Archive for May, 2008

We recently featured a gallery of photos which included a selection of the best HDR images. High Dynamic Range Imaging or HDR is a technique which allows for a far greater dynamic range of exposures than normal digital imaging techniques. This can be achieved by modifying a set of photos with Photoshop using the Merge HDR function.

This technique may seem a little advanced for novice users but with a little patience, even a beginner has hope of creating a master piece HDR image.

So first off, you will need to take your pictures. The idea is to take a photo of the same scene several times with different exposures.

If you’re new to world of manual exposure then don’t worry, follow the main steps and you should still end up with a nice looking image. People with knowledge of manual exposure settings will be able to better produce the specific image tone that they require.

If possible set your camera so that it shoots your photos in RAW format. This will capture more dynamic range data than a JPEG file and it also gives a great deal of temperature latitude.

You should make sure you camera is stabilized on a tripod so that it doesn’t move.

Now set your camera to manual exposure setting. Meter your scene and select the aperture you would like. If your camera has an ISO setting, choose a low setting to reduce noise.

If you are not sure about the metering and aperture settings; it is possible to use the automatic metering and aperture modes to estimate your values, you can then input these values into the relevant manual exposure settings.

The HDR technique requires at least three (but can be done with more) photos of the same scene to be taken at different shutter speeds.

In this example there are three pictures taken at -2EV, metered EV and +2EV. To achieve these different exposures you change the shutter speed accordingly.

A slower shutter speed allows more light to pass though the lens. If a quicker shutter speed is used, less light will pass through.

Professional photographers are able to trade off shutter speed and aperture by using units of stops. A stop up and down on each will halve or double the amount of light regulated by each.

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This post started life as few random ‘stumbles upon’ some great Photoshop images. Our search turned up way more than was first expected so we decided to share with you our pick of the bunch.

As well as some funny Photoshop pics, we also found a collection of great non-digital photos that may indeed inspire you to start clicking.

35 Amazing Photoshop Images

Credits for this set of amazing Photoshop images goes out to the guys over at Worth1000, Fark, Kjun, Photoshop Talent, Artist-3d, Devotion Graphics, Adegen, Benoit.P. Plus Okizoo Graphic Designer Hecto.

35 Photoshop HDR Images

These HDR images were all picked up off a group from flickr.

High Dynamic Range Imaging or HDR is a technique which allows for a far greater dynamic range of exposures than normal digital imaging techniques. This can be achieved by modifying a set of photos with Photoshop using the tone-mapping function. We’ll be covering this technique later on this month so watch this space for a step-by-step guide on how to make HDR images.

30 Classic Non-Digital Photos

Aneta Kowalczyk

Antony Chambers

Cosmin Bumbut

Jan Von Holleben

Leigh Perry

Lina Scheynius

Micheal Kenna

Rodney Smith

Stefan Rohner

Todd Hido

Sorry to all those who didn’t get credit for their work. If anyone has any idea who was responsible for the anonymous images, please let us know and will update the post where applicable.

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s prostitute scandal is still big news in New York. In February earlier this year, the former Governor was caught in a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel.

The story quickly swept the tabloids, all of who soaked up Spitzer’s downfall with little mention of how and why his crimes actually came to light.

Spitzer was originally flagged when a series of Suspicious Activity Reports - reports that banks must to file with the Treasury to assist in investigating anything from money laundering to terrorist activity were submitted.

The prostitution ring that counted Spitzer as a customer had been responsible for shady bank accounts, checks and wire transfers of up to $400,000, they soon became under-investigation.

According to the FBI’s complaint:

“In or about October 2007, the FBI and the United States Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigative Division (IRS-CID) began an investigation focusing on an organization suspected of conducting prostitution and money-laundering crimes in the United States and Europe.”

The investigation began with a suspicious activity report on Spitzer. According to the Wall Street Journal, Spitzer’s transactions were regular and always kept under $10,000. A pattern that the Feds class as suspicious.

“There has been a massive federal crackdown on money laundering in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and banks have been extremely diligent in filing such reports. Those reports often include details of transactions done by innocent people.”

According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) there have been 4.7 million SARs filed as of June 30, 2007.

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