High resolution plus luscious bokeh

Beautiful balance between subject sharpness and background bokeh. Tamron’s new zoom contains three LD (Low Dispersion) and three aspherical lens elements to quash optical aberrations, a circular aperture and legendary BBAR Coating to suppress ghosting and flare—even in backlit situations. The contrast between in-focus areas rendered accurately down to the fine details and backgrounds that gently blend into the scene produces a single high-quality image. The optical performance meets and exceeds the demands of today’s high resolution 50+ megapixel DSLRs. Your portraits will positively pop!

Enhanced AF operation and VC

For fast and steady operation, this fast-handling zoom incorporates Tamron’s Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) system that consists of a dedicated AF lens control MPU and dedicated vibration compensation MPU to achieve both superior AF performance and effective vibration compensation. This ensures accurate focus even in scenes with continually moving subjects or under low-light conditions.

Pack a pair and photograph everything!

This compact zoom travels light, measuring only 4.9 in long and weighing a scant 1.7 pounds. When combined with Tamron’s versatile ultra-wide-angle 17-35mm F2.8-4 Di OSD you can cover the entire range from 17mm to 150mm, all at a maximum aperture of F/2.8 (F/4 at zoomed end). The whole bundle weighs less than 3 pounds! They’re the perfect combo when you want to travel light or when shooting with two DSLR bodies. The portability and extensive zoom range are a photographer’s dream come true and flawlessly designed for everything from landscape and street photography to architecture and portrait photography.

Click here to learn more about the new TAMRON 35-150mm F/2.8-4 Di VC OSD (model A043).

We’ve all faced the same problem: photographs that lack contrast; images where the shadows and highlights look flat and the details are muddy. While the problem is common, the solutions are many. In this article, I want to show you several easy fixes (using built-in tools) — including some uncommon ones — that you should explore. We’ll also take a look at Aurora HDR, which works as a plugin to both Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.

The Problem

You open up an image and it just feels flat. Your mind doesn’t remember the scene this way, but your camera sure does. What’s the problem? It’s all about dynamic range.

Dynamic Range Explained

The dynamic range of your photo is the difference between the maximum and minimum values. In simpler terms, are the black points rich and the white points bright? Here’s a simple example where you can see which gradient has a true black and white point.

In most situations, a photo with a wide dynamic range feels rich and deep. Once adjusted, this low-depth image takes on a richer feel. Note that this isn’t just about moving the Contrast slider. It’s about extending the histogram to ensure a full balance.

There are several ways to improve the dynamic range of your images: You can change how you capture your images, change how you process them, or both. There’s no right answer, as it really comes down to how much effort you’re willing to put in and the results you want to get. Toss in the limiting factors of your camera and shooting style and you’ll quickly discover that one size does not fit all.

Why HDR Isn’t a Bad Word

For many photographers, the term HDR (high dynamic range) causes their blood pressure to rise. I encounter photographers all the time who tell me how HDR is awful. A fad. A gimmick. Absolute garbage. They cite garish examples where the colors and details have been pushed to cartoonish extremes.

Sure, if we judge HDR by its worst examples, that’s totally valid. But it’s akin to assuming that Photoshop is only capable of examples like this or this. Don’t blame the tool for a lack of good judgement by the user. For the record, I strongly prefer the third image below.

HDR has been around for a long time. Photoshop CS5 introduced Merge to HDR Pro back in 2010 to create 32-bit files. Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw more recently (version 6 in 2015) added an advanced option to create floating 16-bit DNG files from several raw images. This feature has received additional updates in Lightroom and now can even be used to create panoramic HDR images.

Using HDR imaging techniques really makes a difference in your photos. If you use the Shadows and Highlights sliders, you’re effectively using a less powerful version of HDR. Why not take these controls further and get even better results? When done correctly, HDR is naturally beautiful!

Let’s explore the options you have built into Lightroom.

Built-In Methods

Getting proper dynamic range in Lightroom has gotten easier as the application matures. Let’s take a quick look at the built-in options. These all work best with a raw file, so be sure to capture raw in-camera. These days, even smartphones and drones can capture DNG files, which result in superior quality.

Tone Controls: Shadows & Highlights, Whites & Blacks

These four sliders are the key to getting your dynamic range correct. Typically, it’s a give and take. For example, if you pull the highlights to the left to recover, you should pull the shadows to the right to lift.

• Highlights –This adjusts the brighter areas of the photo. Dragging to the left is typically ideal.
• Shadows –This slider works well in both directions. Dragging to the left darkens shadows and to the right lightens them. Typically, I’ll drag the Blacks slider in the direction opposite the Shadows.
• Whites –Use this slider to increase or decrease clipping in the highlights. If the image lacks dynamic range, drag this slider slowly to the right.
• Blacks –This slider behaves similarly to the Whites slider, except it affects the shadows.  Drag to the left slowly if the image lacks dynamic range.

Presence Controls + Contrast

The Presence controls generally affect the depth and color saturation of the image. I typically combine these controls with the Contrast slider.

• Contrast –While it may seem illogical, I tend to reduce contrast in an image to keep the midtones from getting bunched up. Try dragging the Contrast slider to the left and then using the Presence controls to add back depth.
• Clarity –The Clarity adjustment can be thought of as Contrast 2.0. It essentially adds depth to an image. Be sure to zoom to 100% magnification when using this slider and watch for halos around the edges.
• Dehaze –This is another method for affecting contrast and is useful to remove haze in an image.

Merging Exposures

If you’re using a newer version of Lightroom (or the Creative Cloud version), you’ll find the ability to merge exposures. The approach here is simple: To increase the dynamic range of a photograph, simply capture more information in the field.

In the field: Look for a setting on your camera called Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB). This option allows your camera to quickly switch through several exposures while shooting in a burst mode. Most cameras have this feature, but the number of shots and the exposure difference between each shot can vary between models.

In Lightroom: The process to create a basic HDR image is pretty easy.

Step One: Select the images you want to merge. You can use Cmd/Ctrl-click to choose multiple photos.

Step Two: Choose Photo > Photo Merge > HDR, or press Ctrl+H. A new dialog box will open. After a few seconds, a preview image should appear.

Step Three: Choose the Auto Tone option if you want Lightroom to create an evenly toned merged image.

Step Four: Choose the Auto Align option if you were shooting handheld. Otherwise, you can leave it unchecked.

Step Five: If there were moving objects in the scene (like a tree blowing in the wind or people walking), try one of the Deghosting options.

Step Six: Click the Merge button to generate a new DNG file and add it to your Lightroom catalog.

Step Seven: Adjust this new image like a regular raw file. You should see more flexibility in the dynamic range, however.

Using Aurora to Push Dynamic Range Further

While I’m a huge fan of Lightroom’s HDR toolset, I often want to take things further. For this, I turn to Aurora HDR from Skylum. It’s a plugin that works seamlessly with Lightroom. 

You can use Aurora’s Quantum HDR engine to:

• develop individual photos
• merge brackets to a 32-bit file
• enhance panoramic DNGs made in Lightroom.

While Aurora has been around for many years, the latest version changes everything. The Quantum HDR engine is a technological breakthrough. Not only are the best parts of each photo used when merging, details that are harmful are left out. This means no halos and less noise. In fact, the software use artificial intelligence to recognize key parts of the image and automatically create the best photo. If you haven’t seen it, you just have to give it a try.

Alternative Raw Developer

If you’re facing a tough exposure, there’s an alternative to fighting it in Lightroom. Sure, you could use Tone and Curves and localized adjustments, but that takes time and doesn’t always work. Instead, I just kick the raw file over to Aurora and let it solve things. This approach is really Expanded Dynamic Range photography; the image is maximized from a single raw photo.

Step One: Select the image in Lightroom.

Step Two: Choose File > Plug-in Extras > Transfer to Aurora HDR 2019. The raw image will be opened in Aurora HDR.

Step Three: In Aurora, choose the Color Denoise and Chromatic Aberration Reduction options from the gear menu.

Step Four: Click Create HDR. The full range of details in the raw file will be analyzed and recomposed into a proper exposure.

Running as a Plugin

Sometimes I get to the end of my workflow in Lightroom and I just want some more pop. The Artistic and Dramatic Looks in Aurora are great for creativity. I also love black and white photography, and Aurora’s support for Lookup Tables (LUTs) makes for compelling black and white conversions.

To apply a Look in Aurora:

Step One: Select an image in your Lightroom catalog that you’d like to  enhance.

Step Two: Choose Photo > Edit In > Aurora HDR 2019.

Step Three: In the new dialog box, choose to edit a TIFF image in 16-bit color using the Adobe RGB color space.

Step Four: In Aurora HDR, if the Looks panel isn’t visible, choose View > Show Aurora HDR Looks.

Step Five: Click the Collections button to browse categories or download more Looks.

Step Six: Click on a Look in the browser.

Step Seven: Use the Amount slider to adjust its intensity.

Step Eight: Use the manual controls as desired to further enhance the image.

Step Nine: Click Apply to return the image to your Lightroom catalog.

Developing an Advanced DNG

I love the ability to merge panoramic photos right inside Lightroom. I use it all the time with my drone photographs. Most drones have panoramic shooting built right in. If not, a gentle tap on the control stick will let you pan the drone between shots. Just be sure to capture DNG files for the maximum benefit.

To develop a panoramic DNG:

Step One: Select the panoramic images in your library.

Step Two: Choose Photo > Photo Merge > Panorama, or press Ctrl+M. A new dialog box will open. After a few seconds, a preview image should appear.

Step Three: Choose a projection method. Spherical and Cylindrical usually work best.

Step Four: Adjust the Boundary Warp settings and the Auto Crop to taste to give a full image.

Step Five: When ready, click Merge. A new DNG file will be created.

Step Six: Select the new file and choose File > Plug-in Extras > Transfer to Aurora HDR 2019. The raw file will be handed off to Aurora, where exposure and detail can be maximized.

Step Seven: In Aurora, choose the Color Denoise and Chromatic Aberration Reduction options from the gear menu.

Step Eight: Click Create HDR. The full range of details in the raw file will be analyzed and recomposed into a proper exposure.

Step Nine: Use Aurora HDR Looks or the manual controls to refine the image’s appearance.

Step 10: Click Apply to return the image to your Lightroom library.

Merging Brackets

While Lightroom offers a compelling solution for HDR merging, it still only creates 16-bit files. These new DNG files are quite useful, but merging with Aurora HDR allows you to create a 32-bit image.

To merge brackets in Aurora HDR:

Step One: Select the source brackets in your Lightroom library. The files should all be in the same format.

Step Two: Choose File > Plug-in Extras > Transfer to Aurora HDR 2019.

Step Three: Choose options in the merge dialog.

• If you shot handheld, be sure to select the Auto Alignment option.
• From the gear menu, you can remove ghosting and remove chromatic aberration for backlit scenes.

Step Four: Click Create HDR to merge the files. The full range of details in the raw files will be analyzed and blended into a proper exposure.

Step Five: Use Aurora HDR Looks or manual controls to refine the image’s appearance.

Step Six: Click Apply to return the image to your Lightroom library.

Step Seven: Take advantage of Lightroom adjustments like Upright and Sharpening.

Now You Try

I’m sure you have images in your library where dynamic range is challenging. Try out the techniques in this article and see if they make a difference. Better yet, the next time you’re shooting, give bracketing a try. And don’t forget to give Aurora a chance. It’s perfect for unlocking the hidden beauty in your photos and gives a huge boost to natural light photographers. The power of HDR can be our little secret.

This issue’s cover is by KelbyOne Pro member Kelly Robitaille who is the latest winner of her own solo show, The Gallery at KelbyOne. The show is this Saturday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m. If you’d like to join us, or watch the live streamed interview with Kelly at 8:00 p.m., click this link.

KelbyOne Pro members have access to more than 70 back issues of Photoshop User magazine all the way back to January 2012, plus all 47 issues of Lightroom Magazine. Not a Pro member yet? Click here for more information.

KelbyOne Pro members have access to more than 70 back issues of Photoshop User magazine all the way back to January 2012, plus all 46 issues of Lightroom Magazine. Not a Pro member yet? Click here for more information.

Daisuke Fujimara

Ultra-Optimized Optics Create Yet Another Incredible Image
The SP 15–30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041) is a high-speed ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with ultimate image quality that lets you capture all you see. The lens integrates engineering with human touch design, aiming at intuitive operability, while still emphasizing minute details and texture. It is more user-friendly because of innovations including a new switch box design, an improved distant-scale window, and the precision and stability of the metallic mount. By utilizing specialty glass materials and aspherical lens elements, Tamron’s engineers have further minimized the distortion and lateral chromatic aberration that can be an issue with wide-angle shooting. The lens also has triple lens coatings consisting of the newly developed AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating, plus eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) and BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coatings that all combine to provide sharp and clear images even in peripheral areas.

The Newly Developed AX Coating Enables Sharp Images
A new revolutionary AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating is accomplished through Tamron’s proprietary deposition technology that addresses the difficulty of applying uniformed coating using existing technology. Now the coating can be applied uniformly edge to edge, even if the convex surface has a strong curvature. As a result, the reflectance and color rendition at the peripheral part of the element is the same as the center. The new AX Coating, which is especially effective for wide-angle lenses that tend to let in harmful light from peripheral areas, effectively minimizes ghosting and provides outstanding uniform image clarity.

André Costantini

A Great AF Performance and Image Stabilization Bring out the Lens’s Optical Performance
In order to engage the full optical performance of the lens, it is essential to control the slightest blur and precise focusing. In this respect, the lens applies a Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), which includes two dedicated MPUs, one for lens system control including AF, and the other for vibration compensation processing. The AF drive uses proprietary Tamron technology, USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) providing high torque, response, and silent operation. Manual focus adjustments can be made on the fly with the lens’s Full-time Manual Focus Override system. The Model A041 has an improved VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism with vastly better image stabilization performance from the previous Model A012, now reaching 4.5 stops (CIPA standards). This enables sharper images over a wide range of photographic situations, including indoor and outdoor shots as well as landscape photography at stopped-down aperture settings.

Bastian Werner

The Rear Filter Holder Enables Greater Creative Flexibility
A filter holder that allows you to attach gelatin filters to the rear side of the lens is included as a standard feature (for Canon EF-mount only). You can now shoot with filters much more easily, traditionally rather difficult when shooting with ultra-wide-angle lenses with large front lens elements.

Ken Hubbard

12 years ago this month I was made redundant and left my job as The Network Operations Manager for UK company Virgin Media. It was the third time I had been made redundant, always pretty much to company restructures, deep joy, we have all been there these days, and I made the decision as I switched off the office lights and closed the door for the last time that I would never put my fate and future in the hands of a single company again as an employee. I have had some great jobs but when you have a family and all the rest that comes with that you have to take a step back sometimes and look at where you are going in this life and really ask yourself is that where you want to end up…

I am a firm believer that we only have a short time on this earth and life is precious so use your time wisely, always!

I sat down in my dining room for 5 days and constructed and drafted a business plan for a brand new business called ‘AmbientLife’. It was possibly one of the hardest things I had ever done and was nerve racking because I had approached people to ask their thoughts and so many said that it was unlikely to succeed and was too ambitious. I had comments like, ‘aren’t you too old to start a new business’ and ‘sounds great but the chances you will succeed are pretty much zero to nothing’. The thing is I believe in ‘me’, I always have and I always will. I am very happy to take advice and listen to people but at the end of the day it is my life and not theirs and it is my belief that if you really want to achieve something in life and your prepared to work your butt off to make that happen then the chances are a lot higher than zero!

A few people out there might be reading this and it is really hitting a cord, I guess in many ways my life has been colourful and my background has a lot to do with the person I am today and the way that I view what is possible if you are really dedicated and you believe in yourself.

I did an interview with Kalebra recently and perhaps that might shed some light on where I came from to where I am today.

I worked hard and I pushed forward, I am still pushing forward today and hand on heart I can say that being made redundant and making that decision to follow a path in life that I believed in was the very best thing that ever happened to me as it gave me the kick to start something new for myself, follow my dreams and hopes, as well as give me massive fulfillment in that one area of life that we often overlook, to have a real purpose…

I am blessed that I am married to an amazing woman who I love completely, a person who is my best friend and who is very much also my rock in life.

We have two children, both boys, so yes I am a constant referee lol, and we also have a small dog called Edster that thinks is is a child… Life is amazing.

12 years on I am pretty well known for what I do, or at least I would like to think so lol, and work is great. I love what I do and I love the people that I get to meet, and the opportunities that present themselves along that journey. People sometimes say to me that I am lucky, I don’t believe in luck, I believe that the harder you work the luckier you seem to get. I don’t class myself as a great photographer but I do think that I work hard to improve year on year and that is what is important to me. Even though I can be literally all over the world shooting work for clients the money that generates means that I can enjoy extended periods at home with my family and doing other things that also feed my soul, in essence its a balance.

There will be a people who read this and say yeah that all sounds great ‘but’…. Truth is there are no ‘buts’ in life only those that you choose to put there yourself. If you want to think outside the box consider the fact that there might be no box at all only the one that you have in your mind…

Of course all this sounds great but hey its not that easy is it, no it is not easy at all, and that is where belief really matters, small steps, small goals, enjoy those and celebrate them each and every time!

When circumstance or life comes and throws you a curve ball then be ready to acknowledge that it not only happened but also that it will happen again,  it really matters how you choose to deal with that as it will always impact on the outcome. I know loads of photographers that sit drinking coffee all day in coffee bars hooked up to the wifi bitching on about how there is no money in photography anymore and its all impossible, the truth is that these people are just wasting their time putting up the walls around their own hopes and dreams. If you really want something in life you will achieve it, if you don’t then your likely to come up with a whole bunch of excuses as to why you couldn’t do it so that you can feel better about that, harsh I know but true I think. The people that we lie the most to in life is ourselves…

I have never looked back since I started following my dreams and there have been some amazing highs, it is also fair to say that there have also been some pretty desperate lows as with anything in life but I don’t regret a single choice I made, because I made those choices for myself, for the right reasons and for things that I believed in and not for anybody else.

Today I can say, AmbientLife – I made that happen.

I speak a lot about ‘business’ and photography and having the right mindset in life but don’t get me wrong I am not prefect and things do not just go right all the time, I guess in many ways the measure of who you are inside and how you life your life can often be seen by how we deal with disappointments and failures. You can not have a rainbow without a little rain…

Having recently turned 50, yes I know 50!!! Where the hell did that come from lol! I celebrated that milestone by gong on a  road trip through the Rockies in Canada, which was on fire again, but hey we had a laugh and had an adventure and made some more amazing memories and that is what counts.

I do believe that there are things in life that are essential to consider. If you start a business just to earn lots of money the chances are that you are doing it for the wrong reasons and I know a lot of people who are workaholics and live in mansions literally but most of them are not that happy and never see their families. Money is a by product of a successful business and we all need it to live but you should not become a slave to it, instead consider how wealthy you are in your soul, what I mean by that is simply ask yourself, ‘am I truly happy’. Do you get to spend the time that you would like doing the things that you love and with those people that you love, if the answer is no then take a step back and think about if that is going to ever change on the road that you are currently on. You can change and you can in fact do anything you want to if you really are committed and believe that you can. I am fascinated by human nature and it is often said that man does not really ever really push a big change in his life until the moment that he is stood at the edge staring into the abyss and at that point it is usually too late, remember that your blessed to be alive and use the time you have to do and become the person that you believe that you want to be.

If all this has rang a bell then that’s great, maybe your sat there right now thinking, ‘hey that is how I feel’ The greatest gift that you should now consider is that ‘you’ have the ability inside you and the opportunity to do something about it. Nothing ever was achieved ever in the world until somebody sat up and had that moment where they said to themselves ‘I and going to try’ If you put that off then you will never make that first and very important step. Sometimes you will run, sometimes you will crawl and there will be moments, lots of them, the you feel like your standing still or even worse you’re going backwards. When this happens you have one thing to do and one thing only, believe, do it for you because you deserve that.

I hope that this helps somebody out there and if you would like to spend some time with some straight talking guy with a funny British accent talking about the steps to starting out a business in photography or even if you have already started and your looking for some tips and a slightly different viewpoint of how to get from A to B then feel free to check out my two classes on this along with a whole load of other stuff on lighting, shooting and a look at how I work.

Thanks a lot to Tim Wallace for that, you can learn more about him on his website, on KelbyOne or on his Instagram and Facebook