Basking + Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 1, 2011246 views14 comments

Thanks for the feedback to the previous image.

This one was taken later on the same day as the leaf image. I posted a similar one back in the fall that was made using a 6MP DSLR in the same light that was reflecting off of El Capitan and bouncing down on these trees on the west end of the meadow.

This version was made using the 4x5 and two sheets were exposed, both in the vertical orientation with the 300mm lens. They were individually scanned and then blended in PS. Each slide was scanned at 2400 dpi 16-bit color. Each file was 580MB in size. It brought my computer to its knees and auto align could not align the two slides due to a lack of memory so I had to align them by hand. Not an easy task.

The resulting master file is 17700x11700 pixels in size and a 40x60 inch print at 300ppi is possible without having to interpolate. The detail is phenomenal. I wanted to include a larger version but I feel the compression is really killing it and its 1 MB in size.

Your feedback is much appreciated.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Jake Case on July 1, 2011 at 8:15 PM

I thought this was one of Lon's shots at first. Great atmosphere here, love the comp and the colors. Might just be me but I think its a tad bright, but an incredibly lovely image none the less.

Registered on December 13, 2010, 38 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on July 1, 2011 at 9:50 PM

Geez Youssef, those are some monster files! I'm sure the details in a large print are amazing. I like the colors and the comp.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on July 2, 2011 at 1:23 AM

Youssef,

It's a lovely image (indeed very reminiscent of Lon's, and that's a compliment) and I wish I could see it in person.

The very top of the image is bothering me, though. I feel like it's too bright and draws my eye up out of the frame away from the goodness of the autumn colors. I'd gently suggest trying to crop something off the top, perhaps even going as far as just below the evergreen in the upper left corner. Even after that, I might darken the top of the frame just a touch. Maybe it's just my memories of wanting to look up in the Valley, but it's distracting me from an otherwise terrific and intimate scene.

I honestly wish I could see it in person, though. Do you show anywhere in the Bay Area? I get out there once or twice a year...

Registered on August 14, 2010, 3 Posts, 61 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 2, 2011 at 2:07 AM

Mark,

Thanks for that feedback. I thought the granite looked a bit bright as well but let it slide. I'll re-post it with some additional work on the top.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 2, 2011 at 2:09 AM

Mark,

Thanks for that feedback. I thought the granite looked a bit bright as well but let it slide. I'll re-post it with some additional work on the top.

I also show all the time. One big show at least once a month and smaller local markets almost weekly. Let me know the next time you are in the Bay Area and I can let you know where I will be showing.

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

Comment posted by Guy Tal on July 2, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Youssef, this is an absolutely spectacular image and just the thought of the detail in the large file takes my breath away. I hope you do get to print it at 40x60 some day. That will truly be a sight to see! I assume you meant 1GB rather than 1MB.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on July 2, 2011 at 11:46 AM

very peaceful image Youssef, i suggest to clone out the black rock in the botom

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on July 2, 2011 at 1:22 PM

Youssef,

I would love to see a print of this! The web presentation here looks a little 'crunchy' with some loss of detail, especially in the grasses. Given the image size, I can see why this so. Apart from that, the composition works well. I agree it's a tad bright. Don't crop it! The large oaks need the breathing room. You might consider bringing the value of the granite down some.

It's a gorgeous image!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Weaver on July 2, 2011 at 2:53 PM

Great texture, color and comp Youssef!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on July 2, 2011 at 4:38 PM

I like the scene and can only imagine what it must look like at 40x60. The sharpening maybe makes it look a little overexposed, but I know that's just the artifacts encountered at this degree of down-sizing and compression.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 3, 2011 at 2:47 AM

Thanks Guy, I do hope to as well, I would do it for myself, but I would not know where to hang it in my home. No Guy, the 1200 pixel image was 1MB in size. I will try to have a blog post about this image soon and have the larger version there.

Thanks for all the good feedback on this image, here is a re-post and I think it is better. Your thoughts appreciated.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on July 3, 2011 at 10:28 AM

Superb, Youssef! Great detail and color. You have composed with just enough
FG using the rock as an anchor point and placing the most dominant tree off center.
Your meticulous post-processing paid off. I think that the repost
is even better.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on July 3, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Perfect grab of the different trees, they contrast nicely. I'd love to see the print! (It is interesting to me that these super large files really don't downsize to this well. I agree, it's hurting it here.)

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on July 4, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Love this shot Ismail. I prefer the repost, much more detail in the foreground grasses and not as "crunchy" as Preston mentions. This would look amazing printed 40x60.

Cheers, Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments