GREAT NEWS! Google's Nik Collection Is Now FREE For Download!

On 24 March 2016 Thursday, Google announced that its desktop photo editing software, Nik Collection (worth USD$150), is now 100% FREE for download. What an awesome great news!

I got to know about Nik Softwares (originally known as) back in 2007 or 2008 and it was acquired by Google in late 2012, along with Nik's popular mobile photo editing app, Snapseed. Here's what Google wrote about this news.

“Today we’re making the Nik Collection available to everyone, for free. 

Photo enthusiasts all over the world use the Nik Collection to get the best out of their images every day. As we continue to focus our long-term investments in building incredible photo editing tools for mobile, including Google Photos and Snapseed, we’ve decided to make the Nik Collection desktop suite available for free, so that now anyone can use it. 

The Nik Collection is comprised of seven desktop plug-ins that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities -- from filter applications that improve color correction, to retouching and creative effects, to image sharpening that brings out all the hidden details, to the ability to make adjustments to the color and tonality of images.

Starting March 24, 2016, the latest Nik Collection will be freely available to download: Analog Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, Viveza, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro and Dfine. If you purchased the Nik Collection in 2016, you will receive a full refund, which we’ll automatically issue back to you in the coming days. We’re excited to bring the powerful photo editing tools once only used by professionals to even more people now. ”

My all-time favourite of Nik Collection is Silver Efex Pro which has a bunch of black and white presets to choose from and I can even tweak settings to achieve the results I wanted. Most often I use this plug-in for all of my color digital photographs, selectively, as some look great after B&W conversion. As for B&W film after I got them on high resolution scan, I would use Silver Efex Pro for further enhancement on tonalities.

Below are a few photos using Silver Efex Pro alone. I've yet to try out the other 6 plug-ins. All photos here are made with my Nikon D70s on wide angle and prime lens respectively.

OK! That's about it! Go get your FREE copy of Nik Collection plug-ins for Photoshop and Lightroom now! Keep shooting and tweaking to your heart's content.

LAST DAYS of the SUNGEI ROAD THIEVES' MARKET - A Teaser

COMING SOON

Street Photo - Visitor

Visitor

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on default mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0 without cropping

Street Photo - Alternate Way

Alternate Way

Seagull 205 RF on FujiFilm Neopan 400. Developed in 1:1 Kodak D76 for 500 seconds and scanned on Epson V700 with tonality adjustment in post.

Street Photo - Fashionista

Fashionista

Seagull 205 RF on FujiFilm Neopan 400. Developed in 1:1 Kodak D76 for 500 seconds and scanned in Epson V700 with minor adjustments in post.

Street Photo - CUSTOMAXXX ROAR

CUSTOMAXXX Chopper Bike

This is the first street photo post in 2016. Expect more to be posted here on this blog site so do subscribe and stay tuned for the latest updates.

OK here's a little story on how I got this street portraiture of this cool dude with a cool killer big chopper bike. It was in mid-2014 on a Sunday morning as I was walking along the sidewalk of Marina Bay Sands, I saw this guy riding on this strangely shaped bike. It reminds me of a Harley-Davidson-styled bike but this one is different. I told myself I wanted to take a few photos of him and his cool chopper bike but he rode away.

A few moments later, he came around and stopped to rest, and this is the only chance I got so I rushed up and approached him. I told him I'm a street photographer and I found his bike so unique and asked for his kind permission to take a few photographs. He smiled and gladly agreed.

After the photo shoot, I asked for his contact so I can send him a copy of his best portrait, and he gave me his business card. And he told me he is the owner of a bicycle company by the name CUSTOMAXXX, where they make customized chopper bikes like the one he rides on. Pretty cool eh! I thanked him and he rode away.

This is what I like about street photography. You never know what would be unfolded before your eyes and it always happens when you are least expected. When that moment occurs, trust your own instinct and self-confidence, and go ahead to seize that opportunity to take photographs, be it with kind permission or taking a few quick candid snapshots. It may or may not be the best street shots you have taken but at least you have no regrets about letting those beautiful moments slip by.

Photo info:

Seagull 205 RF on FujiFilm Neopan 400. Developed in 1:1 Kodak D76 for 500 seconds and scanned on Epson V700 with slight tonality and contrast adjustments in Photoshop.

Street Photo - On Reading...

On Reading...

Nikon D300 on 18-70mm lens @ 40mm f/4.5 1/60 second ISO 400 • Daylight WB Spot metering • RAW processed in Camera RAW • Slight color adjustments in Photoshop, uncropped

"This would be the last street photo for 2015. Rest assured that more street photos are coming their way into 2016. Thank you all readers for your kind support all these time. I look forward to your continuous support and readership in the coming new year and many years to come.

Lastly I wish all my supportive readers and friends a Happy New Year! Cheers!"

Street Photo - On Reading...

On Reading...

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - Like Mother Like Daughter

Like Mother Like Daughter

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - In The Shades

In The Shades

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR Off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - The Matrix

The Matrix

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - Elderly Phone Chat

Elderly Phone Chat

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Default mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - On Reading... (Panorama 2)

On Reading... (Panorama 2)

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

A Day of URBEX @ Mount Imbiah Battery

Recently, I spent a day of urban exploration at this decommissioned military fort, Mount Imbiah Battery in Sentosa. This defence post was built in the 1880s and by the First World War, Mount Imbiah Battery was emplaced with a 9.2 inch coast gun. It served as an "examination battery", to screen all merchant vessels before allowing them to enter the Singapore habour.

More on my URBEX photos + a video after the jump...

Read more

A Day of Urban Exploration

Part of an abandoned military outpost that was part of a British defence line that had been established well before WWII along the southern ridges of Singapore

It's been a long time since my last urban exploration except the recent short one at Fort Berlayar. Over the last weekend, I had the opportunity to explore 2 decommissioned military bases namely Point 270 @ Kent Ridge Park and Fort Serapong in Sentosa. With kind guidance, courtesy of a kind friend whom I shall not mention his name, for without him I wouldn't be able to visit or find these places.

Make the jump to see more photos and videos I made during the exploration. 

Read more

Street Photo - On Reading... (Panorama)

On Reading... (Panorama)

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - Now and There

Now & There

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0 • Further processed in Photoshop with Healing tool on unwanted light relfections.

Street Photo - Merlion Park (Panorama)

Merlion Park

Hasselblad XPAN on Tri-X 400. Developed in 1:1 Kodak D76 for 500 seconds and scanned on Epson V700 with minor tonality adjustments in Photoshop.

Minimalism - Shoreline

Shoreline

Freight boat in motion; hauling huge amount of moist ashes to Pulau Semakau for land refill. Photo was made on the shoreline of Coney Island with Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Slow Shutter Cam app. Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0.

Street Photo - Mode of Transportation (Panorama)

Mode of Transportation

It came as a rare sight where all types of transportation came to a halt altogether at a red light traffic junction. There are public bus, delivery truck, private luxury car, taxi and motorcycle. Guess I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time.

Hasselblad XPAN on Kodak Tri-X 400. Developed in 1:1 Kodak D76 for 500 seconds and scanned on Epson V700 with minor tonality adjustments in Photoshop.

Minimalism - Mystic Sail

Mystic Sail

A sail boat sailed by in the early weekend morning near Coney Island. This minimalistic photo was captured on Apple iPhone 6+ using Slow Shutter Cam app and post-processed in Snapseed 2.0 for B&W conversion.

I have been using this app for 2 weeks now and I really find it an useful and easy to use app. Previously I wrote on my Night Photography blogsite on using this app for some colorful night photography. What's amazing about this app is that it's not restricted just for low light condition and night photography. It can be used on day time photography. For best results, preferably take photos under overcast weather, or in this photo shown above, on a hazy/foggy day.

I believe I will continue to use this app, more often so for more creative photography.

Street Photo - Tattoo Girl

Tattoo Girl

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0 • Slight cropped in Photoshop

Street Photo - Flamboyant

Flamboyant

Apple iPhone 6 Plus with Slow Shutter Cam app.

App settings:

Capture Mode set on Low Light • Low Exposure Boost • Minimum Shutter Speed • Self-timer off • Intervalometer off • Picture Resolution at HD1080 • Picture Aspect Ratio - Native • Picture File Format - JPG • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - Riding On

Riding On

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Noir mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0

Street Photo - Street Paddler

Street Paddler

Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Chrome mode • Flash & HDR off • Post-processed in Snapseed 2.0