Radiance

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 10, 20091,656 views54 comments

This photo was taken on one of the best mornings (photographically) I've ever had! I had been to the Redwoods once before for 7 straight days with no fog at all.

On this morning I didn't expect any fog either but was pleasantly surprised when I got close to the coast and saw the forest engulfed in fog! I spent the morning shooting pink rhodies in the fog and having a grand time when all of the sudden, the fog started to break and all these light beams appeared! I couldn't contain myself and ran around like a kid in a candy store trying to get as many different compositions as I could before it was over. The light beams probably lasted no more than 10 minutes and I'll never forget it!

Damnation Creek Trail, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, CA
Canon 1Ds, 16-35mm @ 17mm, f/22, ISO 100, tripod, polarizer
This is a 5 shot exposure blend using Photomatix with some additional hand blending to clean up a few areas.

Would love to hear what you think.

Comments

54 comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on September 10, 2009 at 10:28 PM

Great light, but I'd like to see the tree trunks lightened up some. Fantastic comp and perspective though!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on September 10, 2009 at 10:28 PM

I see why you were so excited to see these rays, Phillip. Lovely image with a nice perspective looking up at the towering trees. Good work on the blend, too.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on September 10, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Beautiful explosion of light here. I love it.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on September 10, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Gorgeous lighting here Phillip. A unique composition adds a lot to the image. More details on teh trees would add to the image is what I personally feel. I loved the composition.

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 10, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Fantastic light and superb blending work!
Talk about the right place at the right time.
I agree with comments regarding lightening the two dominant tree trunks a bit.
Exceptional work for a boy from LA!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 10, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Wow, Phil. I must say, this is one of the best blending jobs I've ever seen (and I don't like Photomatix much at all). Fantastic exposure and lighting. Nice work with the clean-up and hand blending. The perspective looking up creates a great deal of depth and magnitude in the scene. Fantastic work all around.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Nielsen on September 10, 2009 at 10:57 PM

Very powerful and majestic, those rays are tremendous!

Registered on October 6, 2008, 137 Posts, 720 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on September 10, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Fantastic Phillip, glad I'm not the only one running around crazy when scenes like this appear. I can picture myself running around under these giants trying to find a nice comp as well.

Excellent work!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 10, 2009 at 11:00 PM

What a fantastic job on the blend. Yes, it would probably help to have the bottom of the dark trees to be a little lighter, but an epic shot! The light, the comp, and the moment are all marvelous.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Noll on September 10, 2009 at 11:03 PM

I debated about the darkness of the tree trunks. The big tree on the left is dead--its just a snag--and its trunk was very dark. As you can see the dynamic range here is extreme and even though I took numerous shots, the tree trunks are pretty dark even in the lightest ones. I played around with lightening them in PS but it really doesn't add much to the shot IMO. However, I'll play around with it a bit more and see what I can do. Thanks for the comments!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 207 Posts, 1083 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on September 10, 2009 at 11:07 PM

Amazing photo, wow! Great blend too. I'm sure it was unforgettable experience. Excellent work, Phillip.

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on September 10, 2009 at 11:18 PM

I can’t take my eyes off of this one. Thanks for posting big, it fills my monitor nicely.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on September 10, 2009 at 11:49 PM

What else can one say but WOW

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on September 11, 2009 at 12:16 AM

Nice. The sun rays are just raining down! Nice work controlling the light.

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on September 11, 2009 at 12:54 AM

Dramatic, beautiful, powerful, dramatic and all (and more) of the above!! I could go with a slight crop off the top, but minor when your talking about the whole deal here.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on September 11, 2009 at 1:13 AM

Spectacular image Phillip. Sunbeams are gorgeous and love how you used the vertical lines of the trees to showcase these. Great perspective. For my 2cents worth with regard to the densities of the tree trunks, I would not change a thing. I like the tree trunks as presented with just a touch of detail, but I shoot film and so have a bias I will admit. Great job processing. Fantastic image.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Chan on September 11, 2009 at 1:49 AM

amazing shot Phillip. I'm not a big fan of photomatix, but I have to say that it did an awesome job with this image. :)

Registered on August 24, 2007, 3 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 11, 2009 at 2:27 AM

Wow, this is some effectively lit scene Phillip! I can relate to your "kid"-experience. Same happended to me a year ago...

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 11, 2009 at 2:45 AM

Phillip,

A glorious scene to look at here, but I am sure was just over the top to see in person. Excellent job on the blend, it looks very natural.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 11, 2009 at 2:55 AM

Man, I just had to come back to this one again. WOW!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on September 11, 2009 at 2:56 AM

I love the way you kept the greens alive, all too often in shots like this they get lost in some (too warm) color cast. Sweet.
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on September 11, 2009 at 7:18 AM

I love it Phillip. Excellent wide angle composition. Good exposure and sunstar.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on September 11, 2009 at 8:51 AM

This is definitely a fantastic shot Phillip, great work on the blending!

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 11, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Very ice, Phillip. Strong comp and dramatic light.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Puckett on September 11, 2009 at 10:11 AM

WOW! Love the capture but as suggested try to bring up the dark areas a bit. This should sell quite well--I can see it on the cover of many church bulletins!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 4 Posts, 23 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on September 11, 2009 at 10:27 AM

just wonderful, nothing more to add

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on September 11, 2009 at 10:49 AM

I agree with the above comment - this is absolutely spectacular and I would lighten the trunks some. What a powerful image, must have been amazing to be there.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on September 11, 2009 at 2:12 PM

Great shot and well executed. I know what you mean about visiting redwoods with no fog. I made the trip out from VT three years ago and not only did I have a straight week with no fog, but no clouds either. Very frustrating.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Nevesely on September 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM

This is fantastic Phillip! I just love it.

Registered on June 14, 2005, 147 Posts, 1550 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on September 11, 2009 at 4:36 PM

Well done all around. Just a beautiful scene. If I had anything to add, maybe add some yellow to the highlights for a touch more punch? Really nice.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 11, 2009 at 4:44 PM

Extremely powerful image Phillip!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on September 11, 2009 at 5:04 PM

What a striking image! The exaggerated perspective works very nice here. Beautiful work start to finish.

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on September 11, 2009 at 5:54 PM

Super job with the blending. I really enjoy this image. Well done.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 11, 2009 at 9:45 PM

This is spectacular. I have had similar experiences in these condition, but none quite as powerful as this. Amazing light beams here, and very good exposure blend. I'm glad for you felling like a kid, but also hope you stopped just long enough to take it all in. Sometimes I forget to do that in the madness of trying to get the capture.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Greer on September 11, 2009 at 10:15 PM

Phillip!!!!! BEAUTIFUL! That's all I have to say, other than I wouldn't change a thing. I like the dark trunks and my vote is to leave them dark.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 404 Posts, 1977 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 11, 2009 at 10:30 PM

Super processing Phillip, doesn't have any signs of HDR, which I can't say for many HDRs! The light and comp are of course superb, in particular I like the "rainbow" around the sun.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on September 11, 2009 at 11:18 PM

Phillip.... amazing work....one of the best of filtering light and fog in the woods I have seen...

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on September 12, 2009 at 5:00 AM

CONGRATS on this image...it's gorgeous!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on September 12, 2009 at 7:04 AM

What beautiful god rays, very nice.

Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on September 12, 2009 at 2:48 PM

A huge _WOW_ from me too Phillip. I really like the contrast of lines between the trees and the God Beams.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 12, 2009 at 5:22 PM

Sweet! Damnation Creek was one of my fav spots--love the ocean rocks at the end. Id go slightly brighter near the sun center here, minor nit though, looks great as is!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on September 12, 2009 at 6:02 PM

Simply gorgeous Phillip, in every way. Almost missed this one, and I'm glad I didn't.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Kelly Black on September 12, 2009 at 8:30 PM

Hi Phillip,
Wow! Absolutely stunning! I like the trunks the way they are. I, too, vote to leave them dark. Nicely done capture and pp.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 14 Posts, 245 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 12, 2009 at 11:35 PM

Philip: Not much to add except congrats on a spectacular capture of a spectacular scene. Patience and persistence richly rewarded. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 14, 2009 at 6:37 PM

Congratulations on the EP. Fully deserving for this outstanding epic shot.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 15, 2009 at 12:12 AM

Spectacular shot - congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 15, 2009 at 12:50 AM

Stunning! Perfectly exposed, congrats.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 15, 2009 at 9:07 AM

Outstanding image Philip & congrats on the EP
I enjoyed reading the notes, your enthusiasm is contagious

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Noll on September 15, 2009 at 6:16 PM

Many thanks to everyone for the comments, suggestions, critiques, and of course, the weekly pick! I really admire the collective talent of the NPN community and being recognized with a weekly pick means a lot to me.

Registered on November 17, 2003, 207 Posts, 1083 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Rua on September 15, 2009 at 6:20 PM

Great capture, Phillip. Well done all around. Congrats on the EP and a "lifetime" capture.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments

Comment posted by Nilanjan Das on September 16, 2009 at 10:41 PM

Its a dream image of a dream moment. :). I am glad you got it. I love the perspective a lot.

Registered on June 5, 2008, 94 Posts, 383 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 21, 2009 at 7:34 PM

Hi phillip

Congrats on the E.P. Just starting to do landscapes, your wonderful photo will surely inspire me

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 22, 2009 at 6:44 AM

Congratulations on the EP! Wonderful image.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on October 27, 2009 at 11:59 AM

Nuclear explosion here! Wow.

Mark

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments