Grand Canyon Clouds/Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 31, 2013260 views11 comments

This is a favorite scene from a trip in August 2013 to Grand Canyon National Park. The view is to WNW at 18:30. The saturation was cranked quite high in Lightroom 4 to bring out the color. Here are some questions:

1. Would you say that the saturation is overdone?

2. Do you have suggestions to improve the cropping?

3. the bottom left corner is dark. Should it be brightened?

The photo was taken with a Pentax K-5 and a Pentax DA 18-55 AL WR at 18mm, F5.6, 1/90 sec, iso 200.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on October 31, 2013 at 9:01 AM

Looks like a tough dynamic range to deal with. Did you shoot this RAW? LR has tools to recover the cloud highlights and to find some detail in the shadows. There might be a bit of barrel distortion LR can correct too. Then look again at the saturation settings.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on October 31, 2013 at 10:08 AM

I'd start all over again in LR4. Bump up the shadows, bring down the highlights (I'd go all the way to 100 on each). And yes, it will look funky at this point. But then adjust the white & black points holding down the Option/Alt key. From there I'd season to taste with some Adjustment Brush dodging & burning.
It's a nice image, but way too contrasty and over saturated. I'm sure there's a lot of detail in those shadows just waiting to come out.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on October 31, 2013 at 2:49 PM

That's a lovely view, and a really nice composition! It certainly is worth more work in LR to bring out the details, as others have suggested, so I sure hope you captured it in RAW. If you only have a JPEG (which would be a big mistake) you might still be able to make some minor improvements. In that case, plug-in software such as Google's Nik Collection (especially Viveza) make those adjustments easier.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on October 31, 2013 at 7:11 PM

Ronald, Michael, and Wayne:

Thank you for the advice. I can't wait to reset and edit the photo anew in Lightroom between trick-or-treaters on this Halloween night. Fortunately, I shoot RAW.

Also, I still use LR4. Should I rush to LR5 soon?

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on October 31, 2013 at 7:30 PM

The suggestions you have received will certainly guide you well, Randy. With a little tweaking this should really sing.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on October 31, 2013 at 8:11 PM

Thank you, Ed.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 1, 2013 at 7:05 AM

Here is the newly-edited picture that incorporates your suggestions. I learned more about how to use LR4, but know that my education in the use of LR, imaging editing, and photography in general will never end. This is what makes it such a challenging yet rewarding craft.

Thanks again for the good suggestions.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on November 1, 2013 at 10:01 AM

The repost looks much nicer Randy. Much better balance in the image and lots more shadow detail with more natural saturation also. Welcome to the landscape gallery also. This is a great place to learn.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 1, 2013 at 7:16 PM

Thanks for the welcome, Bill. It's good to be here. I've only been on the site for about 36 hours and have benefited in many ways. It's nice to be part of a site full of friendly and helpful people, too.