Raw Picture Out Of Camera – +/-0 Exp

This is the median bracket, +/-0 Exp straight out of the camera with no post-processing at all.  Technically the composition is good, and it has good colors and details to begin working with.  In our eBook “The f-stops Here“, we discuss the importance of getting the shot right in the field as all subsequent processes that follow are predicated on this initial step.  It’s simply not realistic to expect a good result if you do not start with a good image to begin with.  The next phase finds us taking our 5 brackets of -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 Exp and heading on over to Photomatix Pro where they are merged and tone mapped.

5 Brackets Merged and Tone Mapped

The merging and tone mapping process really starts to bring the image alive, we now can see better definition in the sky and clouds, as well as the details in the beautiful building.  This is a great starting point, we’re now ready to bring this into our post-processing tool of choice and begin working with the Topaz plug-ins.  It should be noted that all the Topaz Labs plug-ins work in Photoshop/Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, Aperture, iPhoto, Serif Photo Plus, Irfanview, and of course, our favorite tool PaintShop Pro.

On a side note, if you’re looking to dive into the world of post-processing, we currently recommend PaintShop Pro by Corel due to it’s terrific price point and ease-of-use.  It’s on sale until the end of the month, click the link below to take advantage of the excellent sale price.

Save $30 on Corel PaintShop Pro X5 Ultimate Full – only $69 and Save $30 on the Upgrade version – only $49 + receive a Free Calendar or Photobook from Picaboo

Topaz Labs Clarity Screen Shot

This screen shot shows the new Topaz Clarity plug-in in action.  As you can see, it’s a simple and straightforward interface allowing you to focus on adjusting and tuning your image, not worrying about complex terms and algorithms.  For the work we produce here at The Hollow, the power of Topaz Clarity was evident very quickly as only small adjustments were needed to achieve extraordinary results.

Topaz Labs Clarity

And this is where things get exciting…  at this stage in post-processing, it becomes all about subtle adjustments when trying to create scene-realistic imagery that conveys the feeling you are trying to express.  All the definition and depth of an image comes from how the eye sees and processes contrast.  It’s actually a good thing to have shadows that hold onto some of the secrets held within a scene.  The images that come out of Photomatix contain all the rich and wide dynamic range possible, but this leaves most of them feeling rather flat and uninspiring.  It’s the subtle and careful re-introduction of contrast and shadows that bring back the details and depth.  The reason this is all so important is just as with a haircut you can always trim a little off, but it can’t be added back.  Similar to post-processing; you can always adjust contrast and micro-contrast on a scene that contains all the dynamic range, but you can’t add any range back if it doesn’t exist at the source.

As we can see in the picture above we now have a scene full of great range, but not so much that the picture feels unrealistic.  The adjustments we were able to make in Topaz Clarity took just a few seconds of adjusting sliders, replacing a process that was previously multi-stepped and didn’t produce the same striking results.  I would have been very happy with the time-saving feature alone, however the multitude of benefits to the plug-in make it something we simply can’t live without.

Topaz Labs is pricing the new plugin at $49.99, which is very reasonable considering the power and the amazing results.  But to make that even better, Topaz is offering everyone a special promotion price of $29.99 if you use the code “claritynew” at checkout.  This code will be good until the end of the month, May 31st, 2013.

Topaz Labs Detail

As we near completion of work on our new image, we now bring the image as it was adjusted in Clarity and pass it through Topaz Detail to accent the textures and details found within the frame.  Once again, the Topaz plug-ins are superior for ease-of-use and the fabulous results they produce, making them must-have tools in our toolkit.

English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

And finally, the last touch is to run it subtly through a high-pass sharpener to accent the fine details.  We are now complete and ready to share this with the world!!

Before we began to use the Topaz Labs products, our post-processing was a fun and fulfilling activity, but since we’ve discovered these incredibly powerful and easy to use tools it’s taken on a whole new dimension.  Even though I’ve worked in the software industry for many years, I prefer to focus on creating art rather than playing with complex settings and sliders.  This doesn’t mean these are not the most advanced post-processing algorithms available today, it means the designers and developers at Topaz are experts in what they do, creating extremely advanced products that are very easy to use.  No other technology has made me quite so excited as this in the past few years.

As an artist, what we get is a suite of plug-ins that really do two things well; they save a ton of time and produce incredible results.  That’s real value.

Buy Topaz Clarity on sale for $29.99 until May 31st, 2013 with checkout code “claritynew”
regular retail price is $49.99

The post The Latest Evolution In Post-Processing: Topaz Clarity Review appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

I can honestly say I do not envy the position that our local government leaders and planners have in front of them, trying to balance the needs of commerce against the desire to hold onto the rich tapestry of history that makes this island so special.  To add an even further dimension to the topic, the entire island here has only recently been settled, and as such we have no heritage buildings older than 150 years or so.  This results in a finite number of these facilities, and quite honestly some of them are disappearing at an alarming rate.

But things are not as simple as just having a concern for these facilities and their futures, there has to be some form of a plan that is sustainable.  That balancing act has to put many of the people responsible for these decisions in a rather untenable situation.  If we just blindly tear it down, the entire heritage community will rise in fury, but at the same time the folks who own these lands and buildings must be allowed to find a way forward that is fiscally sound.  This is just the way of the world.

But even with all this being considered, it’s no less of a shock to hear of a landmark in the city being slated for demolition.

This is Rosemead Manor, a true landmark and icon in Victoria.  Rest assured, this wonderful revival-Tudor style heritage building architected by Samuel Maclure will be preserved.  It’s all the other buildings on the luscious 4.5 acre site that now likely have a date with a wrecking ball.

As a little boy we’d come here often on special occasions.  My mom immigrated here from Germany at a very young age, and I believe that she was drawn to these sorts of places because they reminded her of her homeland.  As such, I’ve grown to love these places myself, probably due to seeing them through her eyes.  And as such, the proposed demolition of the remaining buildings on the site hits me in my heart with a deep sense of loss.  But, these are personal feelings and have no bearing on the financial viability of the facility.

Anne Hathaways Cottage (Replica), English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

This photograph was taken three years ago in the height of a wet, cold, rainy fall.  The authentic thatched roof on the building covers a perfect replica of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in the UK, which is a landmark and heritage site.  For years and years, people coming to visit Victoria would make the trip out to this landmark to immerse themselves in the genuine feeling of the site.  Peppered with Tudor-styled buildings, the entire 4.5 acre site played host to a setting that immediately whisked visitors away right into the heart of Olde England.

As the years passed by, though, the visitors became fewer and further between.  In 2011 the facility was bought by a group from receivership, further underscoring the challenges a business faces in these hard times.  Facilities like this become victim to these times.

At any rate, the latest plans on the drawing board reveal that everyone believes that Rosemead Manor is to preserved and saved as a heritage facility, but the entire remainder of the site is to be demolished to make room for an entirely new project.  Details are available here on the Times-Colonist: New vision for Esquimalt’s English Inn adds housing, keeps historic manor.

To see the entire gallery of photographs we took in 2010 when the place was still active and in use, please visit our online gallery “English Inn & Resort / Anne Hathaways Cottage“.  As well, we’ll be posting and sharing the entire series of shots we captured on our most recent trip to the site in the coming months, so do stay tuned for that.  Some of the shots we’ve got in the works are absolutely astounding, and as mentioned, are likely some of the very last from the facility.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit us here today, as always we love to hear from our visitors and encourage you to leave us any thoughts you may have!  Until next time, my friends!!

The post Springtime At The Inn appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

“When I am grown to man’s estate I shall be very proud and great.  And tell the other girls and boys not to meddle with my toys!” – Robert Louis Stevenson

If you believe roller skates should have keys, made a game of picking up wooden sticks with painted ends, created endless works of art with the simple help of two plastic buttons only to shake them all away and start again, or spent countless hours running up and down the stairs only to watch a spring crawl down them, then we’re in for an afternoon that’s better than a barrel of monkeys!

Today we take a step back into our childhood in our continuing series “Olde School“.  When I was a mere tadpole every classroom was equipped with the usual fare required to educate curious little minds, but if your grade school was anything like mine, it also had a corner filled with toys.  As the teacher tried her best to convince me that math could be fun, it was all I could do to make it to the bell that meant the fastest one to the corner got their choice of the toys!

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

While the toy corners at my school never once included a thirty-pound cannon ball in a bookcase, they did indeed include a doll carriage.  Once I figured out that sitting at the back of the class gave you a distinct advantage in the sprint to the play area, the doll carriage was always my first choice.  Designed to reflect the real prams of the day, they were ornately embellished with delicate iron curves that would easily survive the challenge of the younger sibling using it as a race car.  As generations of baby-dolls, and perhaps a few other assorted and beloved little critters all took their rightful turn as the contents, these sturdy little vehicles outlasted every coat of paint a dad could throw on them.

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

Simple and designed to last, these toys were not equipped with any buttons or whistles like the electronic toys of today.  They did not run on battery power, they ran on imagination.   I cannot help but giggle at the thought of a child today getting a blob of silly putty in their Christmas stocking.  Would they even know what it is?  Well, even if they got that far, they would surely never know about pressing it against the comic strips and stretching the faces all out of shape.  Now, that was good fun!

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

And while perhaps Rock’em Sock’em Robots weren’t quite as exciting as some of the video games available today, at least when you lost your head you could simply pop it back on!  And if you found yourself in a real pickle, you could always rely on the platoon of tiny plastic green soldiers that you kept at the ready in your Superman lunchbox.

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

I must admit, some of my most cherished memories are of my grandfather trying to fold his legs underneath himself as we sat for hours on the livingroom floor creating eclectic works of art through the magic of Spirograph.  Incomplex and unassuming, whether you fancied Easy-Bake ovens or Tinker-Toys, Legos or Yo-yos, they required much more than just moving your thumbs on a control pad.  They required cooperation, innovation, creativity and make-believe.  The very kind of make-believe that childhoods are made of.

Thanks ever so much for joining us today, I must say it’s been more fun than an afternoon with the Fisher-Price Little People!  Whatever your day looks like today, we hope that you bring a little bit of childhood to each and every moment.

Until next time!

Warmly,

Mrs. Toad

The post Toys! Toys! Toys! appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Today’s post finds us heading back to Newcastle Island, just off the shore of Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island.  This tiny little island became prominent in recent history in the mid 1800′s with first the discovery of rich coal beds, then followed after by the finding of sandstone deposits.  We’re continuing our running photoblog series “Island Hoppin’” by visiting and sharing the story and pictures from the remains of the old sandstone quarry left on the island.  Although these events all have occurred within the last 150 or 160 years, they form a rich part of the tapestry of island living, and more specifically a time when colonial settlers were building new communities.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

It was a hot summer’s day the day we visited the island, and the gentle breezes coming off the ocean added a touch of coolness to the hot, acrid air.  A short wander away from the shore and the bay led to a terrific discovery, that of an old sandstone quarry left here as an exhibit today.  The moment you walked away from the bay and the ocean, the air became still, almost motionless.  It felt as if we were standing in a blast furnace.  The only sounds were those of the crickets, all other animals and beings had long since headed for the cool shade and gentle ocean breezes.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Aboriginal history dates back well over 12,000 years on Vancouver Island.  Communities thrived as people had easy access to incredible fish stocks, trees, water and other key natural resources.  These lifestyles continued on for thousands and thousands of years until one day a group of European settlers came upon the area.  History changed forever.

As Fort Victoria was being founded and formed in the southern part of the island, an appetite for fuel and food became voracious with the new settlers seeking fresh sources of resources.  One of the key items that was needed for the machines that were helping to cultivate the land and the steamships that made their way up and down the coast-ways was a healthy supply of rich coal.  In 1849 a bed of coal reserves was discovered, which soon led to Newcastle Island becoming a place from which much needed resources and supplies were generated.  Soon the island became dotted with tunnels, many of which have collapsed since.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

In 1869 the focus turned from coal to sandstone as Joseph Emery from the United States began to search for a suitable sandstone source for the construction of the United States Mint in San Francisco.  It was soon discovered, much to the chagrin of local San Francisco residents who put up hurdles due to the fact the sandstone wasn’t originating from the States, that the sandstone found on Newcastle Island was superior to most other veins.  Even today, some of the original sandstone architectural details still exist in the Mint, having survived earthquakes, fires and other numerous calamities.

As time progressed and needs changed, the final application of this rich sandstone reserve was focused on the pulp and paper mills that were emerging on the island.  And this is where the final chapter for this mining operation came to a close in 1932 as the production operations moved.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

As we’ve said countless times before, necessity is the mother of all invention.  The complex methods created to extract the mill-stones from the ground required a new machine.  Imaginative minds converged with resourcefulness in the design of this piece of machinery that today stands in the park as a connection for visitors to the storied past.  Today’s machinery is created with the tightest of tolerances, designed to be efficient and last a long time in a highly volatile environment.  In the 1800′s tolerances were a social factor in terms of dealing with friends and neighbors, with no bearing on mechanical engineering at all.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

It’s now been well over 100 years since this machine was last used.  Today it stands as a testament to early ingenuity and engineering.  And it makes for a great site to explore as you try to taste a little of what life was like back then, a hard life full of physical toil and sacrifice.  We take much of this for granted these days, and some of the harder edges to these stories are smoothed out until all that really remains is the romantic impression left of the early settlers living a free life while tending to their farms and businesses.

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

As we walk up the stairs and take one final turn to see the quarry below, the voices and sounds of the workers begin to rise to our ears.  It’s a slightly haunting feeling, almost as if we have one foot in today’s world and the other in a time long ago.  We feel these connections are important as we try to learn, understand and remember all the events and people that have come before us, forming the communities that we live in today.  Communities that we love so much.

Thanks for joining us as we explore another great bit of history here on Vancouver Island.  It really means an awful lot to us to have a chance to share this with everyone, we really appreciate you taking the time to visit.  We really do love to hear from all our visitors, so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have.  Until next time!

Sources

Wikipedia: Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park

Gabriola’s Sandstone Quarries

History – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park

The post A Quarry’s Story appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Rusty Boat – Saltair, BC, Canada

The life of a fisherman here on Vancouver Island is not for those who are faint of heart.  Frequent stories of boats lost to sea by sudden and fierce storms, particularly up near the northern tip of the island, tell harrowing tales of high waters and ferocious winds that tests the experience of those who’ve done this for all their lives.  Some of those tests are lost, further adding to the sense of danger for those pursuing a life on the ocean.

Further to all this, the current state of our fisheries finds fish stocks depleting at an alarming rate, with some species being right on the precipice of extinction.  This translates directly onto those who fish for a living, making it nearly impossible to earn a proper and decent subsistence.  Today, more and more ships are being left abandoned as those who used them everyday have had to leave them behind and head to shore for work.  Is this boat here abandoned?  Probably not.  It’s weathered state gives us all an immediate impression, but it’s important to know that these ships are used as work-horses, and their general appearance is of little interest to those who captain them.

But, this leaves no less a mark on those who encounter these types of scenes, like us.  The inherent romance of life on and by the ocean is almost palpable, drawing many towards it like a moth to a flame.  As we were standing on the shore taking in the entire experience before us, the crunching sound of shells beneath our feet intermingled with the distinctive smell from the ocean to really remind us of our deep love for the island.

And if that comes with a mysterious sense of intrigue and wonder, then all the better.

Our new Topaz Labs Detail 3 plugin made really enjoyable work of post-processing this image.  The fine control we have over both enhancing the intricate details that make a scene like this come to life as well as the areas of contrast and shadow give us the ability to create imagery that expresses the character of the island as well as the personal vision we are trying to share.  This tool makes an excellent addition to the artists repertoire for the very reasonable price of $39.99, we highly recommend it here at The Hollow.

Many thanks for your kind visit today, we really appreciate it!  As always, we love to hear from all our visitors, so please do feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time, my friends!

The post Have I Been Forgotten? appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Join us today as we stroll back into the heart of The Motorcar Gathering 2012 held at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Victoria late in 2012 with our feature photoblog series “The Toads At The Gathering“.

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

This is the Avanti, born of the troubles experienced at Studebaker and built with components and designs acquired through partnerships, passion and vision.  On December 20th, 1963, the main Studebaker plant in South Bend shuttered forever.  A group of stalwart believers joined forces to try to create something from the remains of that venture, and by taking components from Studebaker, Chevrolet and Ford, they created something unique and very special.  These cars are carefully designed and crafted at the Avanti Motor Company, they are not just a bunch of disparate parts thrown together to make a platform.  These were finely crafted and built cars that today have quite the following.

After passing through various ownership groups over the years, the Avanti managed to celebrate 25 years of automotive excellence and design in the late eighties, and eventually the company was mired in a scandal as the company was bought with the intention of resurrecting it in Mexico with a fresh partnership with Ford.  Alas, the economy and the law caught up with M.E. Kelly in the late 2000′s and the car company suffered its final blow and today is no longer active.

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

In the car circles I grew up in, the Avanti was spoken of in hushed circles, almost as if we were discussing that ever-elusive unicorn that everyone seems to be chasing around after in the forest.  This perception of the car was backed up by a car that was just as much at home rolling up to the opera on a Friday night as guys and gals dressed in their very best black-tie outfits mingle with the who’s-who of society, as it was rolling up to the track on the weekend and leaving many high performance cars in its dust.  Particularly in the late sixties, the Avanti Motor Company was using engine and drive-train components from the Chevrolet Corvette, making for a car that had a reputation that was not to be trifled with.

But, the Avanti was much more than this.  This interior shot of one on display at the car show showcases the incredible amount of detail that went into the design.  This isn’t wood veneer (at least I am quite certain it isn’t) that we are looking at here, and the leather is of the finest quality.  It was this attention to the finer details that helped to create a gentleman’s car, one that was as fast as it was elegant.

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

Although the lines were rather simple, they were no less gracious.  When taken in as a whole, the smooth and cultured lines of the car create a flowing silhouette, one that is as much at home cutting through the wind on the highway as it is displayed at a car show.

As a young man, I recall a particular event.  Being a car fan of the highest order my entire life, I came across a gentleman who was just climbing out of his Avanti in a parking lot one day.  Not being sure what I was looking at exactly caused me to strike up an inquisitive conversation with the gentleman, who was all too happy to talk to me.  As soon as I had realized that his car had a small block Chevrolet motor in it from the Corvette group, I just had to hear it run.  He obliged me, and the dulcet tones that emitted from the twin exhaust pipes was a sound that remains with me today.  Since then, I keep a constant vigil and lookout for these cars on our roads, and every time I see one that sense of excitement is actually quite overwhelming.  And as such, you can just imagine how terrific it was to come across two models of this vintage car at the show, and to have a chance to check them out close and in person.

Sometimes the best stories are those that are slightly obscured from the forefront of history.  More can be learned about the Avanti Motor Company on Wikepedia for those with a deeper curiosity.

Many thanks for your kind visit today to The Hollow, we sure do appreciate it.  As always, we really love to hear from all our visitors, so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have.  Until next time!

The post From The Ashes Of Studebaker appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Touring around our little island is somewhat of a passion for us.  No matter where you choose to rest your eyes, they are in for some kind of treat.  Mountains, valleys, ocean, lakes, rivers, blue skies, friendly folks, the list just goes on as far as the horizon.  So, understandably, it would be very difficult to choose a favourite.  But today, since the golden skies have put me in somewhat of a jubilant mood, I am going to share with you all some of my very favourite things about living on Vancouver Island.

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

When you visit an island, you spend a lot of time looking in.  When you live on an island, you spend an equal amount of time looking out.  The landscape does not end at the shore, it is simply where you can tie your boat and claim your tiny homestead.  Every year as the grey slowly comes apart at the seams, revealing months of lazy summer days stretched out as far as the eye can see, new explorers from all reaches of the Earth chug and bob their way to our coastal towns to become de facto neighbours for a while.  Cowichan Bay marina is one of three major marinas in our area, and one of my favourite places to watch the island grow.  Comfortably seated on the terrace of one of my favourite restaurants, the Cow Cafe, and usually munching on a big basket of the best fries anywhere to be found, it is easy to see why an afternoon here could easily turn into anyone’s favourite thing!

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

It is not by accident that the Cowichan Valley is called the “Warmland”.  It is truly the best word to describe both the area and its people.  I am not sure if it is simply the relaxed island lifestyle or the fact that we really do have the best fries, but it’s not long before someone starts chatting to you and you find yourselves sharing stories all afternoon over a coffee, or another of my favourite things, a tall glass of Chardonnay!

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

Like a living art gallery, unique pieces crafted by numerous talented local First Nations’ artists are to be found not just on dark walls in obscure places, but as a part of the landscape.  Like a pop-up storybook reminding us all of the rich heritage that surrounds us, each colourful piece tells a tale that is meaningful to each of us in its own distinctive way.

And of course, like any good story, we must save my very favourite thing for last.  Looking out over the crystal blue water, the black mountains towering in the distance, and the myriad of floating pathways makes me think of my most favourite thing of all…walking hand in hand with Mr. Toad, capturing pictures of the place we love so dearly, and sharing them all with all of you.

Thank you so much for spending some time with us today!  Please do drop by our comment section and let us know some of your favourite things.  And if you find yourself irresistibly lured to our wonderful little warmland, let us know and we can add another entry to our list of favourite things, meeting you!

Until next time!

Warmly,

Mrs. Toad

The post These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Mrs. Toad and I spend the Saturday of the long weekend at the Show ‘n Shine car show hosted at the local Chevrolet car dealership.  As the day progressed along and most entries had arrived, setup and prepared, and were in full-blown show-mode, we wandered the lot with camera in hand checking out the cars and meeting the great folks.  When you visit a show of this scale, you come away with a much broader sense as to the exact size of the community of enthusiasts that make up these types of meets.

This car was specifically detailed by the owner to suit their taste.  The dash insets in this shot are wood-grain accents that can be ordered as a kit and applied to the interior, like it is here.  The results are a slightly changed perception of the interior, one that is personal and appreciated by the owner and all who popped by during the day to check this out.  I thought it added a touch of class to the cockpit.

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Under the hood of the same car we find carbon fiber accents everywhere.  Once again, these are subtle additions and enhancements made to the car that change slightly the overall look while still maintaining the essential “Corvette” feel to the car.  These are the things that make cars like this stand out in a crowd.

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Parked right next to the car above was this one.  Much less subtle.  Yet still quintessentially Corvette.  The graphics on this car are not actually painted on.  This is a massive vinyl type decal that is carefully and precisely designed and created for the car.  Even the checkered flag details on the mirror include this treatment.

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

During the long weekend we met many folks from all over.  There was a large contingency of cars that came up specially from the United States for this long weekend event.  This really added a terrific dimension to the entire weekend, allowing us all to see a wide variety of cars, styles and types.  Friendly faces were to be found everywhere, and all you had to do was walk up to a car with a smile on your face to realize you had just met a long-lost friend who you were going to share the next 20 minutes with talking passionately about these cars.

As spring arrives, soon to give way to summer, the season for the car shows starts to unfold in front of us.  It’s going to be an exciting year, and we hope to have many adventures to share with you all here.

Thank you so much for your visit to The Hollow today!  We always love to hear from all our visitors, so please do feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time!

The post A Level Of Detail appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

On a cold and rainy day here recently, Mrs. Toad and I headed up island for a bit of a break together.  We just love to explore this island together, with one of our favorite past-times being getting rather lost.  You just never know what you might find on the back-roads of the island here, and each time we do we uncover another treasure that sparks an entire adventure.

This photograph was actually taken on one of our main roads.  It’s a shot that has been bugging me for several years now as we pass this house quite frequently.  I have no clue if it’s currently inhabited, or what the future holds for it.  This usually causes a sense of urgency to capture the images before the scene disappears forever, which seems to be happening around here a lot at an alarming rate.

Each of us leaves an indelible print on places we’ve lived.  We’ve all seen the height markers carved into the frames of doorways in houses, with dates and names denoting certain milestones in children’s lives as they grow.  We’ve all seen strange marks on walls that leave us wondering about why they were made and who created them.  These little clues are all permanent symbols of a life once lived in this spot, and in many cases they also carry a little of the energy of those who made them.

Homes like this are found everywhere on Vancouver Island.  This one appears to have been added onto, perhaps more than once.  Very few actual straight lines exist, yet this all helps to create the rich character of both the home itself, and the island it calls home.

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

More rich textures are to be found here, with a small and comfortable island home painted in typical island colors.  Tin roofs are really the only roofing materials available here that have any chance of long-term sustainability.  Any other materials find themselves deteriorating pretty quickly due to the constant damp and the typical temperatures we tend to see here.  This picture captures a little of this with a home that is built of wood with a tin hat firmly affixed to it’s head with the hopes that this will help maintain the house for many years to come.  Whether Mother Nature wins this battle or the homeowners do, this is a battle that hasn’t seen its last chapter yet penned.

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Some see weathering, others see character.  Canadians tend to love the land we call home, and we love to envelope ourselves in it.  A small sense of comfort and security against the elements and the outside world are found in our refuges, and even though some of our homes are decorated by intense weathering from the years, this actually adds an element of familiarity, and thus comfort.

We find it’s very important to document as much of this as we can right now as it seems our landscapes are transforming very quickly in front of our eyes.  Too many times we’ve thought to return to a place to grab some photographs only to find a pit with some construction vehicles parked where once someone’s home was.  Through the consolidation of these images in a portfolio, we are able to see a broader view of what life is like here.  As a whole, the collection tells a story.  A distinctly Canadian story.

Thank you so much for your kind visit today, we really appreciate it.  As always, we love to hear from all our visitors so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time.

The post Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

HDR photography has always been our prime passion.  We’re able to use it as a technique to really create compelling images that express the actual vision we had of the scene during the shoot.  We’re able to reach a little deeper into the shadows and pull back a little in the overblown spots to add a touch more dynamic range than is typically seen in conventional digital photography, and as a result of this the photograph ends up reflecting our personal vision.

As I was planning to evaluate the plugins from Topaz Labs, I had a special scene in mind that I thought would be a perfect first-run test.  Let me introduce you to one of my favorite finds of this spring, a rusty, decrepit old Chevrolet pickup truck.

We find that the best forms of art tell a story in a viewing.  The folks at Good Used Cars Inc. here in the Cowichan Valley have been around for years and you see a lot of their cars on the highways and byways of the island, roaming freely.  This great old truck sitting underneath their sign has been a beacon of dichotomy to me since I saw it a few weeks ago, and I was very much looking forward to exploring the truck and it’s environs, and using these frames as a test for the new Topaz Labs software.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

The seasons can be hard on things out here on Vancouver Island, and the weathering and wear we see make for great elements to capture and explore in photography.  Bringing these textures and details out is a prime love of ours.  The incredible amount of control you have in your post-processing when using Topaz Labs Detail™ 3 is truly second-to-none.  Advertised widely as plugins for the Photoshop series of image processing tools, we were thrilled to find that this plugin architecture was also supported in our tool of choice, PaintShop Pro X5 Creative Photo Editor.  Installation of the plugin suite was straightforward and easy, and within minutes I found myself exploring the myriad of choices available to the digital artist.

The first steps we take when creating our imagery is to take the RAW bracket files and merge them in Photomatix Pro.  Let’s take a look at both the image straight off the camera as well as the tone mapped results from Photomatix to see how things progress before we move into PaintShop Pro and begin to work with the Topaz plugin.

RAW Picture – Directly From Camera

Tone Mapped Image – From Photomatix Pro

And now, for the final results after working with Topaz Labs Detail™ 3…

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

The results are astounding!!  If you look closely at the tone mapped version, before we begin to work on it in PaintShop Pro, you can see a radical improvement over the RAW frame from the camera.  We see into the shadows better, adding depth and dimension to the picture.  We also really get a strong impression from the truck body itself, as this is where all the textures and details hidden in the rusty goodness are to be found.  And finally we see a much bluer, richer sky.  I do not adjust color saturation in the tone mapping phase of work, this happens in the last step in PaintShop Pro.

One of the things I’ve learned in the years I’ve been working with HDR is that the tone mapped results are far from the finished product.  The tone mapping process evens the image out, creating a starting point that is full of dynamic range, yet still seems somewhat flat to look at.  From here you need to make adjustments to the picture to really get the full expression of the image to sing.  Comparisons between the final results and the tone mapped piece are actually quite extraordinary, with the finished work being so detailed and textured, you almost need a tetanus shot after looking at it!

So now let’s talk a little about the process and experience using these great new tools.

When presented with software that is as powerful as the tools from Topaz Labs, I find that you just have to spend some time with them to fully appreciate all you can do with them.  The control in the post-processing phase  is absolutely phenomenal.  The first set of sliders you encounter all pertain to taking full command of the details within your frame.  Small, Medium and Large details all have their own controls, both with the value you can set for these elements as well as a Boost value that really accents these changes.  I am really excited to use these tools more in the future with differing types of source images to really see how far we can go.  I expect to be amazed based on what I’ve seen so far.

The second set of sliders all pertain to Tone in the image.  This is another key area we’ve always spent time working on in our own post-processing, as both highlights and shadows are terribly important in an image to really create a sense of depth, scale and definition to the subject being explored.  This part of our post-processing work has always been a little tricky, given the limited nature of the built-in effects and tools in PaintShop Pro.  Needless to say, the results of playing with the sliders in the Tone section of the plugin produce absolutely jaw-dropping results.  You’re really left wondering at times if there isn’t some magic involved here, somehow, but my own 33+ years experience in the software engineering field tells me this is unlikely.

Further categories of tools are found in this great plugin, including Color management, Deblur and Effect Mask.  Each of these processes took a minimal of time to explore and become comfortable with, allowing me to focus on the prime task at hand…  creating great imagery!

Preview – Before Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

Preview – After Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

It was a real joy to use this tool as it has definitely been designed with the photographer in mind.  Being able to quickly flip back and forth between the Before and After view, as shown above, really allows you to explore the image you’re working on and to push it to its limits.  The end results are well worth the time spent to get there.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

We’re just really beginning to delve into all that we can do with these wonderful new plugins in our tool-belt here!  I’ll be the first to admit we’re probably only scratching the very surface of the algorithms included in the Topaz Labs suite of tools, and that by exploring these features using varied subjects and conditions we will continue to be amazed at the work produced.  We’re planning on trying out the Topaz Labs DeNoise plugin and writing about that as well, as this is yet another area I’ve had challenges with in my imagery and based on a few minutes spent looking at the Topaz Labs offering I can readily see that it, too, is a very powerful tool capable of delivering on its promises.

With all this said, it should come as no surprise that we’ve formed an affiliate relationship with the great folks at Topaz Labs.  The new Topaz Detail™ 3 plugin is available right now for $39.99 on their site, a very reasonable cost considering the power and control you get for this.  They really have the ability to transform the job of post-processing, turning work into play.

Thanks for your kind visit today, please feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have below.  Also, please do stay tuned for more reviews and tutorials using these new tools as we spend time creating our art and exploring the incredible features now found at our fingertips.

The post The Rusty Truck And Topaz Labs Detail 3 Plugin appeared first on Toad Hollow Photography.