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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> C183 - Ellipses >> C183 - Eligible > The Storm Breaks
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14-APR-2009 Michael Shealy

The Storm Breaks

Colorado Springs, CO

Canon EOS D30 Infra-red,Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
1/180s f/9.5 at 18.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge20-Apr-2009 00:50
I see the drain pipe although would never have unless it was pointed out there was one in the scene. This is a fantastic piece of work Mikey.. A gorgeous place to be. So you have a converted IR cam huh? Nice! This works really really well with the color processed. jano
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 18:17
Thanks for all the kind words, gang. They're much appreciated. @CJ, you probably can if your subject is still and you're doing an "infinity" shot or landscape. The filters are so dark that they make for such long exposure times and also preclude DSLR viewfinder/AF use, that it limits the subjects and "handiness" of IFR. That's why I had the little D30 converted. Once you have the image, the process is the same as I've listed. You wouldn't need the Photomatix step, tho. It just enhances the dynamic range.

Infra-red images take some doing to get them "viewable". So, for those of you who asked, here's how I do it: I always shoot in RAW and the images are heavily orange tinted and quite dark (esp. on an overcast day like it was when I took this series). I open them in PS-CS3 ACR, then white balance to a white spot on a cloud or know white spot, then open RAW file in PS-CS3, Image> Adjustments> Channel Mixer and invert the Red and Blue channels. This gives a pretty nice image. But then, I change to 32 bits/channel Mode and run Photomatix Tone Mapping (HDR software that will "imitate" an HDR image if you don't have 3 exposures (which I didn't here)). Then, change back to 8 bits/channel and make any more changes in PS, i.e. Color Balance to taste, Noiseware, etc. Ba-da-bing Simple, a? Cheers, -mikey P.S. if you want more info on how to do this, let me know via the email at my dpreview profile.
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 14:46
Oops - didn't see that explanation. I wonder if I can get anywhere near this result with an IR filter? CJ
Rod 17-Apr-2009 08:27
If you girls read what Mikey went to all the trouble to insert under his picy above you will see he did this wiv his infra red camera. ................I'm sorry about the girls behaviour Mikey:-)
Guest 17-Apr-2009 06:57
Pl share how this was done, I think I can try it on a few pics - Debi
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 06:17
Very surreal looking Mikey - like a scene from another planet! Whatever processing you used really brought out the details in the rocks and tree. Not a strong "circle" image but very fun shot! CJ
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 03:57
This was actually really weird. I was looking at the image as a whole and didn't see anything round. I read Mikey's comment, and then I could have sworn that drain pipe suddenly appeared as though it was an animation. Now the thing sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm not big on heavy processing, but thanks for the fun I had viewing this Mikey :-)
~Brent
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 03:26
I found it!!!! Penny Street
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2009 01:29
Mikey is at an extreme disadvantage since precise circles are not easy to find in nature - way out at his frontier mountain home. So we have to make allowances and congratulate him for finding this ancient artifact of an earlier civilization. -tv
Rod 17-Apr-2009 00:05
You have created an excellent tension in this picy by not over emphasising the round drain pipe Mikey, well done mate.............Can you point out where it is:-)
ctfchallenge16-Apr-2009 21:30
There's only one and its the drain pipe in the rock wall. Got a little sand in it. Cheers, -mikey
COAmature 16-Apr-2009 20:52
Out with the red and in with the blue. My same comment applies here. Hard to find the circles. -Doug