Silver Efex Pro 2 - the Nik Collection

I recall years ago when I purchased my first DSLR, I was in a quandary about which editing software I should use.

As I started to search the Internet, one programme that stood out to me was Silver Efex Pro.  I used to search for photos edited in Silver Efex Pro; it seemed to be the very software that I was looking for.  It had all that I wanted for converting my photos to Black & White apart from just hitting a 'convert' button on some generic programme that came pre-loaded on Windows 95.  It did make it difficult, however, that the software was developed in the USA.  I searched the shops here in Australia but it seemed that no one had it available.

As a couple of years went by, I began to note that it was but one of a few photo editing programmes developed by a company called Nik Software, owned by private investors plus the camera giant Nikon.   Finally, about 9 years ago (or thereabouts), thanks to an article I found online, I was able to purchase the entire Nik Collection via internet download for $149.  I jumped at it and have never looked back.

In 2012, Google purchased The Nik Collection along with popular Nik Software programme 'Snapseed'.  A short while later, Google was giving away the Nik Collection for free!  Whilst many photographers were dancing in the streets about that news, it was dampened by the news only a short time later that Google was not going to upgrade the Nik Collection and that it planned to discontinue the software.  I believe that the reasoning for this was that Google wanted people to use the Snapseed programme and also use the on line editing for its new formed Google Photos page.  

A lot of sad photographers over the world realised that, with the advent of new operating systems and 64 bit processing, the Nik Collection would gradually become defunct if not upgraded.

But there was to be a reprieve on the horizon.  Once Google announced it was not updating the Nik Collection, enter DxO, a company already known for its advanced image processing tech.  DxO acquired the Nik Collection.  They were able to update the source code to make it compatible with modern Operating Systems and as plugins for other photo editing software.

Silver Efex Pro is great software for black & white conversion.  It emulates many of the effects and skills of the darkroom through preset functions.  These presets are not written in stone though, each one comes with slide controllers for a finer adjustment which means that I can take a generic preset and adjust it exactly to my liking.  I can also save any changes to a personal preset and keep it for later use.  It also uses 'U-Point' technology that allows for localised adjustments within a photo without having to adjust the entire photo.

Now that I have given you that little snippet of Nik Collection history, have a look at how I put it to use.

So, about a week or so ago, I was at a loose end.  We have been having the worst Summer heat wave that I have seen for years!  As a result I'd been hibernating inside in the air conditioning to escape the heat and the Sun.  I sat down at the computer and decided that I was going to re-visit some files and re-edit them in black & white with Silver Efex Pro.

My favourite preset in Silver Efex Pro is definitely the Film Noir 1 preset.  It enhances the contrast of the original file, and puts a level of grain into the photo that reminds me of Ilford Delta 3200 film.  Sometimes I keep the grain because it has a certain air of nostalgia about it.  The preset also puts a white border around the photo, reminiscent of the old style prints printed in a dark room as opposed to an electronic machine.  I remove the white frame because I prefer the subject of my photo to go right to the edge.  Also around the edge of the frame is a vignette that can be adjusted to represent either a burn or dodge process.  The software also offers a selection of film types; mimicking the results that would be found if processing from film. It also comes with a range of colour tones that can enhance a photo to make it look old.

Here are the results of that mini project that kept me busy for a few days.

These photos can be made available as prints.  Contact me if interested.

Copyright © Life with Jordy Photography

All Rights Reserved

2012 Pittwater to Port Stephens Yacht Race.  The yachts stopped over in Newcastle
for the night.
Port Hunter, Newcastle, Australia

2012 Pittwater to Port Stephens Yacht Race.  Yachts jostle for position prior to the start of
the 2nd leg of the race from - Newcastle, Australia

2012 Pittwater to Port Stephens Yacht Race.  Yachts racing out to sea for the final leg.
Port Hunter, Newcastle, Australia

May 2011.  A famous Newcastle icon building on the left; The Star Hotel.
 It has since been renovated and is looking wonderful with al fresco dining
outside of a night in the laneway.
Devonshire Street, Newcastle, Australia

May 2011.  This entire area has been renovated since and looks totally different today!
Newcastle, Australia

May 2011.  This entire area has been renovated since and looks totally different today!
Newcastle, Australia

Rainforest - Dorrigo National Park, Dorrigo, Australia.

The applying of the black & white effect on this has it reminding me of a
French Provincial scene.  It is
actually just outside of Dorrigo, NSW, Australia

An awesome looking country fence!
Nymboida, Australia

Abandoned Farm House - Trenayr, NSW, Australia

Abandoned at Trenayr, NSW, Australia

New Life for an old Camera - Yashica EE Rangefinder

Well, a post about this camera has been a long time coming!

This Yashica EE with Yashinon 45mm f1.9 lens belonged to Kims Dad.  Ken used it quite a bit, for family photos and,  for slides from his overseas trips.  He gifted it to me when he found out that I still love to shoot with film.  So, even though it cost me nothing, there is no price to be put on the sentimental value of such (from what I can see) a rare camera.

It came in the original leather case, as most cameras from that era did.  This case has protected the camera very well over the years.  Nary a scratch on the metal and the leatherette is still in perfect condition.  

The Copal SVA shutter has settings from 1/500 sec through to Bulb (500, 250, 125, 60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, Bulb).  Aperture ranges from f1.9 to f16 and ISO is from 10 to 800.

I gave it the usual going over when I first got it; wind the crank, fire the shutter, check the workings inside.  The lens was free of mould but, as with a lot of older cameras, there was a problem with the shutter.  The shutter was working but would not open wider than about f16.  The shutter on older cameras can be a problem sometimes; not from a mechanical defect point of view but simply because a camera has sat unused for a long time.  Fine dust that has entered the camera throughout its life can settle and cause the shutter blades to jam.  Also, any lubricant initially used in the camera can dry over a period of time.  That, mixed with that fine dust, is what can jam a camera shutter.

The camera sat in my camera display case for a couple of years.  I was loathe to send it away for a service by mail, it being such a precious, sentimental thing, so I started searching on line for tips and tricks to try and find a solution I could apply at home.  

One such solution was that sometimes the shutter can stick because of a faulty or dirty timer spring.   I read a few accounts from other photographers who had had this problem and had fixed it by cleaning the timer spring which then had a flow on effect to the shutter workings.  I didn't want to take the lens apart so, I looked at the problem and came up with what I hoped would be a simplistic fix. 

First, I took my monster blower and blew out those areas of the lens that were open, where the controls for ISO, Flash setting and Timer appear out of the casing.  Once that cyclone had blown through, I flooded the timer spring gap from where the lever comes out of the lens casing with Isopropyl Alcohol and left it to works its cleaning wonders.  Isopropyl Alcohol is 90% proof and the good thing about it is that it cleans and then evaporates leaving no sticky residue. After about 4 hours, I started turning the aperture control ring and the aperture blades started moving!  I also noted that when I fired the shutter the timer lever started to move back to its proper setting.  For the next hour, I turned the aperture control ring and fired the shutter so that any remaining sticky stuff would wear out and loosen the blades even more.  I let the camera sit overnight; next morning the blades were stuck again but at a larger aperture setting.  Long story short, this is what I did for the next few days; spray and work the mechanisms.  It worked!  The aperture started working as it should and the timer lever reset itself.

I loaded a film and that is when I noticed the next problem, although, if you know how to work a camera manually and use a light meter, this is not a big problem.  The Yashica EE has Selenium Cells surrounding the lens.  For those not familiar with the tech specs for selenium cells, they are an electro magnetic instrument that are light sensitive and produce an electric current when exposed to light.  The resultant high or low current is determined by the brightness (or dullness) of the light around the subject.  The high/low current moves a needle within the viewfinder of the camera indicating over or under exposure.  Selenium meters degrade over the years to constant exposure to light and unfortunately the cells on this camera have past their use by date.  

This photo shows the Selenium Cells that surround the lens.

About time I mentioned the film I was using.  I chose Fomapan Classic 100 black and white film.  I love this film!  It is not as fine grained as some of the other modern B&W films I have used (Acros 100 comes to mind!) but although it is a more traditional grain, it can still give sharp renditions.  It also has a wonderfully classic, warm feel about it.  Like most films, it has a wide exposure latitude which allows a greater variance of exposure and still produces an acceptable photograph.

In memory of Ken Rendoth who recorded his life through the lens of this camera.

Copyright ©Life with Jordy Photography

All Rights Reserved

Kim & Barney.  Barneys fav toy is a floating yellow boomerang.
Booragul - Lake Macquarie, Australia.

Rocky running around with his fav toy!
Booragul - Lake Macquarie, Australia.

Barney is very happy running around with his toy and then jumping in the lake for a swim!
Booragul - Lake Macquarie, Australia.

Rocky loves to play fetch with his toy but he also loves trying to rip it apart as well!
Booragul - Lake Macquarie, Australia.

Barney loves to go swimming.  Luckily his toy floats!
Booragul - Lake Macquarie, Australia.

Rhiannans' Birthday.  Shot at f5.6 1/250

My girls - shot at f5.6 at 1/250.

Kasey - shot at f5.6 at 1/250

Architecture - Newcastle, Australia.

Hunter Street Mall - Newcastle, Australia.

The State Government removed the heavy rail line into Newcastle a few years ago.
The railway station has been renovated and turned into an open air events location.
This was taken on a very  hot, clear blue sky in the middle of the day.
See how the film still shows detail in the very bright area.  This is what they mean by the term
exposure latitude.  f4 at 1/60.
Newcastle, Australia.

The renovated railway station has a cafe now.  I haven't tried
their wares but will wait until the current heatwave has past!
f4 at 1/125
Newcastle, Australia.

Once the heavy rail line into Newcastle was closed, work started on a light rail tram system.
  It runs virtually the entire length of Hunter St and up into Scott St from a new constructed
transport interchange station at Wickham.  It has only just been finished and is now partially
operating as of a few days ago.  Might be interesting to have a day in Newcastle and ride the trams!     f11 at 1/250.
Scott Street, Newcastle, Australia.

Pacific Street, Newcastle, Australia.   f11  at  1/250.

Students take refuge in the Gazebo shade during the recent shocking heatwave we have
been experiencing in Australia.  f11  at  1/250.
Pacific Park - Newcastle, Australia.

Bar Petite and the East End Hub.  f11  at  1/250.
Newcastle, Australia.