Redwoods And Rhodies + Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 28, 2014174 views15 comments

Just got back a few days ago from a several day camping trip at Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP, accompanied by my friend and fellow NPNer Bruce King.

Just a superlative area, one of a kind. Our campsite was among a grove of old growth redwoods with several 300+ foot trees among them. The campsite was also located right on the beautiful Smith River, which runs through the park.

We weren't expecting to find any rhodies, as we thought the season was over by several weeks. Indeed, we didn't find any in Jed Smith. We were pleasantly surprised though to still find some in bloom down the road apiece at Del Norte Coast Redwood SP. This simple image was taken in the late afternoon on the day we found them. We were lucky enough to get some fog the next morning when we returned. The conditions are well illustrated by Bruce,s beautiful image he has posted here currently. Thanks for looking!

Nikon D5000
22mm, F/16, 1/4, ISO-160

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on June 28, 2014 at 3:32 PM

I like your composition, Joseph. The dynamic range looks to be flattened a bit too much. I would recommend adding some mid-tone contrast. If you have TK's luminosity mask actions you can easily isolate the mid-tones and use an s-curve to add contrast.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on June 28, 2014 at 3:39 PM

Pretty cool, Joe. I've got to visit these trees someday soon. I can imagine what camping among them must feel like. I like the comp a lot and think it is very well presented.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on June 28, 2014 at 4:10 PM

I think it can use a bit more saturation in the upper half.
Love the tree trunks and the comp.

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on June 28, 2014 at 4:16 PM

Joseph, I like this a lot. The composition works very well. I do see some magenta in the near Redwood. I agree about a little more separation in the mid tones, but only in the trees. If you have TK's masks, I suggest a Narrow Mids layer with the blending mode set to 'Luminosity'. If the effect is too strong in areas other than the trees, you can paint black on the layer mask.

The Rhododendrons add a nice splash of warm color.

--P

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

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 28, 2014 at 8:39 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I haven't played around with TK's masks much. I guess I need to learn them!

Here's a repost with some curves added to the mid tones and the slight magenta cast removed from the foreground tree.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 29, 2014 at 8:59 AM

Joe, This is really a nice picture of the redwoods and the rhodies, I would love to get there one day! I think your comp works great and I actually enjoy the feel and mood of the original post. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on June 29, 2014 at 10:38 AM

I like the combination of elements and the well balanced comp, Joe. I like the repost without the magenta cast in the redwood trunk.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 29, 2014 at 2:15 PM

Beautiful image Joe and I think the repost pops a lot more. Strong comp, nice light and fine textures. Very nice...

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 29, 2014 at 2:48 PM

This is lovely, Joe. Just enough pink and green to be really inviting with all of those long vertical trunks adding tension and depth. I like the added contrast in the repost, but it feels to strong and removes the sense of gentle invitation that the original had.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on June 29, 2014 at 3:18 PM

I think that somewhere in between the two posts would be best. Maybe if you backed off of the opacity on your adjustment layer in the repost. I probably should have been more specific in my comment but my thinking was to bring out more texture in the tree bark.

The great thing about the luminosity masks is that they offer more refined control of your adjustments by allowing you to restrict the adjustment to the specific tonalities.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 29, 2014 at 3:27 PM

Thanks guys. I wanted to keep this a little softer and less contrasty. Here's another version with the magenta removed and just a touch of added contrast to make it a little less flat.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Mazen ALhwaimel on June 29, 2014 at 5:11 PM

looks nice. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on April 6, 2014, 25 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 30, 2014 at 10:07 AM

Joe, The last works great for me. Nice work! Nick

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on July 1, 2014 at 12:26 PM

Boy, its tough to tell which version is significantly better. I will say this, you did a great job with the sun…finding this shady comp in the foreground and the warmth of sun in b/g works well.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on July 5, 2014 at 3:19 PM

Just revisiting this one - I think the last version is just right.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments