Our buddy Gavin Seim, at Seim Effects, has been keeping busy. The new Natural HDR 5 pack released not long ago, and now he's just updated Filmist to version 2.4. As we do, let's dive in, take a look at some of what's new, and share some results.
Natural HDR 5
Natural HDR aims to extract high dynamic range from single files, while maintaining a natural scene. Gavin calls this "true-dynamic range". He says, it's "about creating an HDR that represents real light and shadow. From flat shade to the hardest sunset light, and while maintaining detail and real contrast." Because, "overdone HDR methods often result in nasty edits."
I have mostly abandoned HDR bracketing techniques, as well as single-image tone mapping, because the results are usually pretty offensive, at least to my tastes.
So, let's take a look at some images processed using Natural HDR 5.
Sunny Day Carnival preset
Here's a blown out sunset on Rangiroa, a great test for single-image HDR, and I feel like the Sunny Day Carnival sunset really is doing the image justice, while keeping the impact of HDR very natural, almost subtle. With the highlight compression in the sky, and shadows boosted on the beach, this really is closer to what I saw with my eye.
HDR OceanScape III preset
Meanwhile, the HDR OceanScape III preset adds drama to this version of the image, without pushing the processing into the realm of uncanny HDR. Processing here was two clicks on presets, and a single slider adjustment.
A few minutes later into that same sunset, facing the opposite direction, and HDR OceanScape III brings the drama once more.
People and Places
This image is a tough one. For the edit shown here, I've gone with the People and Places preset, followed by the Ai HDR Portrait Masks. Then, to combat the compression somewhat, I pulled blacks down a bit, and pushed the whites up slightly.
I think the presets flattened this image a bit too much. I'm quite pleased with how well my wife has been pulled out from the shadows, but the background scene has lost a lot of its vibrancy. I would not consider this a finished image, but I do think it's a better starting place.
So, let's keep going with this image, using the HDR edit as base for manual adjustments.
The HDR image was actually nicer to work from than I had expected. Not only was it a better baseline from a color perspective, but the AI masks created by the presets ended up being really useful. I was able to apply adjustments separately to the background, and to my wife, without having to manually create new masks. I ended up tweaking highlights and shadows, brightness and contrast, and shifting the image white balance. And I do like this final result!
My closing thoughts on Natural HDR 5
Overall, this is an impressive package. You can very quickly get impressive results using these presets, whether for a quick and dirty edit, or to establish an improved baseline for further work. I would be perfectly happy to use the sunset shots as they are, and got these results with just a few clicks, in almost no time at all.
The environmental portrait of my wife took more work, but the presets definitely sped things up.
Filmist 2.4
Filmist has long been my favorite amongst Gavin's preset packs, and I know it is in particular a passion project for him. I think his interest in it really shows. I'm not aware of any other preset creator who's put so much work into a pack of presets, continually refining them, obsessing over them, over such a long span of time.
Version 2.4 brings 3rd generation updates to Kodachrome and Velvia 100, Portra 160, 400 and 800, and more! Looking at the list of presets tagged with "2.4", it seems to be a really substantial update.
But it's the new Kodachrome 64 that Gavin has chosen to headline this pack; we'll start there.
KODAChrome 64 Gen.3
Already, I am here for it. Using the Kodachrome preset as base, I added one more mod from the included Chemkit presets, then bumped the exposure and saturation. Done. I love it.
But does it sunset?
It sunsets! But I also what to try this image with KODAChrome 200.
I honestly don't know which version I prefer, but I do like them both very much.
F Velvia 100 Gen.3
I shoot Fujifilm cameras, and these have long has a Velvia film simulation of their own. And I hate it. I hate it so much, and I never, ever use it. Once in a while, it works well, but it's too few hits and far too many misses for me to dial it into my camera with any regularity. It is easily the Fujifilm film simulation that I like and use the least.
Gavin's F Velvia 100 hits very different. Consider these comparisons.
I chose this image of a crab specifically for the vibrant colors. I am admittedly unfamliiar with the original Velvia film stock, so I only know this as Fujifilm's "VIVID" film simulation.
The first set is the unprocessed raw, then the Fujifilm Velvia simulation applied in Capture One Pro. This isn't a perfect rendition of what the camera's internal processor would render, but I reckon it's close enough. And as much as I dislike the Velvia film simulation, it's actually not bad in this case.
In second set, we compare the unprocessed raw to the F Velvia 100 Gen.3 preset in Filmist, and it's just very different. Not better, and not bad, but different. I really like what it does to the water, and the way that it subdues the algae growing on the rocks; I think those things look better and truer to life. But I am surprised at how it reduces the vibrancy of the reds in the crab. The reds are what drew me to the crab in the first place, and I think both the unprocessed raw and Fujifilm Velvia versions of the image are truer to my eye for those reds.
How the actual film stock would have handled those reds, that I cannot guess.
By making manual adjustments to the red and orange color channels, I can pretty easily get to an image that is the best of all worlds.
Here, I've restored vibrancy to the crab, but the water, rock and algae all benefit from the F Velvia 100 presets treatment. This final version of the image really works for me.
My closing thoughts on Filmist 2.4
I already loved the Filmist presets, and they keep getting better. The new gen revisions in 2.4 are welcome advancements, and I am very much looking forward to spending more time with them.
But I need to nitpick the reds, because this isn't the first time I've felt the Filmist presets doing reds dirty. If anything, it's a common refrain when I'm singing Filmist's praises.
Might be these are accurate color renditions, each compared to the film stock being emulated. I don't have Gavin's wealth of film shooting experience to which to make such comparisons. I have shot film, but mostly long ago, and then not with the eye that I have now.
But it's the red of the crab that drew me to photograph it, and its red is the reason I wanted to throw these presets at it, Velvia in particular.
When it comes to Fujifilm's built-in Velvia simulation, I often find it boosting reds into clip, ruining them in sort of the opposite way. The F Velvia 100 preset seems to suck the red out, like a vampire draining its victim of their blood and rosy complexion.
And it's not just F Velvia 100; I've noticed similar behavior from other presets in the bunch. But this is one concern amongst much praise, and -- as I've said -- I'm uncertain it's even a valid complaint.
In any case, it's a "problem" with a fairly simple solution: boost the red sliders, and sometimes the orange. What I ought to do is simply fashion my own "Red Pop!" preset as an on-demand counter to Filmist's handling of red. Done deal.
Otherwise, I use Filmist often, I like using Filmist a lot, and I am constantly impressed by Gavin's dedication to driving it forward. I've always given it a strong recommendation, and the 2.4 update strengthens that recommendation further.
Get'em!
Disclosure. Gav didn't ask me to write this; I did ask him for a copy of Natural HDR 5, and I already had Filmist 2. Can't remember whether he gifted me that, or I paid for it. I've paid for some things, and not others. In any case, it's always up to me whether I want to write about things or not, and what to say about them. I do have affiliate links, so might get some kickback if you purchase the presets clicking through from here. But makes no difference to me if you want to go directly to Seim Effects and cut me out.
Natural HDR 5 is currently on discount for New Years, if you're reading this roundabout the publish date. Regardless the time of year, you can save 20% buying Seim's presets by using the code TTG20 at checkout.
Here are my links: