Warm Rewards

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 1, 2012649 views15 comments

This is an image from a location that I had visited and photographed many times. I headed out this evening as storm clouds rolled overhead in hopes of some dramatic light. I set up and locked off my composition and waited. Just as the light was fading the clouds to my right opened up for a split second revealing the warm evening light which painted the stormy sky in front of me and lit up the landscape with a beautiful glow. After shooting this same scene many times I knew that this was the image that I was after. A truly beautiful moment!

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on May 1, 2012 at 8:02 AM

If that color is basically natural that is/was an awesome capture. I've seen a few clouds with yellows and orange that were surreal.
I presume this is not HDR?
The photo also has great DOF, texture, a myriad of lines including a 'leading line' into the background.
Color sells and this one is very colorful.
the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on May 1, 2012 at 10:15 AM

Agree w/ Larry before me. Very dream-like and what a view!

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

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on May 1, 2012 at 12:24 PM

A beautiful scene, but a bit much on the processing.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on May 1, 2012 at 12:41 PM

My first impression when viewing this is why are those rocks blocking my view? The clouds and reflection are sweet, but I can't see the connection with the foreground subject matter.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 1, 2012 at 1:02 PM

Sweet light Kyle. It does look a little HDR'ish but I really like the composition and beautiful reflection.

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

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on May 1, 2012 at 1:21 PM

I'm really liking this image! The puffy/colorful clouds decorate the scene quite nicely. I might say the shadows in the foreground look a bit 'muddy', although I am not viewing this on a real good screen right now... TFS!

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle McDougall on May 1, 2012 at 1:46 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone. This image is a single exposure and not HDR. The light was extremely balanced throughout the scene. The processing isn't that far off the raw file, mainly a bit of dodging/burning and some local saturation adjustments. Here's a repost with the saturation backed off a bit and the f/g exposure toned down just a touch. Thanks again for the comments/critique.

Registered on June 10, 2011, 9 Posts, 52 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on May 1, 2012 at 2:09 PM

This is incredible. Great colors and some fantastic clouds. First I thought the processing is bit much, but then I read your comment about the processing.......that must have been a great moment. I'd prefer the repost, though the first one is great, too. I'd prefer the toned down foreground

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 1, 2012 at 2:32 PM

I can see this had to be a special moment for you, Kyle. You captured some wonderful colors with great light. I do like the your repost the best. Really pretty image.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 1, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Great shot! The sky is amazing and the reflection is perfect. The foreground rocks are a great anchor to start leading my eyes into the image.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on May 1, 2012 at 8:26 PM

Hi Kyle, I actually prefer your first post more. But the cyan in the sky is a bit strong for my tastes. I often come across this with my own digital images and fix it in photoshop. Selective color / choose cyan and reduce cyan until the sky looks right. Sometimes I have to also decrease of even increase the magenta to get the blue sky right. Hope this helps.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 2, 2012 at 5:30 AM

Some crazy clouds/light. Way to finally get your image! :)

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on May 2, 2012 at 3:31 PM

Powerful stuff, Kyle. I like the composition...rocks are fine for me...and the sky is remarkable. I do feel that the sky seems a bit unreal in terms of the contrast and color, particularly the blues, but I wasn't there to witness it.