On my recent trip up to the Mallee, I went to the Wyperfield National Park.  Those of you who follow my blog will remember the photos, I’m sure.  I did an image of dead trees, and I also did a post on the massive sand dune that you can find there.  I know I only did the images recently, but with the fun I have been having with Silver Efex, I thought I should see what I could do with these images.

Many of you seemed to like this image the first time I did it, however, I never did it in Black and White, but I thought I would do it this time.  I wanted to see if any of the presets in Silver Efex Pro 2 by Nik Software would change the drama of the image, or add more drama.

I have been enjoying seeing what this software can do to change an image.  I like what it has done to this one.  I like that the grass on the ground could be dead or alive.  It is up to you to decide if this is a barren landscape.

This image was taken across the road and sort of behind the other image.  The clouds add a lot more drama.  This is not an image I have shown you before.  There isn’t a lot of colour in this image.

I have been playing with the presets a lot, and the effects that different films can give you.  I am going to have to start writing down what I do so I can record it here, for me, as well as for you.  I know I have fallen in love with the structure presets.

I did very similar with this image, but I played with the burning tool, one I will be using again.

This image was taken on the top of the sand dune Snowdrift.  It is a well known landmark in that area.  I was happy to find it, not happy after climbing it, it is hard work.  I would like to go back one day, at a different time of the day and see what else I can do there.

The Silver Efex gave the image so much more drama.  In the original image, you tend to focus on the sky, whereas in the black and white one, I think, your eye is drawn more to the sand dune and what is left of the tree on the top.

This is at the bottom of the Sand Dune, I really like this image.  There is something so dramatic about it.  I also think, that out of all of the images I have shown you, this one has had the most dramatic change, by taking out the colour.

Silver Efex, especially by enhancing the structure, has given the sky a lot more drama.  The grasses around the bottom become almost barren as well, there is no life in them.

I know I thought that a two week trial was not enough time to get addicted to a product, but I am starting to see I was wrong about that.  I am addicted.

I have done my reworking a little different today, I wonder if you think that each image has been enhanced more by what has been done to them.

Bag and Camera Gear

I moved into my new bag today.

This image is what my old bag looked like.  I think you can see that not everything would fit into it.  It was a Lowepro Mini Trekker, and it had been a great bag, but the last few years, I have realised, it was too small, I grew out of it.

I needed a new bag.  I showed the photo yesterday of my new bag.  The Tamrac Expedition 7 is so well constructed, and I am in awe of it.  I am really looking forward to taking it out.

I managed to fit everything in it, which is fantastic.  I don’t have to decide what to take and what not to take when I go out.  Though I am going to have to do some walks with it so my legs can get used to the weight.

There it is, standing up, with everything in it.  My last bag wouldn’t stand like this.  I like that it just stands there.  I also like the my tripod fits very comfortably on it.  You can also see the waterbottle holder on the side.

I wouldn’t have any problems at all recommending a Tamrac bag to anyone now.  Their customer service is fantastic.

For those of you in Australia, the bags are available here, and if you go to C.R.Kennedy & Co website, they are the Australian Distributors, you can get a list of the camera stores that stock Tamrac bags and accessories.