INSANE... 6X CROP + 6X UPSCALE rescued with Topaz Photo AI
Education
Introduction
Hello everyone, I'm Chris Parker from Parker Photographic. Today, I want to share my journey of rescuing an image that I couldn't capture as envisioned while shooting burrowing owls in Florida. Despite having a great lens and camera equipment, the circumstances prevented me from getting the perfect shot. This article will detail how I used Topaz Photo AI to achieve the composition I had in mind.
The Dilemma
On my recent trip to Florida, I photographed burrowing owls. While I captured numerous fantastic images, one particular shot eluded me. I desired a very tight crop focusing on the owl's intense eyes, but the original image straight out of the camera wasn't satisfactory.
The Original vs. Final Image
The initial image was lacking in detail and had considerable digital noise. Despite cropping the image in Lightroom, the final result was soft, and the resolution dropped significantly. The crop was extreme, reducing it to a mere 500 by 750 pixels, which is not usable for social media or prints.
I was using a Nikon Z6 with a 200-500mm lens at its maximum zoom of 500mm. With the camera in crop mode, I had a reach of 750mm. I even had a teleconverter with me but forgot to take it. The owls were too far for a good shot, and I couldn't approach them without disturbing their habitat.
Turning to AI Technology
Realizing I couldn't get closer to the owls, I had to resort to AI technology to achieve my desired shot. The file after an extreme crop had limitations, so I turned to Topaz Photo AI to upscale and enhance the image quality.
Editing with Topaz Photo AI
In Topaz Photo AI, I started with my original RAW file. After selecting to create a TIFF file, I applied a 6X upscale instead of the default. This increased my resolution significantly to 3000 by 4500 pixels, suitable for social media and printing at various sizes.
Topaz Photo AI also allowed me to adjust noise reduction settings. Since noise was noticeable, I utilized various strength and detail sliders to effectively manage digital noise while enhancing feather detail.
Bringing Back Feather Detail in Photoshop
After exporting from Topaz, I opened the new TIFF file in Photoshop. To maintain a non-destructive workflow, I created a new layer and utilized the AI-based removal tool to restore feather details that noise reduction had inadvertently blurred.
The result was fantastic—bringing back intricate feather textures and enhancing the intensity of the eyes to create the image I had envisioned.
Conclusion
In the end, I achieved the desired composition without investing in incredibly expensive telephoto lenses. Instead, the key was utilizing affordable AI software to enhance what I had captured. For those looking to elevate their photography and rescue high-quality images, I highly recommend giving Topaz Photo AI a try. You can find a link in the description to get a discount and a free trial.
Keyword
- Burrowing owls
- Topaz Photo AI
- Image rescue
- Noise reduction
- Feather detail
- TIFF file
- Upscale
- Photography techniques
- Non-destructive editing
FAQ
Q1: What is Topaz Photo AI?
A1: Topaz Photo AI is an image enhancement software that uses AI technology for noise reduction, upscaling, and sharpening images.
Q2: Can I use Topaz Photo AI for wildlife photography?
A2: Yes, Topaz Photo AI works well for wildlife photography as it can help recover details and enhance images that were not captured perfectly due to distance or movement.
Q3: How can I improve soft images in editing?
A3: You can use software like Topaz Photo AI to upscale the resolution and reduce noise, which can enhance details in soft images.
Q4: Is it necessary to have expensive equipment for getting great photos?
A4: No, while expensive equipment can help, utilizing AI technology and good editing software can rescue and enhance photos, regardless of the initial quality.
Q5: Where can I try Topaz Photo AI?
A5: You can try Topaz Photo AI via the link provided in the description, which also offers a free trial and discounts.
