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Contrast Masking Examples

Moon Over Zabriskie Point, black and white photograph by Radeka
Moon Over Zabriskie Point, 1980.

Straight print before masking

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Original print without the use of any masks. Some general dodging and burning was done, but the dark values in the mudhills lack vitality and have a dull gray appearance. The top half of the image (mostly the sky) was burned substantially. There is detail throughout the image, including the surface of the moon, but the "mood" that I sought could best be achieved by the use of masks. Resorting to a higher grade of paper contrast would destroy the delicate relationship of midtone to highlight values, particularly in the sky (clouds/sky/moon) and light mudhills in the middle area of the image.

Final print after masking

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Final image after applying a SCIM mask to the dark foreground areas. Note the crisp black accents which contribute to more richness in the dark values. On the fine print there is actually a perceived increase of fine detail in these areas (which isn't clearly seen in this low-res internet reproduction). Merely using a higher filter grade to print the lower portion of the image would not yield the same results. Also, substantial highlight brightening (using a Highlight Brightener bleach formula) was done to the entire sunlit mountain range in the background. If I were to use a higher contrast printing filter when burning the top half of the image it would not have had the extreme brightening effect that localized bleaching did and the sky values would be far too harsh. Some additional burning was done using a Fog Mask to precisely diminish some distracting bright areas.

Click here to view an enlarged portion of the above image showing more detail
 
Bisti Badlands with contrast masks
Bisti Badlands, 1998. Near Farmington, NM. Straight print on left, final print on right. Original negative was 4x5 Tri-x shot with a yellow filter and given normal development. The straight print (left) was printed on grade 1 paper. The mid-tone and highlight contrast looks good, but the shadow areas are far too dark and lack luminosity and detail. Overall, the print looks very gaudy and harsh - not at all the intention I had for this photograph. This image is ideally suited to the use of a CRM mask followed by a SCIM mask. On the final image (above right), also printed on grade 1 paper to preserve the delicate highlight values, the CRM mask lightened the shadow values substantially (probably one to two full zones or values) and increased apparent edge sharpness while the SCIM mask brought richness and contrast back into the shadows by deepening the crisp black accents, giving the image a very tactile and luminous feeling. See the interactive example at the bottom of this page.

 
Sand and Ice with contrast masks
Sand and Ice, 1978. Zion National Park, UT. Straight print on left is made without masks on grade 3 paper. Print on right was made on grade 3 paper also, but I used a Dodge Mask to lighten the frozen sand ripples, creating a very luminous and mysterious result. This mask only lightened the sand (without increasing local contrast) and gives a result similar to extremely detailed dodging. I also used a SCIM to deepen the fine black accents, further delineating the sand ripples from the surrounding icy water.

 
 
Thinnes House, ghost town, with contrast mask
Interior, Thinnes House, 1991. Piedmont, WY. Straight print (without masks) on left, final print on right. A special contrast mask was used to affect the contrast of all the interior values without affecting the values of the open window area. On the straight print (left), the interior values were a little too dark and "muddy", while the values in the window area are just right. I could have used two different contrast filters when making the print, a soft filter for the window area and a hard filter for all the interior areas. I chose instead to use a special contrast mask because the result was more controllable and repeatable. This technique allowed for a more accurate and seamless effect especially around the rectangular window area where the drastically different contrasts meet. The contrast enhancing effect of this mask is extremely versatile and can vary from subtle to extreme.


Interactive examples
rollover the mask variations listed on the right to see mask effects
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Storm Over Chesler Park, 1977. Canyonlands National Park, UT
Mask effects
 

No Masks

CRM

CRM + SCIM

CRM + SCIM + Fog Mask
Straight print (no masks)
      

 

Petroglyphs, 1987. Death Valley National Park, CA
Mask effects
 

No Masks

HLM

HLM + Fog Mask
Straight print (no masks)
      

 

Bisti Badlands (cropped section).
Mask effects
 

No Masks

CRM

CRM + SCIM
Straight print (no masks)
      

My First Contrast Mask - Contrast Masking Is Easy!

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All photographs on this site are copyright © Lynn Radeka. All rights reserved.
Precision Pin-Registration Carrier System copyright © 2002 Lynn Radeka. Patent pending.
Contrast Masking Kit copyright © 2000 Lynn Radeka.