Breaking Through

This Douglas DC-3 is part of the aviation exhibit inside the Henry Ford Museum.

ISO 800, f/22, zoom lens at 24mm
9-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals

Post-processing

• Photomatix tone mapping for a good histogram
• white balance corrections and removal of many colored reflections in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop
• texture from Flypaper Textures was the starting point for the sky
• Topaz Simplify -- preset based on BuzSim but with less saturation
• Topaz Lens Effects -- rotation, applied twice to spin propellers
• dodged underside of plane with Curves
• Gradient Map black-to-white adjustment layer to increase extremes in tones of sky
• rain done mostly with noise and motion blur in Photoshop
• light yellow ellipse with radial gradient for sunlight at bottom center
• Red Giant Knoll Light Factory -- light rays from bottom center
• Fractalius
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- Stylize Line Art for additional curved outlining
• gradient vignette on top and on upper half of both sides to increase darkness of sky

Dennis, I really like this. It's a great combination of filters to get a dramatic effect. I don't have Lens Effect but I like what it did to the propellers. And I've never heard of Red Giant Knoll Light Factory - I'll have to check it out.:S3:

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Originally Posted by Cheryl Slechta

. . . I've never heard of Red Giant Knoll Light Factory - I'll have to check it out.:S3:

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There are two versions of Knoll Light Factory on the Red Giant site, and it's not easy to find the one that was developed for use with photographs. It's complete name is Knoll Light Factory for Photoshop 3.2. Here's the link http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/prod...ht-factory-ps/ I use it infrequently, and the user interface isn't intuitive. However, it produces a myriad of effects that can be tailored to one's needs, and I've not seen anything else that even comes close. When I need it, it's a wonderful tool to have.

Dennis, First I want to say how much I love the composition, your filtering has put this over the top! I love the detailed yet illustrated look to this. Wonderful work!

Outstanding, Dennis! Love the subject and your wonderful, imaginative composite. The effects really kick it up to the top. :cheers:

Absolutely stunning work. Very creative and imaginative work with the filter tools that you've chosen. I don't think it could be put together any better.

Thanks very much, everybody, for your kind comments. While shooting the photos in the museum, I figured I'd mask away everything but the plane and put a nice sky behind. That's the direction the processing took until I found the sky texture I finally used. Then, everything changed. In terms of achieving what I wanted to portray, the Knoll Light Factory light rays is what really made the difference for me.

yes, the light rays and blur of the wheels give it that "taking off" feel--the action these planes knew. Great job.

Nice work Dennis, almost like it's flying over my head as I look at the image, excellent effects and composition...TFS

Hi Dennis, this is a fantastic composition and the processing is fabulous. I love it!!!

The work that you did on this indoor airplane image is stupendous. Love the colors and the feeling of power the image portrays.

Well you really did break through on this image! I love everything about it. It's simply outstanding!

I have the Knoll Light Factory that came with my 7D from B & H but I've never used it.

Wow. To think that you took a pic of a static indoor aviation display, and created a mood of drama and motion! I am impressed.

Beautiful work! Wow! You created a stunning image. Congratulations.