Thinking of Spring *comparison image added*

This is a rework of an image I posted back in 2006. I very much liked how the processing went with this version as opposed to the original I did. I wish this pint sized version could show the detail of the original file. This is a section along Ruckel Creek.

I'm get very excited about the coming of Spring in the Gorge this year. My vacations for May and June are planned to hit the whole area up there pretty heavy. We got the oldest daughter a Canon 720 IS for her birthday this weekend, and I am looking forward to taking her up to do some photography.

Canon 1D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70L at 24mm
ISO-200
1.6 seconds at f/16

Wow Ned this is VERY nice and I'm lovin that fern in the foreground!! It would be cool to see the previous processed version for comparison's sake. And maybe you could share how you processed it differently?

Oh, yes! Ned I remember this one from those tremendous ferns in the fg. Wow, this is so vibrantly green and lush! Nicely reworked.

Great greens. This has me psyched for spring now as well. Great use of the fern and the water looks great contrasting with all that moss on both sides.

Intimate falls images like this hooked me on NPN Ned and this image may have been the deciding factor. Gorgeous in every way! Watch your back though... a fresh approach might be a mere generation away and them genes could surprise you!

Nice to see you posting again!

Love the big sword fern in the FG, Ned, and all the green sure looks good. Mostly we still have shades of brown in NCW. I would like to see the first version also.

Yes, The Gorge, can't wait to get back there and I talk like it's so far yet it's the closest for me than other shooting location. Too much time lately going elsewhere and that will probably continue through April. Hope to see you up there sometime Ned. This is a great image, composed and processed perfectly IMO!

Thanks so much for the comments. I will try to get one up to show this evening. I actually prepped a photo this morning for the web from the old master and found that in preparing the JPEG there is not a lot of difference in sharpness but more in color. It is most noticeable comparing the full resolution file side by side. Newer sharpening techniques have really made the difference in the final print.

What I like "now" as opposed to "then" are the differences in Photoshop CS3 and especially in the RAW conversion. Else, it may just be in lessons learned in the whole conversion process. I've found I do very little any more other than levels, threshold, some local contrast adjustments and in a few circumstances, some work with the whites. Using a capture sharpening program has also helped greatly overall.

Very pretty Ned. I love those greens, and the fern is placed perfectly.

Nice composition, Ned - especially the decision on where to establish the background. I get all kinds of cropping ideas from your shots!

Tom

Here is my original. I think maybe the biggest thing is my greens being way out of whack... for comparison at least..

Thanks again for your valued input..

Excellent composition Ned! I agree, the new processing is much better, but wonder if it might be just a touch yellow now? I find that the camera records greens more yellow than my eye sees them; I've read that most humans see/remember greens as being less yellow than they really are.

A picture is worth at least a thousand words, so with your permission (?) here's a link to what I mean, kicking the color around just a bit in LAB. (It's a subtle difference, so the link is an animated GIF (430k) that alternates between three versions at two seconds each, original/slight difference/more difference. It alternates after it loads, and you'll probably have to watch it alternate a time or two to appreciate the change.)

I'd be curios to know if you and others think it's better, worse, or negligible. Are the greens better left as the camera records?

I'm glad that you showed me this.. the change is very subtle, but I see what you mean... and I agree with your assessment on color recording. I find in fact that I try to tone down the yellows somewhat myself and would be interested in knowing your process in LAB color..

I think the comp is spot on! John has a really good point about the color. I must agree...

I've always loved this shot. it's clean and green.

Ned, I'm ready when you are........today it was snowing so hard in the Amboy Yacolt areas that I almost did not make it home from the Grist Mill

Sure Ned. In brief, after converting to lab add a curve that steepens both endpoints of the a channel equally (makes the greens more vivid), and a second curve that steepens just the blue end of the b channel (makes the greens less yellow). Then, use “Blend If” to restrict the changes to the yellows or greens. (I usually use yellow unless I have something actually yellow, such as flowers, in the photo.)

I like to over do the curves a bit, and then use each layer’s Opacity to fine tune the look. In addition, I usually duplicate the background, and then clip the curves to the duplicate. This allows me to do the Blend If and a final Opacity adjustment on the Clipping Mask.

If you work in lab much, hopefully this makes sense. If not it it’s probably like reading Greek, and I can either post the .psd file for you to explore, or a more detailed, step-by-step version with screen shots.

Thanks John, Darren and the brothers Lundh..... John, Darren - we should get out shooting since we are practically neighbors... I'll play with the LAB stuff. I have the book, and agree it is crazy to read and understand.... Thanks for sharing your process!

Talk to me Ned, Talk to me.....I am headed up to the Olympics this next week and then after that, it will be springtime in the Gorge!!!! I know a few new spots we may want to check out....