OK so I have been getting emails saying I don’t blog nearly enough and that I need to kick things is gear. So to that end here is something for your reading enjoyment. Below is a pair of images (Before and After). I have been playing around with Color Efex 3.1 to see how far I can push it before I take an image beyond the limits of what I still consider an image. At the same time I have been playing with Color Efex using smart filters. You may ask why, and I say why not? It is there, try it out and see what it does. So here is the before image of a shot I took on Sunday up in the Sierras. The sun just broke over the mountains and blasted some light into the aspens.
This is a straight shot from the RAW file no edits or anything. I decided to try out this new technique that I have been playing around with since San Juan, and thought it might work here. After looking at the full size version of this, I think this technique is almost read for prime time. So after a conversion to a Smart Object I dove into Color Efex 3.1, and had some fun, and this is what I came up with.
If you can imagine it, this effect used 3 filters, and no I’m no going to tell you which ones; otherwise, you wouldn’t learn anything. I will give you a hint. They are in the book. Two of the filters create the overall effect and the last is just a fine tuner. That is why I used the Smart Objects in this case. If something isn’t right when I get done creating the effect, then I can go back in by double click whatever effect I need to adjust. From there I can make minor adjustments to each filter separately without have to go through the process of deleting a layer and creating a new one. If you think you can figure out which filters are used drop me an email and I’ll let you know.
Image captured with 1D Mark IIN 17-40f4 on Lexar digital film
