Wouldn't that be perfect? George Lucas seems quite intent on bastardizing the franchise in every other way, might as well change the AT-AT's name and sell it out to corporate sponsorship! This image represents a huge departure from my normal processing techniques. First, it is over the top HDR. Second, I processed it using two unaffiliated programs. Regarding the first point, I think it's pretty clear that it's over the top HDR based upon the AT-AT; however, with regard to the trees, I brushed through the original trees so they didn't look ridiculous. I think the grunge look works well for the AT-AT, and the immediate reaction is (or at least should be) that the image is eye-catching, but not "out there". Maybe reasonable minds could differ on that, but I hope it's not out there, as over-done HDR is not my cup of tea at all. Regarding the second point, I first used the typical tandem of ACR-Photoshop CS3 (which I don't consider separate programs since they are "connected") with the shadow-highlight tool and increasing the tonal contrast therein. Then, I duplicated the layer. From this time on, I worked solely from the second layer, adding some grunge (and bringing out some detail) with Lucis. I then masked that layer, and painted through the original trees. I then saved that image, and went to Dynamic Photo HDR. There, I processed the image with the "ultra contrast" HDR method, pretty much maxing out all of the sliders except sky smoothing, and then I saved. The trees looked foolish again, so I went back to Photoshop, dropped the new image on top of the previously saved image, and again brushed through the trees. I then increased the saturation of the blues a tad to bring out the sky some more. Bada bing, end result. I am pretty pleased with it. Throughout the process, I told Sarah I wouldn't post it, because I want to get right up close to the AT-AT and get almost under him for even more UWA distortion (I don't think there's enough here). However, the more I think about this, the more I think that if that were possible, I would have done it for this shot. Is there a second railing closer to me that would've prevented me from getting closer? If not, I guess I'll redo and repost at a later date. I know this is an already long post, but now I have a question. I had a lot of fun with this processing, and I've been wanting to try some new styles. I really like some processing methods I've seen here on Flickr, but I normally don't ask people their methods because some folks are weird about their "trade secrets". So I figured I'd just ask you for links to some of your favorite methods (now this is not one of those "letmegooglethatforyou.com" moments, as when I google this myself, I get a lot of shitty methods, and waste a lot of times. I'm looking for proven tutorials). If you don't want to share any of your methods, I understand! Have a great weekend!

Today's uploads are the firstfruits of a long-anticipated photoshoot with my friend Marietta Tartaglia. She is a dance instructor, not affiliated with Fred Astaire or any other franchised studio, although she did begin her career working for FADS. The subject of this shoot was a performance of the cha-cha, which Marietta and her partner, David Vigil, did as part of Phoenix Worldfest 2009. I arrived at the appointed place about an hour early on a rather warm day -- it was in the mid-80s by early afternoon -- and I immediately set to work adjusting my camera settings and taking a few test shots in anticipation of the big event. This was the first time I had attempted dance photography outdoors, which enabled me to use my 55-200mm Nikkor zoom lens instead of the faster 85mm I normally use. All of the images in this series were taken using shutter priority, with the shutter set at 1/400 sec. I had told Marietta I figured on taking about 60 shots this afternoon; instead, I came home with about 250, a surprising percentage of which appear to have turned out quite well. Marietta and David performed their routine twice, with an intermission in between, during which they offered their spectators an informal cha-cha lesson. For all of my effort, I would have to say that I have been compensated very handsomely. Marietta gave me hours of joy, during the actual shoot as well as in the time we spent reviewing the images afterward in my camera, to say nothing of the additional time I will spend over the next several days deciding which of these will appear on Flickr, and then editing them. (Truth be told, of the first four images I am adding to my stream now, none required any significant postprocessing, which I suppose means I am either becoming a better photographer, or that I had a wonderful subject. I hope the the former is true, but am absolutely certain that the latter is.) This picture was unposed, but it became an instant favorite as soon as I saw it in my camera. This one was taken during the cha-cha lesson. Marietta's dignified bearing and profile, plus the necklace and earring, all reminded me of royalty; hence, the title.