Cactus Skeleton
This is what remains of a dead saguaro cactus in Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally a color image, I converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 from Nik software. Very simple to do from Photoshop with lots of built in presets to achieve any desired effect.
This image took an honorable mention in a 2011 Northern Virginia Photographic Society monthly competition.
Location: N33 27 21.87 W111 56 45.30
Chair, Cell Block 8, Cell 21, Eastern State Penitentiary
Dug up another image from my last trip to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. This is a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image composed of four images each about 1 f-stop apart. In this case I used Nik Software’s HDR Efex Pro 2 to merge the images. I like HDR images, they look almost 3-D. I should say I like HDR images, as long as they are not “overcooked”.
You could also use Photoshop’s Merge to HDR Pro Function (File -> Automate -> Merge to HDR Pro). I have used both in the past, but prefer the Nik Software because it has more presets as well as better control over the merged image. The Nik Collection is a great deal at $149. Get the trial offer and try it for yourself. There are also some video demonstrations on YouTube that demonstrate the versatility of the entire collection.
Location: N39 58 05.95 W075 10 21.49
