Before/After Shot - example using SilkyPix Film V2 Colour

[dosdan]

This shot was taken at the Paradise Point beach on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Pentax K20D with a Simga 18-50/F3.5-5.6 DC lens. This lens does not have a good image-quality reputation. However it is the only lens I currently have that fits my Hoya 58mm CPL filter. (Filter adapter rings are coming from Hong Kong). Also it wouldn't bother me too much if this lens gets sand or salt water on it.

I adjusted the CPL to its darkest orientation which took the white glarey highlights off the top of the wavelets. I then lay down on the sand, focused on my two girls, Gilana & Uma, and waited for a seagull to come into frame. Because I wasn't sure where it would appear there was lots of sky in the original shot. Also, although I was using the "tele" end of the zoom there was too much sand as well - I should have crawled closer. Also there was noticeable darkening at the top left & top right corner. I don't think this was vignetting from the 58mm filter because the zoom was operating at 50mm FL, but it may be due to the CPL effect itself.

Anyway, I cropped the shot to balance the composition. Users of the lens say it lacks both contrast & sharpness. For this shot I ran it stopped down to F8 to help sharpness. The colours were not as intense as I was hoping for. The solution I found in post-processing was not to boost contrast but to increase the saturation through using Silkypix Pro's Film V2 colour.

Here is the original shot using Silkypix's Standard colour setting.

50mm FL, 1/500s, F8, ISO 400.

And here is the final version. Do you like the colours?

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

Dan.

[HGMonaro]

on my screen, the final version looks better... good even

[mithrandir]

On my monitor the whites and greys have a blue tinge in the after processing post.