Photoshop_User_-_February_2016

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photoshop user

› february 2016

110

SEAN ARBABI

Dynam ic Ran ge

processing realistic starscapes

The continued advancement of image

sensors has taken nighttime photography

to a whole new level, diminishing digital

noise and upping light sensitivity, while

vastly improving the dynamic range: the

stops of light a digital image sensor can

cover, from the brightest highlights to

the deepest shadows. These innovations

have given stargazing image-makers extra

latitude to create some wild scenes of the

dark expanse.

This issue, “Dynamic Range” focuses on

creating stunning nightscapes with the

goal of realism for the final image file. This

not only comes from your experience of

how these scenes appear through a pair

of human eyes, but also how contrast,

exposure, light, and detail manifest dur-

ing these hours of darkness. We’ll discuss

how knowledge of the night sky can give

you a solid starting point, some of the

challenges you may face documenting a

extremely low-lit scene, and how to pro-

cess your image file to maximize the detail

and tones captured.

Step One: Before you become a photo-

graphic night owl, planning your outing

can give you a good head start. Travel

to an area far away from any major city,

often referred to as a green zone. Artifi-

cial city light can flood skies, casting an

orange glow of light pollution, diminish-

ing the visibility of starlight and Milky Way

detail. A moonless night is another option

to consider for better star detail, as seen in

this 13-second exposure of Yosemite Falls.

It never gets old staring up at the night sky. The mind wanders, the imagination runs wild, and the shifting stellar

canopy that never seems to change feels like an old friend joining you through life’s journey. Constellations were

the first calendar tracking of the seasons, as well as a latitude indicator for travelers navigating north and south

on our planet. For every outdoor photographer comes a challenge to capture this often awe-inspiring event that

occurs with every turn of our globe.

Step One

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