Monday, June 25, 2012

Santa Cruz and Nik Color Efex Pro 4

This past Saturday Rachel and I visited Santa Cruz for the first time. We met a friend for lunch downtown and then explored the Boardwalk and Wharf.  I liked Santa Cruz.  The downtown strip very much feels like a collegiate beach town with plenty of places to eat and drink.  The Boardwalk seems like a cross between an amusement park and a traveling carnival. The sheer size was impressive, but due to it being a beautiful summer day it still felt packed with people; mostly with children and degenerates.

The following set of images is not so much a documentary of our day in Santa Cruz, but instead a look at our day in Santa Cruz as seen through the new Nik Color Efex Pro 4 Photo Editing Software that I am trying out.  I have a week left to try out the demo version, but will most likely buy it when the trial expires. The surreal effects that Color Efex Pro 4 offers are amazing and the usability is very intuitive. I don't plan on editing every set of images as diversely as this, but wanted to explore the different options Color Efex Pro 4 has to offer.

Thank you always for stopping by and take care.

























*this image was edited in camera only.



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18 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 3, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    Nice to see your pictures,would you explain how did you work out 21st /22

    Thanks

    Kaim
    meralikaim@hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. DevinJuly 3, 2012 at 3:22 PM

      Hi Kaim-

      Thank you for checking out my images! This was my first time using Nik software and I do not remember the exact filters I used. However, for 21/22 I believe that I began with Sepia Glow and tweaked it, and then added pro contrast and sunlight filters.

      Thanks again and take care.

      Delete
  2. PhotocatJuly 3, 2012 at 12:48 PM

    I don't like that HDR-ish look on photographs. They look so unreal. I bet Santa Cruz is much nicer when processed as is. It looks as if photographs have to be changed away from photography... Give me some real photographs any day...

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    Replies
    1. DevinJuly 3, 2012 at 3:29 PM

      Hi Photocat-

      Thank you for checking out my images, sorry to hear that they aren't your style. I venture to say that Santa Cruz does look very nice with less processing as well, although, in my opinion not necessarily nicer but nice in a different way. Either way thanks for the feedback and take care.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJuly 3, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Kaim-

    Thank you for sharing your vision of Santa Cruz with us. While your vision is not my style.....I truly enjoy your take on the place,.....and loved how creatively you used your new editing tools. Kudo's!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Julie DanielsJuly 3, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    I think these photos are wonderful and inspiring, and I love that you tried so many different techniques here. In my opinion, photography would be very boring if it were limited only to exact likenesses of our subjects. I hope you purchase the Color Efex software. I have it and I love it!

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    Replies
    1. DevinJuly 4, 2012 at 12:14 AM

      Hi Julie-

      Thank you for your feedback and very kind words. I will definitely be purchasing Color Efex!

      Delete
  5. James GastonJuly 3, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    Nice job capturing the feel of Santa Cruz. I lived there for many years and only left a couple years ago.

    - James

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  6. UnknownJuly 3, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    Mahalo for for showing Santa Cruz in a fun and different way. I have Color Efex and your images gave me a lot of inspiring ideas.

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    1. DevinJuly 4, 2012 at 12:19 AM

      Thank you Lellani! Glad you found some inspiration, I think that Color Efex is a great tool to create some very unique images and explore different ideas.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJuly 4, 2012 at 6:00 AM

    Nice although I think you should have followed a single theme for this shoot, for example, people and the theme park, or maybe the pier only. But still nice. Thanks for displaying them.

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  8. RayJuly 4, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    Look I Think Photography is about self expression. What makes YOU happy not anybody else. Being Creative through your eye, your vision....So with that being said I think the Photos look GREAT. I own the Complete Collection its a great Tool to keep in your Photographers Toolbox. Last thing WE as Photographers should support one another in our creative endeavors, as we are all creative in different ways, and we call all learn from each other. soooo if you don't have anything positive to say "PHOTOCAT" then don't say nothing at all. Remember Opinions are like assholes everybody has one......Photography is a life long Passion, hopefully we learn something new everyday..

    -Ray

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    1. DevinJuly 5, 2012 at 2:43 PM

      Hi Ray-

      Thank you very much for checking out my images and view on photography. I completely agree and appreciate the support! Take care.

      Delete
  9. UnknownJuly 5, 2012 at 10:01 AM

    Great shots, thanks for sharing. I like the post processed work. We were there a couple of weeks ago. I agree, there were some degenerates on the Boardwalk! I wanted to take their photos, but got intimidated.

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    1. DevinJuly 5, 2012 at 2:46 PM

      Thank you Frederick! And yeah there is definitely some interesting people there.

      Delete
  10. Sally GoodingJuly 10, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    I really like your work and definitely feel you should consider buying the software - the more creative the better, in my mind! Congratulations!

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  11. AppleitaJuly 24, 2012 at 12:47 AM

    Wow! Incredible stuff. Nice work, Devin. Makes me want to try out the Nik software. My artistic eye isn't as well honed as yours obviously is, though, and I'd probably keep trying to get the results you show here and then sit and cry for a while. Still...it's very tempting! Thanks for the eye candy.

    ReplyDelete

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