Red Ribbon Badlands

While HDR blending remains popular, I still like working with LDR images−those that have very low-dynamic-range. Opening up the contrast in this sort of image often reveals unexpected colors and textures, and within an abstract composition, there is some leeway as to what is considered acceptable.

The image shown here was taken shortly after sunrise (but while the elements were still in shadow) with a telephoto lens. The color and textures were there, but because of the soft light and density of the atmosphere between the camera and the landscape, the contrast was very low (unadjusted RAW file below).

There was no preconceived idea of how this should look when finished. To some degree, these types of images dictate their own course, and each is different. For me, the process is finished when there are no more veils of haze to remove. The contrast and color in the final image creates vibrancy and detail that seems real, but also maybe also a little beyond belief as to what our eyes could actually see.

Your thoughts on this image or its processing would, as always, be both appreciated and earnestly considered.

Canon 5D2, 28-300@300, f/16, 0.8 sec, ISO 100