A Parting Gift/ With Edit

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 30, 2010253 views17 comments

The slope to my back is the one covered in burnt trees and colorful dogwoods. I was there for that, and focused on it. I noticed the light change and looked up and in this direction. Well, my grad was back at the car, and I don't really bracket, or do blends. So I went into a mild panic trying to find a spot to make a comp, and figure out how I was gonna capture this without screwing it up! I switched to auto bracket and fired off 5 shots figuring maybe someday I'd be able to blend them and get an image out of it. I went ahead and tried the HDR funtion in photoshop, and this is the result. It is looking west, over the Sierra, and the Merced River Canyon, from above the Tunnel View area of Yosemite. Not perfect, but what are your thoughts? Large version included too.

Thanks,
Chris

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by John Williams on December 1, 2010 at 1:01 AM

It's a great scene, with the burnt trees adding a nice dimension to the vista. However the overall processing looks like the results I get with Photoshop's HDR, and it always leaves me wanting more. The haloing is strong, and the foreground is a bit bright and flat. (I wish I knew how to get better results with this function, it would sure save me some time.)

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 1, 2010 at 5:08 AM

Funny, even as one who abhors many HDR software results, i have to disagree with John--this looks pretty darn good and natural to me. The one tree is getting dangerously close to the top, but otherwise i think this is a fantastic comp with some great mood. I dont notice any haloes. Maybe a tiny bit more contrast, but this is real close.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 1, 2010 at 9:28 AM

I like this Chris. It is a very pretty scene and you made a nice comp with it. I tried the hdr in photoshop 4 a couple of times, but it didn't work out very well for me. I think it looks good here and you have a nice image now.

Nick bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on December 1, 2010 at 10:08 AM

Nice scene with the burnt trees against the sky. I wouldn't have guessed HDR.

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on December 1, 2010 at 11:07 AM

Lovely scene Chris, looks pretty natural to my eye given what you've said.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on December 1, 2010 at 11:17 AM

The hazy conditions help this one out for sure. I like the composition a lot and your processing too. A peaceful, relaxing, and inviting image. Small crops on both sides would clean up the edges a bit. Beautiful work Chris...

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on December 1, 2010 at 12:37 PM

I thought before reading the narrative that this was a shot from Clingman's Dome in the Smoky Mountains. Well done HDR. Can the day be too far away when we can all easily get high quality-natural looking HDR images like this?

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 1, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Nice shot, not a bad comp. Processing looks good to me, I've never been happy with any HDR attempts of my own.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Lou on December 1, 2010 at 1:32 PM

You were at same spot where I took my version this past May. Except I shot in the morning with different POV.

I feel the middle burn tree divides this photo into two.

Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on December 1, 2010 at 3:12 PM

Its decent but the tones are a bit flat, the color a bit muddy and the haloing is distracting. The haloing is better than many, but the longer you look, the more apparent it becomes.

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on December 1, 2010 at 3:45 PM

Looks good... I think all it needs is a bit of midtone contrast.

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 1, 2010 at 9:26 PM

Okay guys, thanks!

Here's an edit with a curves adjustment, a little extra color, and some burning to try and balance out the halos better. There is some haze hanging in the canyon that amplified the effect, so I tried to burn it in some. Better?

Thanks,
Chris

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 1, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Chris,

What a glorious view and a superb capture. Although one wouldn't know it unless you told them, I'm really enjoying this overhead view of the Merced River Canyon.

Processing wise, I can't see any haloing what so ever, unless I'm really missing something. the only oddity I see with the hdr is that the manzanita/bushes seem brigher, with more exposure than I would expect given you're looking in to the setting sun and the available light just isn't there.

Otherwise, I think this is a beauty.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 1, 2010 at 11:43 PM

Turned out great, Chris. Bet you'll be doing this more often. I really like the layers here with the graphic trunks.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on December 2, 2010 at 1:57 AM

Nice shot Chris.. looks very natural to me. I might crop that tree portruding into the frame on the far left but other than that this one's a winner.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on December 2, 2010 at 7:34 AM

Gosh I couldn't really tell much. Glad you fired off a series of shots, well done.
Such a fantastic area. Some really impressive layering going on here.

Thanks for sharing Chris

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 2, 2010 at 11:21 AM

Late to the party, but...

Wow, big difference in the repost. I think the HDR results look very good, and your comp is grand. Beautiful image.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments