Blog post with mist filter simulation.

content/posts/2025/mainz-central-station/index.md

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+---
+title: "Mainz Central Station"
+description: Mainz Central Station, edited to simulate a mist filter
+date: 2025-09-05T18:45:00+0200
+draft: false
+# ShowLastmod: true
+toc: false
+scrolltotop: true
+images: []
+tags:
+  - photos
+  - city
+  - night
+  - nikon
+---
+
+Mainz Central Station (Mainz Hauptbahnhof or just short Mainz Hbf) at night. I stepped
+out of the [Adam & Eden][ae] restaurant the other night and I was impressed by the
+illuminated station.
+
+{{< figure src="DSC_5532-1.jpg" caption="Nikon Z6III with Tamron 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8" >}}
+
+The above was edited as usual in [Darktable][]. I wanted to let the lights in the windows
+glow a bit and have them contrast with the otherwise rather dark scene. I did not have
+a mist filter on my camera, so I attempted to simulate one with Darktable's
+[Diffuse or Sharpen][] module. In my opinion, the effect of mist filters can quickly
+destroy an image, it's like emptying an entire bottle of ketchup all at once onto
+your fries. I was wary of that and attempted to make it subtle. Don't know if this was
+the way to go.
+
+See my [Diffuse or Sharpen][] mist filter preset over at
+[github.com/bovender/darktable-presets-and-styles][gh].
+
+{{< figure src="mist-filter-in-darktable-screenshot-1.png"
+    caption="Screenshot of Darktable with mask overlay turned on." >}}
+
+The screenshot above shows the mask overlay in Darktable. The screenshow below
+shows the settings of the 'g' channel: I want to exclude dark image areas from
+the filter effect.
+    
+{{< figure src="diffuse-or-sharpen-settings-1.png"
+    caption="Settings of the diffuse-or-sharpen module with 'g' channel." >}}
+
+The next screenshot shows the 'hz' channel, which I adjusted to include warmish
+colors only.
+    
+{{< figure src="diffuse-or-sharpen-settings-2.png"
+    caption="Settings of the diffuse-or-sharpen module with 'hz' channel." >}}
+
+Finally, I applied a large blurring radius so that I can achieve a glowing effect.
+
+I'm not sure yet whether to exclude the moon from the mist filter effect or not.
+
+---
+
+Original image developed in [Darktable][]. Raw image file available
+upon reasonable request. All rights reserved.
+
+---
+
+Here's one of several video tutorials on the Diffuse or Sharpen module
+by Boris Hajdukovic. He's a master of image editing with Darktable.
+Highly recommended.
+
+{{< youtube pAbyORw0mng >}}
+
+---
+
+[ae]: https://www.adamundeden.com
+[darktable]: https://darktable.org
+[diffuse or sharpen]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAbyORw0mng
+[gh]: https://github.com/bovender/darktable-presets-and-styles