I have discovered Color Efex Pro, and I love it. I love it just as much as I do Silver Efex Pro which I use all the time when editing for black and white. I don’t edit my photos that much because I still have not gotten into Photoshop or other programs. So, these presets are a great way for me to give my images a fresh look and a start at creativity. I do work on them after I apply the preset.

I’ve been using Color Efex on my outdoor landscapes. You’ll see some of it when I start posting my Kauai pictures (I still have the last day to edit.). I can see the opportunity. I can compose the image. I can do the basic editing. But, when it comes to giving the image that creative touch, I’m unable to do it on my own. I can’t see the final image in my mind, let alone know how to get it there! In comes the preset or profile. They give me ideas to jump off on. Then, away I go. Maybe with practice, I can do it on my own in Photoshop with layers, filters and more.

Every year, I promise myself that I’ll get into Photoshop, but it never happens. Life takes up the time I’ve set aside. I remember when I ran my home-based business, and I actually blocked off office time. I’ll have to do that for studying processing. It’s not only Photoshop, I’ve got other programs that I haven’t learned.

In the meantime, I’m so happy with the Nik collection. Take a look at a recent outing to the Capitol Building in Sacramento and the beautiful tree on the front lawn.

This was the first shot I took that evening. The clouds were great. Color Efex helped make them greater.
Of course I had to get the reflection on the tree ornaments.
Another shot of our beautiful Capitol Building.
I couldn’t resist shooting other buildings.
The clouds were so perfect.
Inside, shooting up into the rotunda.
Another shot.
Christmas decorations.
Another shot.
A little fun with zooming, handheld.
Up on the second floor.
At dusk on the front lawn.
Getting darker.
A dramatic edit.

8 thoughts on “Discovery: Christmas at the Capitol Building, Sacramento”

  3. DxO is a company that sells programs. They’re out of France. When NIK folded, Google bought the collection and gave it away free. That’s when I got it. I’ve loved working with Silver Efex. When DxO bought it from Google, they no longer supported the free version I bought it when I thought the price had hit rock bottom. Just this month, I started using the Color Efex portion of the software. It’s great. There’s 2 other portions of the software that I haven’t checked out yet. A word of caution, I’ve heard that DxO is in trouble and may fold, meaning they’ll be unable to support their software. I thought it was worth the $35. risk.

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