Scanning

So, you've been a photographer for a while. 

You have lots of images stored on this medium:

If you shot negatives, they are in strips of 4 to 6 images, if you shot chromes, you have individually mounted 2x2" slides (assuming 35mm SLRs were your tool of choice).

But, it's a digital world now. How do we make a transition from our old celluloid based images to a digital file? Let's face it, we want that digital file. We can manipulate it with our imaging software, we can upload it to a printing plant, we can e-mail it or FaceBook it to our friends. 

So, we scan it. We may have a pretty good scanner in our home office. I have an all-in-one that makes a pretty good scan. I also have a dedicated photo scanner. Dedicated photo scanners make higher resolution scans. You want the highest resolution to make bigger prints or have more image file to work with. But even the dedicated photo scanners that fall in the price range most of us could afford, still won't give us as big a file of our old film as we can get with our current pictures from our D-SLRs.

That's where scanning service bureaus come in. We clean and package off our old films and a few weeks later, we get a digital file large enough to get serious with. Some outfits scan and send you a fttp link for you to download, others send you a CD, DVD, or even a flash drive of the finished product.

I have some choice older chromes out right now to ScanCafe. I'll post the results and my impressions as soon as they come back. Turn around is not fast. If you've ever scanned your own film, you know that each scan takes a while. Pre and post production work can add significant time. And that's per image. Allow for some downtime.

And then, we won't be loaded down with a bunch of potential art on old technology. Now, we'll have our old faves as a primo digi-file.

Image Manipulation Samples

 

Printed on canvas, this oil paint effect would make a nice print. 

Another nice printing deal

If you want prints from your digital camera files, go to York Photo (click here)

New users get 40 free 4x6 prints, extras at 4 cents each, must pay shipping. Expires 5/10/2012

Regular price is 8 cents per 4x6, must pay shipping.

-------------------------------------

Canvas People are continuing their sale! 

Now it's $50.00 off or a free 8x10, must pay shipping. Expires 5/23/2012

-------------------------------------------

Photos On Canvas

Read here for a good deal on canvas enlargements.

Before and After Faux Finish

A minor remodel job I did a while back.


Some cabinets were new install, some were existing.


Finished the facings out to a crackle faux finish.


Before:

After:

Proper prep work is essential. (I still don't know what the home owner is going to do about the old back splash.) Faux finishes are great way to add some pizzazz to a remodel. Crackle is just one of the finishes available. E-mail for free estimates.

One Shot HDR (not really)

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is all the rage now. Many of the new higher end DSLRs, and even some advanced P&S style cameras have an HDR setting built in.

The basic thought of HDR is you take two, three, or more exposures of the same (static) image (preferably on a tripod). One shot, the exposure is optimised for shadow detail, another for highlight detail, and maybe some in between. Then, in your photo editing program (ACDSee, Lightroom, CS, etc...) you sandwich the exposures together. The end result is an image that looks almost odd if done for that effect, or an image that has detail like no regular photo will have. Usually, if you go with the "regular" exposure, you will have details obscured in either the highlight area, the shadows, or a little bit of both. Do a web search for gamma, curve, toe, shoulder for an explanation. A lot was printed in the 70s and 80s concerning film, same things happen in digital.

So, how is it that some software or camera companies advertise "One Shot HDR"?

Well, if you shoot in raw instead of a jpeg file, you get more info in the image file. Remember, even the highest resolution jpeg image file is still a compressed file. That's what jpeg is. But, if you shoot uncompressed, in whatever raw format your camera uses, you get a lot more image detail in the file. This will include detail in the highlight and shadow areas. Then, use your  photo editing software to adjust those details to different levels. You can get an image with higher than normal highlight and shadow detail.

True HDR? No. Impressive final images? Yes, if you take your time to learn the photo program you have.

Two examples of my own:

Photographic Instruction Available

Steve's Fine Finish will instruct on how to get the most out of your DSLR.

Classes Available in Artesia, NM:

Photography Introduction (1 session, about 90 minutes) 

$35.00

Prerequisite: Your own SLR or DSLR

1. Basics of Photography
2. Camera Controls
3. Steady as a rock
4. Observe the viewfinder
5. When to over-ride automatic
6. Flash
7. Basic Composition
8. Taking snapshots vs making photos

The Next Level (More advanced sessions, about 1 hr to 90 minutes each) 

$35.00 per session

Prerequisite: Photography Introduction course listed above or a thorough and advanced knowledge of your own camera and photographic basics.

Topics available:

1. The Art of Composition
2. People, Indoors or Out
3. Tricks & Secrets (that aren't really tricky or secretive)
4. Interactive Critique

Or personalize with continuing discussion or instruction on aspects of the art that especially intrigues you. Pre-session assignments with hints and ideas available (based on your special interests). 

E-mail me at stevesfinefinish@gmail.com