Just Practicing: Some nice clouds were around when I left work this evening. So, time to practice a bit and try some various techniques. The clouds are featured because the parking lot...

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Some nice clouds were around when I left work this evening. So, time to practice a bit and try some various techniques. The clouds are featured because the parking lot looks like crap.
--Bob

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Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

I'd like it more without the light pole Bob but that's a personal choice....well done sir.

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Would be curious to know what PP you used, if any. Some may find too much detail in the clouds (I'm just now learning what you can do with things like Nik), but I love how you pulled all that information out, not to mention the drama and the contrast.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Frank, I wasn't too concerned about the poles and trees. I was working on fine tuning some techniques I especially want to use with clouds. I've still got a few more things to try, or modify.
--Bob

Frank2013 wrote:

I'd like it more without the light pole Bob but that's a personal choice....well done sir.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Actually, the post processing is quite simple. It's the initial exposure and ACR adjustments that do most of the work. In this particular exposure, the placement of the high values within the cloud was to the right. I metered on the brightest part of the left side of the cloud. I then increased my exposure by 3 stops. That placed the brightest part of the cloud in Zone VIII. I also used unitary white balance to capture even more of the scene's data. Post processing was simply a few adjustments to compensate for the entire range of Zones being pulled to the right. These adjustments place the mid and darker tones back where they should be. After those initial adjustments, the rest was an image specific white balance, burning and dodging. All done within PS. I should add that the dynamic range of the camera plays a big part in this. However, I've used another camera, where I started this technique, which did not have the same DR. I could still get very close to the same results.
--Bob

cabunit wrote:

Would be curious to know what PP you used, if any. Some may find too much detail in the clouds (I'm just now learning what you can do with things like Nik), but I love how you pulled all that information out, not to mention the drama and the contrast.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Wonderful hearing your process Bob.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo, and I like the light pole because it looks as if it's holding up the cloud.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Thanks, John. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
--Bob

jaymatt wrote:

Nice photo, and I like the light pole because it looks as if it's holding up the cloud.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

rmalarz wrote:

......I then increased my exposure by 3 stops........

Can we assume that the extra raw-available dynamic range is 3 stops?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

RG, it's not good to assume, as the ERADR varies from camera to camera. Although my camera seems to have right about 3 stops, that is not related to the three stops mentioned in my method description.

Since I center weighted measured the brightest area of the cloud, that would place that value at Zone V (middle gray) of I'd used that exposure. The three steps of exposure for which I adjusted was to place that area of the cloud in Zone VIII, closer to completely white. I probably could have increased the exposure a bit more, taking advantage of the camera's ERADR, and still retrieved the desired tonality in PP. However, the DR of the scene really didn't call for it.

I hope this made sense. If not, just let me know.
--Bob

R.G. wrote:

Can we assume that the extra raw-available dynamic range is 3 stops?

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Thanks for the explanation, Bob. I didn't know that the zone system went in one stop jumps, or that you could meter for mid-tones. It sounds like you're working with mid-tones the same way an EBTR shooter would work with the top end of the histogram.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

RG, You're welcome. Light meters read whatever they are pointed at and provide an exposure to place that value in Zone V. Each Zone equates to one stop of exposure, either shutter speed, f-stop, or combination of the two. Thus, had I exposed the scene for what the meter indicated, the brightest parts of the clouds would have been captured as more towards middle gray. This would have made a very difficult to adjust image in PP.
--Bob

R.G. wrote:

Thanks for the explanation, Bob. I didn't know that the zone system went in one stop jumps, or that you could meter for mid-tones. It sounds like you're working with mid-tones the same way an EBTR shooter would work with the top end of the histogram.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

rmalarz wrote:

RG, You're welcome. Light meters read whatever they are pointed at and provide an exposure to place that value in Zone V. Each Zone equates to one stop of exposure, either shutter speed, f-stop, or combination of the two. Thus, had I exposed the scene for what the meter indicated, the brightest parts of the clouds would have been captured as more towards middle gray. This would have made a very difficult to adjust image in PP.
--Bob

Thanks again for the info. It sounds like your technique is a safe way to expose for potentially problematic highlights, assuming that the metered area is fairly uniform as far as brightness is concerned.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

rmalarz wrote:

Some nice clouds were around when I left work this evening. So, time to practice a bit and try some various techniques. The clouds are featured because the parking lot looks like crap.
--Bob

The cloud formations are beautiful. I like the black sky. There is not interest in the foreground as you mentioned and That is a shame. Those clouds and an interesting landscape in the foreground would be awesome. I don't like the thick border. I would have used a very thin white stroke just to define the edges of the composition. That, however, is a completely subjective point on my part.

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Not to belabor the point, but as others have said, many thanks for sharing your methodology. I know about the Zone system, but have never put it into practice. So far I've been able to get what I've wanted from my RAW files, yet there's always more to learn.