There are times when a big, burly tripod just isn’t necessary or even practical.  Fortunately, there’s a new tripod on the market by Benro that provides many of the same benefits of a full-size tripod but in a lightweight, compact package: the MeFoto Travel Tripod with Ballhead.

I’ve been using the MeFoto tripod for several months and have found it to be a useful addition to my camera kit.  When not in use the legs fold up and around the center column and ballhead to create an extremely compact package measuring about 12.5” in length.  At its widest point, it’s only 3.75” across when folded and the whole thing weighs less than 3 pounds.  Toss it in a suitcase or backpack and you’ll hardly even know it’s there until you need it.  And yet, for a tripod that packs down so small, the MeFoto tops out at a respectable 51” at maximum extension.

Overall, I’m impressed with the MeFoto.  It’s well built and durable, twist locks on the legs operate smoothly and lock securely and frankly, it’s damn attractive.  The ballhead is small but fully featured with independent pan and head locks as well as an integrated bubble level.  It uses a standard Arca-Swiss style quick release plate, which is very unusual (but awesome!) for a ballhead of such a petite size.  The ballhead action is smooth and clamps down tight with a quick twist of the head lock knob.  Speaking of knobs, they’re all coated in rubber, which gives them a nice soft-touch feel and a secure grip.

The MeFoto Travel Tripod is rated to support up to 8.8 pounds.  I’ve no doubt it is capable of such a feat but in practice, you’d be asking a lot of such a diminutive tripod.  I don’t think the ballhead would have a problem supporting the weight as once it is locked down, it takes a whole lot of muscle to make it budge.  The lower leg sections are fairly spindly and the tall center column that is in a permanent “up” position are the weak links.  To be fair, this isn’t so much a criticism as a warning.  I don’t think any serious photographer with a pro DSLR and lenses would buy the MeFoto with the intent to use it as their primary tripod.  I have mounted my Canon 5DMKII with battery grip and 24-105mm lens on the MeFoto and it did not topple under the weight.  In fact, it worked just fine.  There wasn’t so much as a hint of a breeze, I used mirror lock up and I did not extend the upper center column – all of which were factors in creating sharp images with a heavy rig on such a dainty tripod.

If the MeFoto wasn’t designed for use with full size DSLR’s and heavy lenses, what is it good for?  We’ve used it dozens of times to support a Canon S95 for family self-portraits.  You know those cheesy photos you see everyone doing at the national park signs?  Yeah, that’s us.  Got an advanced point and shoot or a lightweight mirrorless camera?  This is a perfect tripod for you.  I don’t think it would have any problem supporting a lightweight DSLR with kit lens, either.  It’s an awesome compact travel tripod for any trip where luggage space is at a premium.  Bring it on a motorcycle or bike trip, pack it into the included carrying case and sling it over your shoulder while you’re strolling around town, or find a corner of your car trunk to stow it in so you’ve always got a tripod with you.

The Benro MeFoto tripod retails for $139 and I can’t think of a better place to pick up one than from the great folks at Outdoor Photo Gear.   For that price you’ll get the MeFoto tripod, ballhead and a carrying case with adjustable shoulder strap.  The verdict: Use the MeFoto Travel Tripod as intended and you won’t be disappointed.  Feel free to push the limits every now and again with a full-size DSLR, if necessary.  All in all, I think it’s a great little tripod at a reasonable price.

I’m thrilled to announce that my 2014 Utah wall calendar is now available for pre-order!  The calendar features twelve gorgeous photos of Utah’s breathtaking landscapes by yours truly and my good friend, Todd Caudle.  In addition to the main photos each month, the date grid features even more images to ensure your Utah wanderlust is kicked into high gear.  Each calendar measures 11″ x 14″ closed and features 13 full color photographs printed in high resolution on thick, glossy paper.  Calendar binding is saddle stitched to ensure that it won’t fall apart half-way through the year.  These suckers are about as high quality as a calendar can get.

The retail price of the 2014 Utah wall calendar is $11.95.  However, between now and May 30, 2013 I’m offering it at a special pre-order price of $9.95, plus $4.00 shipping and handling anywhere in the U.S.  All pre-orders will ship in early June, at which time the calendar will also be available at The Edge Gallery (at full retail price).

To get your hands on one, all you need to do is place an order on my website.  If you are outside of the U.S. and would like to order a calendar, email me your address and I’ll respond with a shipping quote.

Some times, one white balance just doesn’t cut it.  Have you ever processed a RAW image only to discover that setting the proper white balance for the landscape resulted in a pale or even yellowish sky?  One possible culprit is that you’re working on an image with two distinct white balances: one for the sky and one for the landscape.  In the above image, selecting a correct white balance for the sandstone walls resulted in water that was an unnatural, dingy yellow color.  Luckily, there are a couple of tools that make it quick and easy to correct this issue.

If you’re using Lightroom 4, the adjustment brush can be utilized to easily apply local white balance corrections.  Simply select the adjustment brush, set all the options to zero and then move the white balance slider to the appropriate setting.  If you don’t get it right the first time, no big deal.  Once you’ve used the brush to “paint” on the effect you can always go back and edit the results.  In the slot canyon image above, I used this technique to cool off the water and return it to a more natural looking state.  You can use this same technique to selectively reduce noise, increase (or decrease) sharpening, saturation, contrast, clarity and more.  It’s really a simple but very powerful tool.

Another option that allows an easy fix is Nik Software’s Viveza 2 plug-in for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.  This works in a similar manner but instead of using a brush to “paint” in the effect, you use a Control Point to easily select only the color range with which you need to work.  I prefer to use this method to fix problem skies as the Control Points make it very easy to also darken the sky and add a touch of saturation – both of which I often do to give skies a little more zing.  Yes, zing.  I used this technique on the image below and it resulted in an image with a much more natural yet impactful sky.

In my experience, neither technique works best 100% of the time.  I find that I’ll try one and if it doesn’t work as desired, I’ll try the other.  It’s certainly beneficial to have both tools in your toolbox.  Give it a shot and let me know what works best for you!

Buy Adobe Lightroom 4

Buy Nik Software Complete Collection including Viveza 2 (Use coupon code “BEDGE” at checkout to save 15%)

This post sponsored by Google.

I’m excited to announce the dates of some great workshops and tours this year, both of which are among my most popular offerings: the Nature Photography Boot Camp and Undiscovered Moab Photo Tour.  Read on for full details!

May 25 & 26 – Undiscovered Moab Photo Tour
June 15 – Nature Photography Boot Camp in Jackson, Wyoming
July 13 – Nature Photography Boot Camp in Moab, Utah
August 10 – Nature Photography Boot Camp in Moab, Utah

This year I’m offering my most popular workshop, the one-day Nature Photography Boot Camp, in two locations – Moab, Utah and Jackson, Wyoming.  In Moab we’ll visit Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, where we’ll spend ample time working in small groups to learn basic concepts of nature photography to include creating dynamic compositions, using available light to maximum benefit, controlling depth of field and using filters in the field.  Everyone in the workshop will also participate in a fun and educational mid-day group image critique, which is consistently one of the most popular aspects of the Boot Camp.  Join me June 15 in the Tetons, or July 13 & August 10 in Moab for one of these great workshops.

If you’re a veteran photographer of the Moab landscape, you’ve already got images of all the iconic locations in your portfolio.  Now it’s time to branch out by exploring a few off-the-beaten path locations that are every bit as impressive as the hot spots – but without the crowds.  Join me May 25 & 26 for the Undiscovered Moab Photo Tour and we’ll spend two full days accessing several spectacular locations via rough four-wheel drive roads and arduous hikes.  You’ll be rewarded with solitude and gorgeous images of waterfalls in slot canyons, jaw dropping canyon views, towering sandstone spires and remote arches – none of which are on the radar of most tourists to Moab.  The only catch: you’ve got to be physically fit and able to carry all of your camera gear over rough terrain for up to nine miles.  The Undiscovered Moab Photo Tour is limited to 3 participants and I’ve only got two spots left.

To learn more about or to register for the Nature Photography Boot Camp or Undiscovered Moab Photo Tour, please visit the workshops page on my website.  I hope to have the opportunity to work with a few of you at one of these events!

With all the money photographers spend on expensive DSLR’s, high quality lenses and filters (yes, some people still use filters) and traveling to exotic locations, there isn’t a whole lot of the green stuff left for software purchases.  Thankfully, Nik Software just reduced the price of the Nik Collection by Google of Lightroom/Photoshop/Aperture plug-ins to a remarkably affordable $149.  I paid $499 for the Complete Collection a few years ago and then another $149 for HDR Efex Pro, so my total investment in the software is right at $650.  The new Nik Collection by Google includes HDR Efex Pro 2, as well as all the other killer plug-ins, for $149.  I could be bitter but honestly, I’m not.  I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of the plug-ins and I think it’s awesome that the price is now so reasonable that there is virtually no reason not to make the investment.  What’s that?  $149 still a bit too rich?  Okay, fine – click the following link and you’ll get 15% off, bringing the total cost to $126.  Nik Collection by Google for $126 Be sure to use coupon code BEDGE for the discounted rate.

For the uninitiated, here’s a list of the plug-ins included in the Nik Collection by Google and how I use each one:

Viveza 2 – I use this one on every image I process.  It allows you to easily adjust color, saturation, tonality, contrast and more globally or locally without using complicated masks in Photoshop.

Color Efex Pro 4 – This is a collection of digital filters that allow you to easily make creative edits to your images.  I use the tonal contrast, brilliance/warmth and foliage filters on a regular basis.

Silver Efex Pro 2 – Powerful black and white conversion plug-in that’s super easy to use.  Every single b&w image in my portfolio was created with SEP2, including the one at the top of this post.

Sharpener Pro 3 – This plug-in makes it easy to perfectly sharpen your images for web or print.  Seriously easy to use with killer results.

Dfine 2 – Noise reduction software that keeps details crisp while reducing unwanted noise.  Today’s DSLR’s are so good that I don’t use this often but I’m glad it’s in the arsenal.

HDR Efex Pro 2 – HDR software that’s powerful but easy to use for realistic HDR images.  I mostly do manual exposure blends when I need to expand dynamic range but if you’re into HDR, this is an excellent piece of software.

Seriously, if you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to invest in Nik Software plug-ins, this is the push you need.  I don’t know if this is a limited time sale or if it’s a new permanent pricing structure but it’s certainly a great value for some great software.

If you’re brand new to Nik’s plug-ins, the best place to start is with the free video tutorials on the Nik Software website.  Another great option is John Batdorff’s new book, “Plug in with Nik“.

My eight year old tripod is on its last legs – literally.  There’s so much sand, grit and grime inside the twist-lock mechanisms that they’re alternately almost impossible to loosen or they just won’t stay tight.  For the last few months I’ve made it work because the thought of dropping several hundred dollars on a new carbon fiber tripod simply didn’t excite me.  A rock solid, dependable tripod is perhaps the most important piece of equipment for any outdoor photographer but it lacks the sex appeal of a new lens or the latest and greatest huge megapixel camera body.  But, if you want to make sharp images when working at the edge of light, a good tripod is an absolute must.

Induro doesn’t make a good tripod.  They make a great tripod.  Several of my friends have been using Induro tripods for years and without exception they’ve all raved about them.  So, when Induro offered me a sponsorship it didn’t take long for me to accept. 

Last week I received a box full of awesomeness from Induro.  In it was my new tripod, the carbon fiber CT213.  This thing is a work of art.  Seriously.  I know, I know – I just said that tripods weren’t sexy.  I lied.  If you, like me, appreciate attention to detail and design, you will find Induro tripods to be pretty damn sexy.  All decked out in smooth, strong 8 layer carbon fiber with a matte black magnesium alloy spider and weighing in at a svelte 3.3 pounds, it truly is a beautiful piece of kit.  But it’s not all about looks, is it?  Thankfully, Induro tripods are built to take all the abuse outdoor photographers dish out.   Dust and water resistant leg locks, interchangeable feet, an integrated bubble level and adjustable leg angles are among the many fantastic features that make these tripods so great.  Though they can’t be characterized as inexpensive, Induro’s carbon fiber tripods cost 20% to 40% less than the competition without giving up any quality and durability.  Induro also manufactures a line of aluminum tripods with many of the same features as their carbon fiber models but at a more modest price point.

If you’re interested in trying out an Induro tripod I’ll be renting them at The Edge Gallery in Moab.  I’m also in the process of becoming a dealer.  I should have a small selection of Induro tripods on display and for sale at the gallery by late spring/early summer.  If you find yourself in Moab I hope you’ll stop by to check them out.

I’m thrilled to be the newest member of Team Induro.  Thanks to Brian and the crew at Induro for the opportunity to use and promote their top-notch equipment!

If you’ve ever gazed upon a map of Yellowstone National Park you were likely struck by the massive size of the area it encompasses.  A wee little park it is not.  If you’ve ever visited Yellowstone intent on photographing landscapes – not wildlife – at some point you probably found yourself feeling a bit frustrated.  I certainly have.  In the neighboring Tetons, subject matter beckons to you at every bend in the road or trail.  Yellowstone is more subtle.  There are a few obvious locations, namely dramatic waterfalls, but much of Yellowstone requires a little more work and a little more thought to create compelling landscape images.

Bozeman based photographer Dean Sauskojus has spent the last twenty years exploring Yellowstone with his camera.  In that time Dean has developed an intimate relationship with the Yellowstone landscape, learning the nuances of each season and compiling an unparalleled knowledge of America’s first national park.  Lucky for us, he’s decided to share this treasure trove of information with other photographers in his spectacular new e-book, “The Ultimate Photo Guide to Yellowstone National Park“.

Between the virtual covers you’ll find a whopping 43 locations throughout Yellowstone.  You’ll no doubt recognize some of the icons like Lower Falls from Lookout Point.  What really makes “The Ultimate Photo Guide to Yellowstone National Park” so special are the lesser known or even unknown locations Dean shares that are every bit as breathtaking as the iconic hot spots.  No other guide I’ve ever used covers such a diversity of locations.

Speaking of locations, Dean makes it easy to find sites that pique your photographic interest.  The table of contents divides the locations into three main categories: Thermal Features, Creeks, Lakes and Rivers, and Mountain Passes, Valleys and Waterfalls.  Below each category you’ll find a list of locations to photograph.  If you’d rather search for locations based upon the best time of day to photograph them you can do that, too.  Dean has included a handy page that displays the locations by sunrise, sunset and even quite a few that can be photographed all day long.  Still not satisfied?  There’s an interactive park map to help you discover locations based solely upon location within the park.

No matter how you choose to find a spot to photograph, just touch a location name and you’re taken directly to its page where you’ll find everything you need to know to make incredible photographs there.  Literally, everything.  Even GPS coordinates.  Dean knows these areas so well he not only shares important information like how to get there, access difficulty and what gear you’ll need – he even recommends specific months that are most interesting for photography!  That kind of information only comes from years of experience getting to know and photographing the area.

Many of the photo guidebooks I’ve used contain useful location information but less than stellar photography.  Not so with Dean’s e-book.  Every location is accompanied by one of Dean’s gorgeous photographs to inspire your own photographic ambitions.

I use an app called GoodReader on an iPad 2 as my default e-book reader.  Dean’s e-book downloaded without any hitches and works flawlessly within GoodReader.  Have no fear if you’re using a device other than an iPad, i.e. a laptop or even an Android, Nook or Kindle Fire – “The Ultimate Photo Guide to Yellowstone National Park” is available on nearly every platform.  Dean has included a helpful appendix with instructions that detail precisely how to download and view the e-book on each device.

“The Ultimate Photo Guide to Yellowstone National Park” is easy to use, filled with valuable information and a bargain at only $14.95.  Whether you’re a serious photographer with expensive equipment or a tourist with a point and shoot, you’ll find Dean’s e-book to be a much referenced companion on your next trip to Yellowstone National Park.

I’ve had a few days with the new Craft & Vision magazine, Photograph – Issue Two, and am once again thoroughly impressed.  If you aren’t familiar with the magazine you might want to read my review of Photograph – Issue One, which fully explains what you can expect to find in each issue.  This time around, I immediately dug in as soon as the download to my iPad was complete.  Much to my surprise and delight I found articles and/or portfolios by several friends: Andy Biggs, Jay Goodrich, Nicole S. Young and Younes Bounhar.  Surely I must be moving up in the world to have friends whose work is being published in such a high-quality magazine!

Andy’s portfolio of black and white images produced during his many safaris in Africa took my breath away.  His portfolio is accompanied by an interesting interview with him in which he discusses some of his in-the-field workflow and shares an inspirational anecdote about one of his safaris.  Jay’s article about an autumn leaf peeping trip with his three year old daughter is heartwarming.  The photo that accompanies the article could make even the most miserable tyrant smile.  Nicole writes about exposure and metering modes, and she leaves nothing to the imagination.  If you’re struggling to understand how your camera’s meter determines what it believes to be the proper exposure and, more importantly, when you need to take control and adjust that exposure, this article will get you up to speed pronto.  Last, but certainly not least, is Younes’ informative piece on long exposure photography that will make you want to head out the door right now with camera and tripod in hand.

In addition to the aforementioned content you will find stunning portfolios by Martin Bailey and Chris Orwig (killer black and white portraits), articles by John Paul Caponigro on creative composition, a review of the popular Fujifilm X-Pro 1 camera by Al Smith, two great articles by the publisher himself, David DuChemin, and lots more.

Photograph – Issue Two is available now for $8.00.  Better yet, subscribe for four issues for $24 and save yourself $8.00.  I’m subscribed and will continue to do so as I’ve not found another photography magazine with such high quality content.

This summer Jason Hatfield and I are partnering with NatureScapes to offer an immersive, three-day workshop in Grand Teton National Park outside Jackson, Wyoming.  Early summer marks my favorite time to explore and photograph this mountain range of dramatic, snow covered peaks towering 7,000′ above the valley floor.  Whether you’re standing among fragrant sagebrush surrounded by colorful wildflowers, at the edge of the mighty Snake River or along the shores of a crystalline alpine lake – summer in the Tetons is an experience that stirs the soul.

Our basecamp for the workshop will be the luxurious Hotel Terra in Teton Village, only minutes from the park entrance.  We’ll meet in the lobby on the afternoon of Thursday, June 20, 2013 for an informal meet and greet before heading off to the world famous Mangy Moose restaurant for dinner and socializing with our new friends.  After dinner we’ll carpool into the park to photograph sunset along the Moose-Wilson Road, where bears and other megafauna are often spotted in late afternoon.  Best to bring your long lenses, just in case!

On Friday, June 21, we’ll photograph sunrise at Oxbow Bend, where the hulking massif of Mount Moran reflects in an abandoned meander of the Snake River.  After sunrise we’ll retreat to a comfortable meeting room at Hotel Terra where Jason will deliver the first of two inspiring presentations on using Adobe Lightroom to develop your images using an efficient and powerful workflow.  We’ll also utilize some classroom time to do group image critiques, which I strongly believe are one of the very best ways to improve your skills as a photographer.  Following an afternoon break to rest, recharge and eat dinner we’ll travel back into the park to photograph sunset at the iconic Snake River Overlook.

Saturday, June 22 dawns early as we head out for another sunrise inside the park, this time among the sagebrush and, conditions permitting, wildflowers on Antelope Flats.  We may also spend some time photographing beautiful old barns on Mormon Row with the jagged skyline of the Tetons as a backdrop.  When our memory cards are full we’ll head back to Hotel Terra for another Lightroom workflow with Jason and more image critiques.  Before we wrap up for the afternoon I’ll lead a discussion on using Nik Software’s Complete Collection of powerful and intuitive Lightroom plug-ins to creatively process your images.  After class we’ll take a break before traveling back into the park for sunset at the Cunningham Cabin.

On our last morning together, Sunday, June 23, we’ll photograph sunrise along the shoreline of String Lake, where the rugged Cathedral Group and Mount Moran reflect in the calm and often misty water.  After sunrise we’ll return to Hotel Terra to wrap up and say our good-byes.

Your workshop registration fee includes lodging for three nights at Hotel Terra and dinner on Thursday night, as well as plenty of attentive instruction in the field and classroom.  Jason and I are passionate about helping other photographers to learn the art and craft of photography.  Our entire focus is on helping YOU to improve your skills and creativity.  We will not abandon you to make our own photographs when the light gets good.  We’re both easy going and approachable, and we encourage questions and group interaction.  We would love for you to join us in the Tetons!

To learn more about or to register for this workshop, please visit the NatureScapes Workshops website.  As always, I welcome your questions about this or any of my workshops via email: bret (at) bretedge (dot) com.

You all know I’m a huge fan of Nik Software plug-ins for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.  I’ve written often about my affection for Silver Efex Pro 2 and it’s powerful but intuitive controls for converting color images to black and white, and how Viveza 2 makes it effortless to to make local and global adjustments to light and color, and don’t get me started on all the amazing filters in Color Efex Pro 4 that allow me to make creative edits without logging endless hours at my desk.  Now throw in Dfine 2 for noise reduction that doesn’t sacrifice detail, Sharpener Pro 3 for painless sharpening of images for web and print and HDR Efex Pro 2 for creating stunning images with expanded dynamic range and you’ve got an unparalleled collection of imaging software.  But you expect to hear that from me.  So instead of writing another blog post about how I use the Nik Software Complete Collection, I thought I’d ask a few of the most talented photographers on the planet to share some insight on how they use these tools in their workflow.  Read on to learn how Laurie Rubin, Mike Moats, John Batdorff and Peter Tellone take control of their images with the Nik Software Complete Collection.

Laurie Rubin – Laurie is a well-traveled nature and wildlife photographer with an impressive portfolio of stunning imagery.  I found her “Animals of East Africa” web gallery to be especially impressive.  Laurie’s been using Nik Software plug-ins for about 8 years.  I asked Laurie why she prefers to use Nik plug-ins instead of a more traditional approach like Photoshop.  Her response? “The Nik Software products make it so easy to make adjustments without having to make layers and masks. Using Dfine 2.0 to remove noise from images that are shot at high ISO is a simple click of a button and having the ability to use Control Points within any of the Nik products allows for quick and easy selective adjustments. Whether you are trying to bring up details in shadowed areas with Viveza 2 or creating global enhancements throughout your image by adding a soft, moody effect, with Color Efex Pro 4 and the Midnight filter for example, you have total control how you want your image to look.”  Laurie’s two favorite plug-ins are Color Efex Pro 4 and Sharpener Pro 3, which she uses on wildlife images to selectively sharpen the eyes because she believes “an animal’s eyes can speak volumes in an image.”  Some of Laurie’s favorite Color Efex Pro 4 filters include Tonal Contrast, Midnight, Vignette Lens, Darken/Lighten Center, Image Borders and Detail Extractor, which she enjoys because it makes it easy to bring out details in feathers on a bird or within a lion’s mane.  Laurie also likes the Glamour Glow filter – even for animals!  To see more of Laurie’s fantastic work, please visit her website at www.imagesbylaurie.com.

Mike Moats – Simply stated, Mike Moats has mastered macro photography.  His website, Tiny Landscapes, showcases what I consider to be the most inspired collection of macro images you’ll ever see.  Mike learned of Nik Software’s Complete Collection nearly two years ago from a student at one of his wildly popular (and usually sold out) “Macro Photography Boot Camps”.  Mike watched as the student used a Control Point in Viveza to selectively adjust exposure and color without having to resort to complicated layers and masks.  He was intrigued and downloaded the software as soon as he got home.  Mike’s workflow usually begins with Color Efex Pro 4 to achieve “the look he wants using one or more of the filters”.  Then he fine tunes the image using Control Points in Viveza 2.  I asked Mike to name a few of his favorite Color Efex Pro 4 filters and he rattled off several that he uses on a regular basis, often with four or more used on one image.  His favorite filters include Detail Extractor, which he likes because it “pulls out the details in the textures, and also enhances the colors” and the Midnight filter, which he finds “slightly softens the details and adds a nice dark moody look to an image”. He also uses the Dark Contrast or Low Key filter on images that are a bit too bright, the High Key or Skylight filter on photos that are a bit dark and the Brilliance/Warmth filter to enhance colors (I also use this one often).  Other favorite Color Efex Pro 4 filters include Solarization, Polaroid Transfer and Glamour Glow.  Be sure to check out Mike’s blog at www.mikemoatsblog.com for inspiration in the form of beautiful macro images and frequent tips on how he makes these stunning images.

John Batdorff - John is a talented landscape and travel photographer, author of several books including the fantastic “Plug In with Nik“, an in-demand workshop leader and all-around great guy.  John has been using Nik Software for six years and though he still uses Lightroom and Photoshop to some degree, he finds that Nik’s plug-ins are “very intuitive and the tools are so powerful that it allows me to focus on my creative vision without the technical “how to” distractions”.  As a nationally recognized authority on black and white photography, it should come as no surprise that one of John’s favorite Nik tools is Silver Efex Pro 2.  He says, “Nothing gives you as much control over your black and white images”.  He’s also a “big fan” of HDR Efex Pro 2 because of the ease with which it allows you to create natural looking high dynamic range landscapes and Color Efex Pro 4, which he describes as the “Swiss Army Knife of plugins that can be used to deal with a flat sky or add a cool border around an image and many other important edits”.  I’ve never heard it put that way but I wholeheartedly agree!  Stay in touch with John on Facebook, twitter and Google Plus.

Peter Tellone - There aren’t a whole lot of photographers who produce truly spectacular HDR landscapes but Peter Tellone is one of them.  Peter’s images are masterfully composed and expertly processed, resulting in stunning HDR photographs based in realism.  He’s been using Nik Software’s plug-ins for about two years.  I asked Peter if he had any tips to share with photographers about using HDR Efex Pro 2 that would help them avoid “overcooking” their HDR images.  He said that the most common problem he sees is that “with all of HDR Efex Pro 2’s controls in front of them they think they have to use them all” when in fact, doing less often results in a much more natural image.  Peter typically adjusts only the overall exposure, saturation, compression and structure.  The HDR process can often add noise to an image, which Peter deals with by using Nik’s Dfine plug-in.  He likes using Dfine because it allows him to easily eliminate noise while maintaining important detail.  He also uses Nik Sharpener Pro 3 to sharpen his images for web and print.  I asked Peter why he prefers to use Nik Software’s plug-ins instead of Photoshop.  He said that he’s been using Photoshop for a very long time and “knows his way around it very well, so when he reaches for other software he needs to do it better and faster than Photoshop can.”  That’s a sentiment I echo.  Be sure to check out Peter’s excellent blog, “The HDR Image“, for great tutorials, tips and more.

There you have it, folks.  Insight from four top photographers about how they use Nik Software’s Complete Collection of Lightroom and Photoshop plug-ins to take control of and streamline their digital darkroom workflow.  For even more in-depth training and tutorials, I can’t recommend enough the great videos and webinars on the Nik website.  I owe a huge thanks to Laurie, Mike, John and Peter for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their thoughts and advice with me.  Please take a moment to check out their websites and get inspired by their photography!