Sandstone Temple
by Mark Metternich
As I am getting prepped to both move back to the great NW (in a week) and do another SW workshop I thought I'd take a break and indulge a little in enjoyable recollection of past events. I hated living in Vegas and will never look back as I hurry across the boarder of Nevada into beloved Oregon, but I certainly loved shooting the SW and I think, at times, will miss easy access to the weird and wild places it affords.
Experimenting in Lightroom 4 beta, on this image, I was really impressed with the new level of control we have in Raw! I can't wait until the same comes out in CS6 (ACR). This image was nearly complete in raw and more notably I was able to squeeze the dynamic range necessary out of the single raw file like never before.
Canon 5D Mark2
Canon 14mmL2
f/5.6
400 ISO
1/2000
hand held (really low) as I was hurrying to another location for the real sunset show
Comments
46 commentsI almost find it hard to believe that you were really able to squeeze that much dynamic range out of a single frame. If that is indeed the case, then ACR in CS6 is going to be a real breakthrough.
One question: why ISO 400? Seems you could've dropped to ISO 100 and still had a shutter speed of 1/500, which should've been more than enough to prevent camera shake at that focal length.
Oh, and regarding Vegas, I TOTALLY hear you -- I hate that place! That's about the last place on earth I'd recommend for a nature lover. Sure, I can have a bit of fun for a night there -- one night -- but, by day two I'm climbing the walls trying to escape.
Very nice shot Mark
Comp, Capture and Processing
Well accomplished.
aF
Yes, we have a lot of boring blue down here. Fortunately, I was out here for 3 weeks. That helps a little.
Yep, just one shot. And YES try the Lightroom 4 Beta and you might be surprise how much more dynamic range one can get! Its killer.
As far as 400 ISO goes. I kind of hinted about it in the post. I was actually running around doing more "test" or grab shots experimenting with the camera (hand helds) at really extreme angles and such, on the way to a different location to get the sunset. So suffice it to say, I simply did not take this shot all that seriously
Once you are up in the PMW, we will have to hook up. I will be just over the border.
How do you get so much in focus at f/5.6?
Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Gary.
You likely know this, but the wider the lens the great the DOF. The 14mm L2 is an awesome lens that gives focus a couple/few feet to infinity at 5.6 the sharpest f/stop for the lens.
Thanks everyone. Lucked out with the light this day.
I agree. As matter of fact after color noise is reduced a tad, that bit of extra luminance noise in high frequency areas like sandstone sometimes makes for a look (creates the illusion) of even more detail. Admittedly, I will bring in two versions into PS. One with Capture Sharpening and no Luminance noise reduction (for high frequency land areas) then the other with No Capture Sharpening and just enough Luminance Noise Reduction to smooth out the graininess in areas like water or sky (sky in this case) at 100% viewing distance. IMO, no one would ever see a difference in 100 and 400 ISO when post production is done well. Lastly, shooting to the very right of the histogram and then taking DOWN exposures in RAW cures most noise issues.
Dynamic and gorgeous.
composition.
quite dramatic and I really like the high contrast in this setup. Terrific composition and a great image from the desert sw.
Lon
Congrats on the WP!
Glad you're heading back our way; maybe I can join you for some workshops.
Sandy
Mo