Dissection 003
Original post: Testing the System
EXIF: X-Pro3, ISO 1000, 1/60s, f/2.8, 14mm
I quite like this particular image. The fact that I noticed it during…err..“circumstances not suitable for polite society”, points to its complete banality. It’s a sink, in our new bathroom, late at night.
Here’s the original SOOC shot:
As you can see, the framing is there already and it’s very close to the final version. This was shot in JPEG with my DAIDO custom setting, which is already pushing more contrast into the file.
Step 1: apply the AVE01 style (from MONO TRIAD 01). Here’s the result:
It’s too bright and we’re losing a little too much details. I do like the way it accentuates the contrast even more however.
Step 2: adjust. This is done mainly through the Curve tool, with a few tweaks to the HDR tool as well. Before and after shots:
You’ll notice I’ve added a point to the highlights in order to gain more control over this portion of the histogram. Other changes: I lowered the grain impact to 62 (from 72) and removed Clarity entirely.
Step 3: localized adjustments. While the sink’s drain plug (is that what it’s called?) looks completely crushed in the original file, a quick check show there’s actually some information there—even in a JPEG. Adding a Radial Gradient Mask and pushing the Black slider to 51 in the HDR tool reveals water detail that makes the shape more interesting. A tiny bit of structure is also added to emphasize the edges of those droplets.
This is the radial mask
That’s it.
But: while preparing this Dissection, I realized I preferred the look of the shadows in the straight AVE01 conversion. So I went back to my processing and created the version below, which is a mix of the two.
We’re never done until we’re done.
