, B&W

– Using “False Color” to set up for conversion

– RGB vs Grayscale file

• For Web/Email

• For Printing

– Multi-Black printers and profiling issues




• Workflow: Organizing/Archiving– Backing Up and Archiving

• Camera Originals• Working Files• Edited Masters• Printing Files

– Software Solutions

© N. David King



© N. David King

Issues for Digital Photographers shooting landscapes: Materials and Follow-up

You can download this PowerPoint Presentation from my website:

www.ndavidking.com

Then follow the links to SDFair materials low on the page.

And check out the Photo Program atSan Diego City College

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