Copper Canisters - Fun with Software "Toys"

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Mike Hendren Photography

Copper Canisters


This morning, while waiting for my first cup of coffee to brew, I noticed these copper canisters sitting on the counter.  So, I grabbed my Nikon D700 with the 14-24 mm lens, set it on the countertop and fired off 5 bracketed shots.

Then I played with several of my software "toys" :


  • First, I exported the 5 images into Photomatix Pro to merge them into a single High Dynamic Range (HDR) image.

  • Next, I exported the HDR file into Nik Color Efex Pro and used their "Glamour Glow" filter to soften the image.

  • Finally, in Lightroom, I just tweaked the exposure a little and did some noise reduction to end up with this final image.


One of the things I like about this image is the way the four different textures work so well together:  copper canisters, granite counter, stone tile back splash, and wood cabinet.

 

Comments (9)

Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

  A still life in what is probably an otherwise bizzzy kitchen...thanks for sharing the techie toys !

Oct 28, 2009 12:50 AM
Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

You ended up with a very good photo and the effects are nice.

Oct 28, 2009 12:51 AM
Doug Williams
Doug Williams Realty - Halifax, NS

Nice photo! Wow, looks so professional! Wish I was better at technology to try this out!

-Doug

Oct 28, 2009 01:01 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Mike ..What a nice effect..I will have to take a better look at these programs you are using ..your photos are so crisp and clear..you do take great pictures..:0)

HELPFULHANNAH your friend in Philadelphia

Oct 28, 2009 11:00 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

It's beautiful, Mike! One of these days I will get into 'real' HDR.... How about another tutorial from you? How to bracket shots, for example? Lots of folks might not know what it means. ;)

Debi

Oct 28, 2009 03:39 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Sally & David - It is a busy kitchen, thank to my wife - I mostly just take photos of it!  :-)

Doug - You just gotta jump in and try it.

Hannah - The software these days can do some amazing things.

Debi - From what i've seen of all your beautiful shot, I think you'd enjoy the hdr.  Go take a look at HDRspotting.com if you'd like to see some of the possibilities.

Oct 29, 2009 12:05 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Mike, I went over to have a look- some amazing photos on that site! Wow! I saved it to explore more later - gonna have to get involved in this.  I do have software that does it for me - kinda cheating, huh? LOL But it does a good job... ;)

Debi

Oct 29, 2009 06:08 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Oh Mike, that is fantastic! You always manage to knock my socks off with your photography! Thank you!

Oct 29, 2009 08:18 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired Real Estate Professional

Very Handsome Mike. Your process looks to take a good bit of effort. I am looking into the HDR software program. I noticed that it was available for the Mac but my MAC didn't like the trial version. Couldn't open the file. I will check back into when I get time to really get into it but I sure appreciate you sharing all this. I have a Pentax D series and I suspect I could not at time replicate that photo. It would look totally different. All in time.

Oct 29, 2009 06:36 PM

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