Fiery Mist

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 27, 20163,591 views6 comments

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Here is another image from my recent trip to GSMNP. I captured this image on the same morning as my previous post titled "Transitions". I am definitely glad that I resisted the temptation to sleep in on this morning!

This image stretched my processing skills as I don't have a lot of experience with exposure blending. Thankfully I have some great video tutorials! As always, all comments and critiques are welcome, but I am particularly interested in your thoughts on the processing. I strive for a naturally vibrant appearance in my images so if something doesn't look right please let me know.

One note: The sun was partially diffused because it rose behind the layer of fog, but the fog was not so thick as to veil the brightness so I have let it go basically to white as that is what I remember seeing. There was no detail in the sun even in my darkest exposure. Maybe I should have bracketed further down, but I don't remember being able to see any detail in the sun so I have rendered this to match as closely as possible what I remember seeing.

Capture Info:
102 mm
3 exposure blend @ f/11
ISO 100

Processing:
Manual blend of 3 exposures using Luminosity Mask channel selections
TK's luminosity masks
TK's vibrance masks

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 28, 2016 at 10:39 AM

Really nice capture you managed here. I like the fact that you have a little of everything. Sun, foreground trees and mountains. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 28, 2016 at 2:30 PM

This is quite different. I like the Sun, and I certainly would not expect any detail in it. I would like to see little more contrast in the foreground. The cloud layers and the color look really nice. I think you did very well with a challenging subject.
--P

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 28, 2016 at 6:58 PM

Brian, I love the top half of the image with the fog, clouds, sun, fog, color, etc. Just gorgeous. Screams "Smokies." The foreground trees really don't grab me, however. The light on the them is kind of dark and flat. I'd almost be inclined to crop out the trees and make this a pano. Preston's suggestion of more contrast on the trees is worth trying.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 28, 2016 at 8:53 PM

Brian,

Love this, most especially the sunrise and all that goes with it. At first I didn't care for the foreground trees, but somehow I get a connection between the two and I think this works very well just as presented. Duh, the fog is the connection... ;-)

Beautiful, quiet yet bold image.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 29, 2016 at 10:49 AM

Real sweet image. The foreground trees work fine for me, but I might consider cropping a bit from the bottom to shift the balance more toward the top. Beautiful!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on December 1, 2016 at 12:04 AM

Here is a reprocessed version of this image taking into consideration your recommendations.

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