Some people assume that the Control Point technology found in Capture NX2 and Nik Viveza is something you use to make radical image adjustments, like changing the color of a sky. Not so. In fact, some of the most powerful adjustments I make with Control Points are subtle ones, intended to accentuate a subject against its background. The image above is an example of where I used Color Control Points (in this case, in Capture NX2) to enhance the subject.
Here is the original image without the Control Point adjustments:
Notice that the background is rather bright. I placed four Color Control Points on the image in Capture NX2 (you could also use Viveza or Viveza 2 if you use Photoshop, Aperture, or Lightroom).
For the three Control Points in the background, I reduced brightness, contrast and saturation. On the fourth Control Point, which I placed on the bird, I increased brightness and contrast very slightly. The end result is that the subject now pops from the background a little better than before.
If you would like more information on Capture NX2 and Control Points, check my website for educational materials, or contact me for a private lesson.
To see my gallery of images from the Everglades, click here!
Thank you again for your tutorials. I continue to struggle with mastering the use of NX2, so every little bit helps!
Jason:
What a great group of images! What I would like to see is the meta data. Is that easily available?
George
I’ve never made a comment on photography on the internet before, but I’ll make an exception.
I just saw your Everglade pictures and I think they are very, very good!
Whaw !!!
Really beautiful colors, warmth, positions, cropping
marc
Well Jason, a super small article which shows again how well U-poitn technology is, and how well you master Capture NX.
You made some truly stunning Everglade pictures.
Really Inspiring!
Ruud
Jason – This is a great tip. Moose Perterson devotes a chapter to “Making the Subject Pop” in one of his books. This is the easiest way I have found to make a subject pop. I use color control points to edit lighting and color of both my subject and my background.
Jason,agreat tip! I used it today to on something as boring as advertising a piece of land we have that was surrounded by dark overhanging trees.
I was able to “lighten up” the shadows to reveal detail without destroying the foreground.
I have really benefited from your “e-book”.