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Here is an interesting example of the power of post processing. The following image is a shot I took at the weekend featuring Chimp cover model Rokkstar

The scene was VERY bright with Matt backlit. I didn't want to lose the highlights so this image was intentionally shot to be dark (100 ISO, -1.0 EV, 1/1250 sec @ f4.5).

Here is the image as it came from the camera. No PP, just resized for the web (to see larger, click this or either of the other images)




As is the case for my PP workflow it was then put through DxO Optics Pro to give this image:




Finally, I opened the DNG file produced by DxO in Photoshop and using some layering for the shadow detail and a few other minor tweaks, I had the finished shot below. Worth noting is that despite the underexposure of the original image it was noise free

well done!

Now all we need is someone to tell us all how film has so much more dynamic range than digital

woo hoo I just realised DXO optics 4 is out time for my free upgrade.

On another note, with DXO did u use the wizard or for this one (I imagine) up the lighting fix?

That's very impressive Peter, but I have one question.
You said that you deliberately underexposed so as not to blow the highlights.
Looking at this shot, the highlights seem to be in the sky. The end result seems to have a blown sky. So my question is, would the result have been much different if you had used the correct exposure in the first place?

phillipb wrote:That's very impressive Peter, but I have one question.
You said that you deliberately underexposed so as not to blow the highlights.
Looking at this shot, the highlights seem to be in the sky. The end result seems to have a blown sky. So my question is, would the result have been much different if you had used the correct exposure in the first place?

Very good question Phillip. The first few test shots I took with "normal exposure" all of the sky, much of the circle "around" the shadow and some of the wall was blown (and if I knew I was going to do this I'd have kept them for comparison, but I deleted them in camera sadly). In the original here I dialed down both the EV and (something you can do on the D2x) also overrode the camera's determined shutter speed with a faster one (I shot Aperture Priority). Looking at the original, the sky is still blue (well grey @ around 247, 251, 253 RGB) and the other elements present, with very little completely white.

Justin - I'm using v4 of DxO and I never use the wizard, preferring Expert mode (better for my ego ) - I have my own saved Presets file which I tweaked a touch for this one.