Encore (+ Repost)

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 24, 20183,337 views12 comments

This is an image that I captured back in September of 2013 on a trip to Deadhorse Point State Park in Moab UT. A storm was clearing right at sunset creating the most incredible light that I have witnessed in person. I have posted an earlier version of this scene when the sun was a little higher and casting more of a golden color cast. While this is the same composition it has a very different feel in terms of color. While I like them both, I really like the combination of reds and blues in this one.

As always all comments and critiques are welcome. crying

Capture Info:
21mm
f/8 @ 1/6 sec (should have stopped down a bit more though wink

- certain parts of the foreground are a bit soft at full resolution)
ISO 100

Processing Info:
Set black and white point, TK's luminosity masks, triple plays and saturation masks. Color balance adjustment.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on March 24, 2018 at 7:09 PM

For comparison purposes here is the earlier shot.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 25, 2018 at 4:08 PM

Hard to make a choice as to which is best because both images look great and have differing moods. The processing is excellent in both images, and either one would make a very nice print. Well done!
--P

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 25, 2018 at 7:05 PM

Brian, Both of these are really well done and I certainly enjoy them both. Like you I really do like the reds and blues in this new post and that is my favorite of the two. Very nice work on both of these! Absolutely beautiful scene! cool

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Genny K. on March 26, 2018 at 12:25 AM

Really different feel in these two images. I'm not sure which one I like better, but they are both super nice images. The "temperature" is so different. I think I am leaning toward this version. It has a different feel than most sunset type images, especially around red rock canyon areas. The pinks and blues in the clouds are eye-catching, and it seems to have more depth looking into the distance. Nice!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Ed McGuirk on March 26, 2018 at 9:37 AM

Brian, I really like both of these renderings. You caught some very dramatic conditions, and your processing in both images brings out the best of these conditions. The composition in these images is identical, I love it when the weather / light changes so quickly that you can get two very different looking images from the exact same composition !!!

If I was forced to choose, I prefer the earlier shot, due to the exquisite light in the sky and upon the landscape, guess I just perfer the warmer light.

Registered on November 29, 2017, 19 Posts, 260 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 27, 2018 at 9:59 AM

Bryan, the larger version really opens up beautifully, with a fine touch of light on the foreground, excellent details in the landscape and wonderful clouds. Both versions are outstanding takes with notably different moods.

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

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on March 27, 2018 at 1:45 PM

Brian, this is a lovely scene! Killer sky and a composition to support it. I think I prefer this later image for the cooler colors, but the earlier is quite nice as well. Just personal preference there.

My only nit is the brighter cloud on the left edge, it pulls my eye up there just a bit. I don't think a crop would work, but maybe a little burning on that area?

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on March 27, 2018 at 6:21 PM

Brian, the sky in this image is more pleasing to me that the other more golden one. It may be worth selecting the canyon behind the foreground, moving in the white point in levels, and adding some contrast in luminosity mode, to see if you like the change giving more definition to the canyon below.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 28, 2018 at 11:10 AM

Both are excellent, Brian. I think I prefer the earlier one, but you can't go wrong with either, both work really well. Sweet scene!

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on March 28, 2018 at 10:01 PM

Here is a re-post incorporating Doug's suggestion to bring out more definition in the canyon. I had really been struggling to get the canyon to look right in both versions of this shot. I often struggle with knowing how much to brighten the landscape in these kind of scenes that have such a wide dynamic range. Let me know if this looks good or if I went too far in brightening the canyon. Thanks for the suggestion, Doug!

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 29, 2018 at 12:20 AM

In the oldest version the relation between tree and canyon was well defined. The tree was more dominant and the canyon was supportive. As the canyon was brightened in later versions the tree and canyon start to compete with each other. In those images the image would be better without the tree altogether. That's my take on it. I have seen such compositions chosen for Weekly Picks so not everyone agrees with this idea.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on April 1, 2018 at 7:48 PM

Really nice Brian! I don't know if I would have picked it up without Igor's comments, but I think he's correct. There is something about the dark foreboding background that I find really appealing in the original. Both the first and second shots are great.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments