Rafael Concepcion - The HDR Book: Unlocking the Pros Hottest Post-Processing Techniques

Unlocking the Pros Hottest Post-Processing Techniques

Rafael RC Concepcion

The HDR Book Team

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Felix Nelson

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Jessica Maldonado

TECHNICAL EDITORS
Kim Doty
Cindy Snyder

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR
Kim Gabriel

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Dave Damstra

PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Rafael RC Concepcion

PUBLISHED BY
Peachpit Press

Copyright 2011 by Kelby Corporate Management, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Composed in Ronnia and Rockwell by Kelby Media Group, Inc.

Trademarks

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Peachpit Press cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in the book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

Photoshop is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Photoshop Lightroom is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
HDR Efex Pro is a registered trademark of Nik Software, Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Warning and Disclaimer

This book is designed to provide information about high dynamic range photography and photo-processing techniques. Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty of fitness is implied.

The information is provided on an as-is basis. The author and Peachpit Press shall have neither the liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book or from the use of the discs or programs that may accompany it.

ISBN 10: 0-321-77689-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-321-77689-1

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed and bound in the United States of America

www.peachpit.com

www.kelbytraining.com

To my mother, Cristela Concepcion. I love all of the moments that you and I spend together for one very selfish reason: when I step on a stage and shine as bright as you say I do, I get to tell the whole world that I am your son. I love you.

Para mi madre, Cristela Concepcion. Me encanta todos los momentos que usted y yo pasamos juntos, por una razn egoista: cuando yo me presento a cualiquer sitio y hago xito, me da el orgullo de decir que soy hijo suyo. La quiero mucho, mama.

This book was written on the shoulders of so many incredible people. While the list of people that Id want to thank specifically would be a book in and of itself, Im going to try to do the best that I can to keep it as short as possible.

To my father, Rafael Concepcion, who has since passed on. Im sure hes looking down, smiling at what he was able to create, and Im grateful to him for raising me with a sense of right and wrong, and giving me the intelligence to choose.

To my brothers, Victor, Everardo, Jesus, and baby bro Tito, for being there when Ive needed them. A special thanks goes out to my brother Carlos and his wife Vicky. One conversation with Carlos changed the course of what Ive done, and Im grateful for that. Last, but not least, to my brother Dave: youve been a sounding board and confidant for so long, it is hard to imagine a time when I wasnt with you.

To my uncle Rene, who is always a trusted advisor in my life. To my sister Daisy Concepcion and Norman Wechsler, who always believed I would be able to achieve great things. To Jim and Danielle Bontempi, the best in-laws one could ever ask for. To Merredith Bontempi and Tim Ruymen for being so supportive. Erin and Bill Irvine round out a great family that Im thankful for.

Ive been blessed with great friends. Jennifer Vacca and Lucy Cascio at Zoot Shoot Photog-raphers gave me my start in a studio. Charlie Enxuto and Steve Zimic taught me so much at Split Image Photo. Annie Gambina of New Horizons let me wreak havoc in her classrooms. Matt Davis has always been a great cheerleader and sounding board. Ive received inspiration and sage advice from Brigitte and Debbie Calisti. Ive spent days on end laughing with Kyle Robinson and his wife Teresa. Bruce Disco McQuiston and I shared many a tender moment listening to Enigma. Mike McCarthy will forever be one of the funniest guys I know. Jane Caracciolo has been the person whom Id call in the middle of the night to answer the most complex of problems. Her mother Jane Caracciolo, Sr., will forever be known as my second motherone whom I love immensely. To Andrea Barrett: I miss you! Matt Wanners a heck of a firefighter, and an even better writer and friend. Then theres Jeremy Sulzmann and Mohammed al Mossawi, two of my mates while living in Germany. Here are two friends I can call on to fly around the world (or share a tube ride) to meet me in London for just one night.

To my Tampa crew: Alan and Nicolle Brusky, Kathy Porupski, Jim Sykes, Erik Valind, David Rogers, Michael Sheehan, Keith Winn, Rob Herrera, Scott Krebs, Dan Underwood, Tony Gomes, Emily Haskin, and Wendy Weiss, who gets to pull double duty as my photography buddy and doctor. You couldnt imagine what an office visit is like now!

A special thanks goes out to Yolanda, Neil, and the Corteo family for being such great friends to us here in Tampa (and for having the best pizza around).

To Bonnie Scharf: Ive known you for over 18 years, and youre like a sister to me. Fortunately for me, youve been there through thick and thin. Unfortunately for you, youve had to put up with me for that long!

To Albert J. Fudger: you are my best friend. Ive talked to you on a daily basis for over 16 years and theres not been a time when I have not been laughing through it. Thank you for letting me write this book on your kitchen table. An even bigger thanks for being the friend that you are to me and my family. Boop!

This book would not have been possible without the guidance and tutelage of Scott Kelby. I met Scott several years ago, and still keep a picture of that meeting to this day. While Im grateful for his experience and skill at being the best in the business, Im an even bigger admirer of his grace, candor, goodwill, trust, and unbending dedication to his friends and his family. Hes an awesome mentor, and he and his wife Kalebra are models for what true friends and dedicated Christians should be. For that, I am forever grateful.

Im privileged to have Moose Peterson as a mentor and friend. Through countless meetings, youve served as a photographic compass for me. You and Sharon will always be near and dear to our family for that.

Ive been inspired by Joe McNallys work for longer than Ive been using Photoshop. To be able to count him and his wife, Annie, as trusted friends and mentors has been one of the best gifts a person could ask for.

To Bert Monroy: you embody what it means to be brilliant at Photoshop. Thank you for being a great friend and inspiration to me.

Then theres my family at Kelby Media Group. To my editors, Cindy Snyder and Kim Doty: thank you for chiseling and polishing this book to perfection. To Jessica Maldonado: youre the best book designer in the business! To Kathy Siler, for always making me smile! To Felix Nelson, our Creative Director: thank you for steering this ship on top of the five thousand other things youre busy amazing people with. To Justin Finley and Tommy Maloney: you guys are aces in the design and programming biz. Thanks for all of your help. To Brad Moore: thanks for being such a great sounding board and lunch partner. To our IT director, Paul Wilder: thanks for keeping me up and running, and letting me run my experiments on the computer. To Dave Moser: thank you for being our fearless leader, and such a wonderful friend.