Outside the Badlands,S.D.

[ragman]

I am with Richard and do use Nik in most of my work. The current price (free) is a wonderful bargain (I paid around $500 for the collection when I bought it).

I personally prefer the Color Efex filters to the Viveza by a huge margin (I find Nik control points far to crude for much of what I am trying to achieve, and there are faster and easier ways to apply them, once you know how).

Where I disagree with Richard, it is just as easy to introduce artifacts when using Nik just as easily with any other editing techniques. Some of the filters, especially the Detail Extractor and Tonal Contrast can put you "over the top" with artifacts like halos all to quickly. on the other hand, used with a delicate touch, they bring out details, especially in the sky beautifully. Just as an aside, I did not use Nik tools in my edit of your image.

Now, one warning about PP work - the learning curve is long and steep and quite addictive.

[IzzieK]

Now, one warning about PP work - the learning curve is long and steep and quite addictive.

Say that again three times more...photography itself is addictive and doing pp more so....anyway, in ACR I only uses exposure, contrast and/or shadows...I left the rest alone if I intend to go to Nik's, start with Viveza first then Colour Efex or Silver Efex. These three are where I tackle brightness control on areas that needs to be toned down then structure to bring out those kind of structured clouds. On clouds I sometimes use graduated filters.

Anyway, I like the edit of Manfred as the mountains popped up some more and the cloud treatment of Richard and to combine them together using a brush would have been ideal.

[ragman]

Manfred...every picture tells a story, and I feel what Richard was able to do closely tells "my story". looking back, it was as much the sky as the cliff that caught my interest. Because I have already exceeded my threshold of understanding in the PP aspect of this thread, I gracefully bow out to "listening" status. Thanks to all.

[Manfred M]

Manfred...every picture tells a story, and I feel what Richard was able to do closely tells "my story". looking back, it was as much the sky as the cliff that caught my interest. Because I have already exceeded my threshold of understanding in the PP aspect of this thread, I gracefully bow out to "listening" status. Thanks to all.

I have no issue with Richard's approach or the story you want to tell. Your style and your approach are your own. These are things that will develop as you become more comfortable with both the image capture and post-processing parts of crafting an image.

My issue with Richards comments is purely technical. I was pointing just out that the effects can be accomplished with the tools that are native to the software as well as external tools, like Nik. Even in the Nik toolset, there are different ways of accomplishing certain effects that give similar output. However, all tools can create unwanted side effects (artifacts) and I disagree with his assertion that using Nik is a way of reducing the risk of doing so, versus the native editing tools. This has not been my experience and I find I can easily create halos and other issues if I am not working with a delicate approach.

I tend to be someone that does a fair bit of printing large prints - 17" x 22" is the most common size that I use, so I find that the technique that Richard likes does not work for me as it is not accurate enough in the way it applies the effects. I need to use a different set of tools that are more suited to my editing needs.

The only way that you are going to learn PP is to start with it. Your camera shipped with a very basic set of editing tools and these are likely a good place to start. Post things like you have done and have them critiqued. It is up to you to decide on where you agree or disagree with the analyses that are posted.

[rpcrowe]

Richard...I like this a lot. How you were able to highlight the BG cliffs and the tormented sky has achieved what I had in mind but did not have the PP skill to achieve. I will be investigating that process. Thanks.

Oh but yes, with NIK Software, anyone has the skill to achieve this...

Open Image...
Select NIK Software - Select ColorEfex Pro 4
Since I use Photoshop CS6 as my host program, I open NIK by selecting "FILTER" and select MIK and Coloe Efex 4 from the drop down menu

Choose which style you would like to use. I chose "Strong - Large Details"


I used this in its default setting - however, I could have modified the final result.

[ragman]

Richard...Thanks for the detailed instruction. I will be applying this whenever applicable.

[ragman]

I have no issue with Richard's approach or the story you want to tell. Your style and your approach are your own. These are things that will develop as you become more comfortable with both the image capture and post-processing parts of crafting an image.

My issue with Richards comments is purely technical. I was pointing just out that the effects can be accomplished with the tools that are native to the software as well as external tools, like Nik. Even in the Nik toolset, there are different ways of accomplishing certain effects that give similar output. However, all tools can create unwanted side effects (artifacts) and I disagree with his assertion that using Nik is a way of reducing the risk of doing so, versus the native editing tools. This has not been my experience and I find I can easily create halos and other issues if I am not working with a delicate approach.

I tend to be someone that does a fair bit of printing large prints - 17" x 22" is the most common size that I use, so I find that the technique that Richard likes does not work for me as it is not accurate enough in the way it applies the effects. I need to use a different set of tools that are more suited to my editing needs.

The only way that you are going to learn PP is to start with it. Your camera shipped with a very basic set of editing tools and these are likely a good place to start. Post things like you have done and have them critiqued. It is up to you to decide on where you agree or disagree with the analyses that are posted.

Thanks Manfred...This is all solid advise and as I said earlier my goal is to dive in and begin the uphill climb. I must admit, it is very frustrating trying to squeeze out a simple procedure only to come to a dead end. I'm retired so I have time to work it out.

[Manfred M]

Thanks Manfred...This is all solid advise and as I said earlier my goal is to dive in and begin the uphill climb. I must admit, it is very frustrating trying to squeeze out a simple procedure only to come to a dead end. I'm retired so I have time to work it out.

I retired about 18 months ago and have never been so busy as I am now, so I'm not sure if you are being overly optimistic about available time. I'm not quite sure how I managed to find time to go to work every day in the past.

What Richard suggests on the Nik software is certainly worth trying when you get started. I don't use the presets at all and blend my own filter settings and filter combinations. I tend to use the Color Efex Pro in most of my shots and many of them include a very light touch of the Pro Contrast. I will also add the polarizer if I want to strengthen the sky. At times I do use the Detail Extractor and Tonal Contrast filters, but only with a very light touch and usually with masks to tweak the sky ever so slightly. Heavy handed use of Nik quickly results in "over the top" effects.

[ragman]

Manfred...I'm into my fourth retirement year now and very busy as you say: photography, sailing, home projects, model building, cars and travel. Whereas most are seasonal activities you never run out of things to do. As far as Color Afex Pro, I am listening with both ears. I tend to have two extremes: posterization or minimal correction. I do tend to be detail oriented so it's very time consuming to achieve what I want with PP and I get frustrated when I work on something only to hit a brick wall and lose everything I had. I will get there eventually, it's just not my strong suit right now. Thanks for the strong input on your part and really everyone in CiC.