This is a shot from the roof bar of the Four Points Sheraton hotel in Dubai, taken a couple of days after this year's Gulf Photo Plus training event. It's also the image I've posted as this week's Mini-PSD as the processing was quite interesting, i.e. I used 15 separate Curves adjustments. The first of these provided a (mostly) global adjustment to the contrast, the 15th toned the image, while the other 13 altered specific areas of the image, particularly the various buildings. The reason for this, as you can see if you take a look at the original, is that there was quite a lot of atmospheric haze (in the form of low clouds), so the buildings all look soft. By selectively amending the contrast, particularly for the buildings or the left, I was able to make the scene as a whole look a lot clearer. This sounds like a complicated process, but it was just a case of working with each building in turn, then generating a mask to block the effect from the rest of the image.
On a related note, quite a few of you have requested yesterday's image as a Mini-PSD, but I'm going to use if for a Creative Workflow tutorial instead. I'll be working on this over the next couple of days so hope to publish it by Thursday at the latest.
Anyway, tutorial stuff aside, I am pleased with this one but would like to hear from you too.
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter image editor plugins (etc) cropped?
comment byGusztav at 11:20 AM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
"OMG"-level proficiency. reminds me of Corussant from Star Wars.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 11:29 AM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Looks like a scene from TRON! Amazing transformation! Bravo!
comment by Justin Photis at 01:23 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Really nice shot David. I really like the toning of the last couple of your pictures, and it works even better with this one. In order to curve adjust each of the 13 layers for different areas of the shot, what feathering did you use, were you very precise ?
comment by Jim Miller at 01:33 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
David, you have outdone yourself on this one. The tones are just perfect for this image!
comment byCarlos Lorenzo at 01:34 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
I like the metallic mood, kind of blade runner city. Or like they said over here, TRON, the legacy.
comment bydjn1 at 02:31 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Thanks everyone.
Justin: no, the masking was quite imprecise for this one - there wasn't any real need to be exact.
comment by jim Miller at 02:41 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
After downloading and analyzing your layered file I am even more impressed. Your approach and method of B&W conversion was brilliant! I would never have though of that.
comment bydjn1 at 02:47 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Thanks Jim. As for the black and white conversion: it's often the case that different areas of an image require a different black and white conversion technique, or different settings using the same technique, so it's just a question of creating two different layers and then masking one of them.
comment byDan Kaufman at 03:09 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
remarkable job on de-hazing. I can't wait to examine and learn from the mini-PSD.
comment byLuisa at 04:53 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
@djn, I'm afraid you are losing your time with the mini PSDs. I will never be able to produce something similar to this processing.
comment byretlaw7 at 05:15 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Wow David, this is one of your best shots in a while! Is this what I can expect in the tutorials!? I just realized you wrote to me via twitter a few weeks back, I hope the promo code is still good, thanks for that! :)
comment byClaus Petersen at 05:48 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Really amazing black and white processing, you really manage to bring out that metal shine to your images.
comment byJason at 07:04 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
WOW...! :) Stunning. BTW I'm fairly sure that you linked to the wrong hotel as I think this must have been shot from the Four Points Skh Zayed Rd and not Bur Dubai.
comment byChris at 07:11 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Absolutely fantastic image. The futuristic sci-fi look is awesome. You have the tendency to keep out doing yourself. The psd is interesting in terms of how you approached the image and the adjustments you applied at such a detailed level. It really brought this image to life.
comment bydjn1 at 08:03 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Luisa: the processing wasn't difficult, it was just a question of taking my time and working on the different sections of the image. If you can appreciate the result then you can certainly learn how to do it yourself.
retlaw7: I've emailed you.
Jason: yep, you're right - I've corrected the link. Thanks.
Chris: thanks.
comment byDave at 08:20 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Dave this is one of my favourite of your photos that I have seen in quite a while. The definition and contrast in the processed version is phenomenal.
Regards
Dave
comment bySplitlevel at 10:16 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
You sir are an editing GOD.
comment byDan Kaufman at 10:44 PM (GMT) on 11 April, 2011
Okay...I'm "working" through the mini_psd for this masterpiece...and my first big question is: at what point, stage, in your overall process did you do the B&W conversion? I see that layer-wise the conversions are at the end, so my question relates to the decisions you made for each individual area of adjustment. curves 1 through 14--did you make those individual adjustment decisions based on looking at a color image or at a black and white image?
comment bybeeveedee at 12:18 AM (GMT) on 12 April, 2011
Impressive conversion. Love the contrast—really makes the image sing!
comment byChristopher at 04:25 AM (GMT) on 12 April, 2011
Really nice shot! It something looks like a scene of Tron.
comment by Arek Golab at 07:03 PM (GMT) on 31 January, 2012
Just get to this blog, and for me this is one of the best pictures I can find (or found ever - I'm new to photography and post production)- mood, feel - it's really great.
Great job David!
This is a shot from the roof bar of the Four Points Sheraton hotel in Dubai, taken a couple of days after this year's Gulf Photo Plus training event. It's also the image I've posted as this week's Mini-PSD as the processing was quite interesting, i.e. I used 15 separate Curves adjustments. The first of these provided a (mostly) global adjustment to the contrast, the 15th toned the image, while the other 13 altered specific areas of the image, particularly the various buildings. The reason for this, as you can see if you take a look at the original, is that there was quite a lot of atmospheric haze (in the form of low clouds), so the buildings all look soft. By selectively amending the contrast, particularly for the buildings or the left, I was able to make the scene as a whole look a lot clearer. This sounds like a complicated process, but it was just a case of working with each building in turn, then generating a mask to block the effect from the rest of the image.
On a related note, quite a few of you have requested yesterday's image as a Mini-PSD, but I'm going to use if for a Creative Workflow tutorial instead. I'll be working on this over the next couple of days so hope to publish it by Thursday at the latest.
Anyway, tutorial stuff aside, I am pleased with this one but would like to hear from you too.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
image editor
plugins (etc)
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
16mm
f/13.0
15s
shutter priority
+1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
Camera Raw
Photoshop CS5
none
minor transformation
Great shot straight from GPP 2051.
Can't wait to follow the next tut!
Absolutely brilliant, David!
"OMG"-level proficiency. reminds me of Corussant from Star Wars.
Looks like a scene from TRON! Amazing transformation! Bravo!
Really nice shot David. I really like the toning of the last couple of your pictures, and it works even better with this one. In order to curve adjust each of the 13 layers for different areas of the shot, what feathering did you use, were you very precise ?
David, you have outdone yourself on this one. The tones are just perfect for this image!
I like the metallic mood, kind of blade runner city. Or like they said over here, TRON, the legacy.
Thanks everyone.
Justin: no, the masking was quite imprecise for this one - there wasn't any real need to be exact.
After downloading and analyzing your layered file I am even more impressed. Your approach and method of B&W conversion was brilliant! I would never have though of that.
Thanks Jim. As for the black and white conversion: it's often the case that different areas of an image require a different black and white conversion technique, or different settings using the same technique, so it's just a question of creating two different layers and then masking one of them.
remarkable job on de-hazing. I can't wait to examine and learn from the mini-PSD.
@djn, I'm afraid you are losing your time with the mini PSDs. I will never be able to produce something similar to this processing.
Wow David, this is one of your best shots in a while! Is this what I can expect in the tutorials!? I just realized you wrote to me via twitter a few weeks back, I hope the promo code is still good, thanks for that! :)
Really amazing black and white processing, you really manage to bring out that metal shine to your images.
WOW...! :) Stunning. BTW I'm fairly sure that you linked to the wrong hotel as I think this must have been shot from the Four Points Skh Zayed Rd and not Bur Dubai.
Absolutely fantastic image. The futuristic sci-fi look is awesome. You have the tendency to keep out doing yourself. The psd is interesting in terms of how you approached the image and the adjustments you applied at such a detailed level. It really brought this image to life.
Luisa: the processing wasn't difficult, it was just a question of taking my time and working on the different sections of the image. If you can appreciate the result then you can certainly learn how to do it yourself.
retlaw7: I've emailed you.
Jason: yep, you're right - I've corrected the link. Thanks.
Chris: thanks.
Dave this is one of my favourite of your photos that I have seen in quite a while. The definition and contrast in the processed version is phenomenal.
Regards
Dave
You sir are an editing GOD.
Okay...I'm "working" through the mini_psd for this masterpiece...and my first big question is: at what point, stage, in your overall process did you do the B&W conversion? I see that layer-wise the conversions are at the end, so my question relates to the decisions you made for each individual area of adjustment. curves 1 through 14--did you make those individual adjustment decisions based on looking at a color image or at a black and white image?
Impressive conversion. Love the contrast—really makes the image sing!
Brilliant!
Wow!
What a great handling and a beautiful shot
Amazing atmosphere and mood
Woah. That is amazing. Especially when you look at the original.
stunning shot! love the futuristic sci-fi look!
Wow, impressive! Very pleasing final image.
Another portrait orientation! Great!
Thanks everyone :)
Wooowww, incredible shot, and great postprecessing,
you had an incredible point of view
This is 2100 Gotham City ;)
wow ... looks like a scene from Tron!!!
Really nice shot! It something looks like a scene of Tron.
Just get to this blog, and for me this is one of the best pictures I can find (or found ever - I'm new to photography and post production)- mood, feel - it's really great.
Great job David!