unsharp mask on BW landscape

[John R]

[attachment=10876:Oct_8_08...xbw_copy.jpg]A list member from another site gave me some tips on how to use 'unsharp mask', a feature that until then, I knew nothing about. I tried it and really like how it worked out on these two images. Of course, like any technique, it should be used judicously and to suit the subject matter. What do you think?

John R.

[erictoddjohnson]

I think you forgot to attach the images.  

[rcannonp]

Why do people still use USM instead of Smart Sharpen?

[JeffKohn]

strange, the images were there the other day when I saw this thread. I thought the effect was interesting, and while I agree that it could become a gimmick if overused I thought it fit the images well. I haven't seen that described as unsharp mask before though, so I'm curious exactly how it was accomplished.

[DarkPenguin]

Was it a local contrast enhancement using wide radius USM?

Like ...  http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial...hancement.shtml

[John R]

I think you forgot to attach the images.  

Sorry, took them down after a few thinking there was no feedback or comments.

John R

[John R]

Was it a local contrast enhancement using wide radius USM?

Like ...  http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial...hancement.shtml

Just read the link you posted and, yes, that it is pretty much what I did. I can't recall the settings as I did it to taste. Not sure what is meant by local contrast, as I applied the technique to the entire image. I used quite a lot of radius and high percentage (abt 60 or more) to accentuate the effect. One thing you do not know is that both images are double exposures sandwiched and then converted to black and white. I read about USM and tried it on the BW conversion and decided I liked the effect on these two images. Thes shots are, of course, interpretive and impressionistic and not meant to represent the real look of the forest except in spirit. It has an almost infrared quality to them.

Thank you for the feedback. Sorry about images being removed. I guess I will be a little more patient next time.

John R

[DarkPenguin]

They're quite lovely.

[JeffKohn]

Just read the link you posted and, yes, that it is pretty much what I did. I can't recall the settings as I did it to taste. Not sure what is meant by local contrast, as I applied the technique to the entire image. I used quite a lot of radius and high percentage (abt 60 or more) to accentuate the effect. One thing you do not know is that both images are double exposures sandwiched and then converted to black and white. I read about USM and tried it on the BW conversion and decided I liked the effect on these two images. Thes shots are, of course, interpretive and impressionistic and not meant to represent the real look of the forest except in spirit. It has an almost infrared quality to them.

Ahh, OK. I'm familiar with large-radius USM but have never seen it produce results such as these. But if these are double-exposures (I presume one exposure was at least somewhat out of focus) that would explain it.

Thank you for the feedback. Sorry about images being removed. I guess I will be a little more patient next time.
John R

Yeah, not as much thread traffic here as on some other boards. This section sometimes goes days without a new post.

[John R]

Ahh, OK. I'm familiar with large-radius USM but have never seen it produce results such as these. But if these are double-exposures (I presume one exposure was at least somewhat out of focus) that would explain it.]

[Yeah, not as much thread traffic here as on some other boards. This section sometimes goes days without a new post.

Yes, that's right. I have posted quite a few on my website, but I am sure you are familar with the technique. I guess I should have posted it in User Critiques but I thought since it was a landscape and about a technique, well...

John R
http://lusalight.smugmug.com/