Galleraki Nights

[Pete Askew]

Here are a few of the main low light series that Hamish was referring to. All taken at about 3AM in a very, very dimly lit bar on Mykonos. This pushed the D3 to its limits even with a f 1/1.4 lens and a slow shutter speed but I liked the overall effect and reminded me very much of shooting with HP5 pushed ISO 3200.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I do like these buddy!
You gotta love the d3's way of dealing with noise!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Very moody - the noise police will hang you and have a fit about pattern noise etc etc

I have no time for 'em - Nice captures!

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Chris, thanks Hamish. It's interesting 'cos the pattern noise shows up much more in the jpegs (I guess due to the compression algorithms). These were PP'd in LR only as a cream tone. I haven't had a chance to take them through the PS / SilverFX route which is what I plan. I suspect I can mask much of the pattern noise via that route. Even so, it is amazing that I got usable shots at all given the conditions (I kept about half of the shots). If I can find time later today I will see what can be done; it will be an interesting comparison. I will also try taking them through CaptureOne to see what effect that has.

 

[Pete Askew]

Here's a version of one of the images processed in an alternative manner. The raw conversion as done in CaptureOne (no real improvement in pattern noise) to a monochrome TIFF. Noise reduction was done using Nik Define 2 in PS CS5 and the resulting file was converted using a Tin Type simulation in Nik SilverFX 2 using Delta 3200 with 25% increase in grain size to simulate pushed film. Slight desaturation and border in PS.

LR Conversion for comparison.

 

[Vic Shaw]

I liked this set, again another set that needs to be framed to enjoy them fully

Vic

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Vic. At this rate I'm going to have to buy a bigger house to fit them in - or a very long corridor!

 

[Paul Lange]

Very interesting shots especially with the movement blur as well as the grain. I'm just trying to work out what that woman is doing with her arms cocked up in that funny position.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well, if it helps, someone is holding the other end of her scarf!!

 

[Paul Lange]

Ah I get it now, I thought that it was the guys forearm. Now I'm stuck on the thing in the woman's hand on the 7th shot, looks like a huge spliff.

 

[Pete Askew]

Just a straw from her cocktail I'm afraid!!

 

[Paul Lange]

That's hardly rock n roll Pete is it. I thougt you were a party animal.

 

[Pete Askew]

I didn't say what I was holding (apart from a D3 that is)!!

 

[Tim Pindar]

I love the "verite" feel to these shots - I actually prefer the former versions where the noise feels like film grain. (We all love film grain, don't we?)

 

[Pete Askew]

We do indeed! I know what you mean though Tim. I did increase the grain in the second version betond what the film simulation would have normally (to simulate it being pushed) but I think I should have gone further. I think it should be coarser still to match the lighting and mood.

 

[Darren Bradley]

I quite like the shots, as well, and the graininess is welcome here. But if you can neutralize the pattern noise, that'd be even better.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Darren. Using a slightly more involved B&W conversion helped but, as I said to Tim, I should have push the grain size and contrast up a bit further. The conversion to jpeg undoes the masking of the pattern noise a bit for reason. I need to go back to them again and see what they are like printed.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I like these even more now ...

 

[Pete Askew]

I've got a stack more if you can take it!

 

[Ahmad Bhai]

Some lovely moments, grain (noise) just adds to the atmosphere.
When i first started digital photography i must admit i was a no noise junky, these days ive had my rehab & i get quite high when i see grain in images,