Posted by Tom Kloster on August 4, 2007 at 2:12 PM
This was a first attempt at blending two different exposures, rather than using a GND filter - with mixed results for the sky and left end of the sunlit portion, but I thought I'd post it here for the flowers in the foreground. These are the upper reaches of Cove Creek in Elk Cove, with Barrett Spur rising above. The flowers are peaking there right now (this is from yesterday - I was also up there on Wednesday). Very windy, so the slowest I could really go on the shutter speed was 1/4 second.
BTW, Mark - I think I did spot the patch of flowers you saw from above - a large meadow of paintbrush mixed with western pasqueflower. Just behind me in this view.
I'm not sure I'd use the 2-image approach again for this particular scene, since it has a strong horizontal break. But at the time, it beat fussing with Cokin filters! Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always.
Tom
Olympus E-300, 11-22mm lens at 11mm, 1/4 second, two images separated by 3 stops
Mostly nice, Tom, I don't think the ridge and sky are adding anything to the photo though. I wish I had been able to get up there with you.
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 4, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Thanks, Mark - we'll connect up sometime! I was having a hard time deciding how to frame the background - are you saying that you would have just tilted the scene toward the creek, or leave a portion of the trees (or even the base of the ridge) in the composition? This is one of those spots where I just kept getting wider... and wider... and wider...
Tom
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on August 4, 2007 at 3:34 PM
This is nice, Tom.... I might consider removing a little of the blue from the water but I like everything else.....
Posted by Mike Stovall on August 4, 2007 at 5:55 PM
Beautiful, Tom. I agree to take the edge off the blue in the creek would improve the image, but the rest of it is great. I hear you on the blending. I've been blending exposures in Photoshop since I lost my grads and am finally getting tired enough of it to break open the wallet and order a new set. It's much easier to use the grads.
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 4, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Thanks for the suggestions - here's a less blue version with a bit more attention toward evening up the sky. I'm kind of partial to the ridge in the background, but I'll experiment with a cropped version per Mark's comment, too. I have a real Achilles heel when it comes to going wide, wider, even wider...
Very nice one Tom. Personally I like the bluer one better (second one looks too yellow to me and blue light is more natural). I'd suggest cropping a little off the right side - just to the right of the clump of yellow flowers.
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 5, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Thanks, Bryan - I kinda like the blues, too.
Sandy, this is the upper reaches of Elk Cove on the north side of Mount Hood. It's an 8+ mile hike from the Vista Ridge trailhead (very well graded with no glacial stream crossings). To reach this spot, simply follow the boot path along Cove Creek -- the main stream flowing through the meadows.
Discussion
8 repliesBTW, Mark - I think I did spot the patch of flowers you saw from above - a large meadow of paintbrush mixed with western pasqueflower. Just behind me in this view.
I'm not sure I'd use the 2-image approach again for this particular scene, since it has a strong horizontal break. But at the time, it beat fussing with Cokin filters! Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always.
Tom
Olympus E-300, 11-22mm lens at 11mm, 1/4 second, two images separated by 3 stops
Tom
Tom
Sandy
Sandy, this is the upper reaches of Elk Cove on the north side of Mount Hood. It's an 8+ mile hike from the Vista Ridge trailhead (very well graded with no glacial stream crossings). To reach this spot, simply follow the boot path along Cove Creek -- the main stream flowing through the meadows.
Tom