Let's try this post again...the pictures have been compressed more than I would like due to giving up after an exhaustive and inconclusive process of upload attempts. So I settled...
These images were taken in between Castle Rock and Larkspur. All were taken with a 20sec exposure. I am looking for comments, feedback, and suggestions. Thanks for looking!
Oren
PS - This is my first post...but I did introduce myself on the appropriate thread.
Ok, this one is the aftermath of a transformer hit (I think). Unfortunately, the camera was processing the previous image when the lightning hit, but I was able to snap again in time to get the blue glow. http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0023.jpg
What in the world are you doing here! HA... while I slave away watching radar and updating clients you were out playing.... really like 0038 and the crop.... looks close!
Welcome, Oren! This looks like an intense storm. 0016 is a great shot. I think I'd crop in quite a bit, though, on the lightning. Maybe make it a bit of a panoramic image. I think all the negative space in the original lessens the impact. 0038 is really dramatic. The processed version doesn't look too good to me, though it does need a little processing (I wouldn't call it doctored, unless you're removing objects. Every image needs processing to turn the raw data into the image. Either you're processing the image or the camera is processing it...). You might try the recovery slider in Lightroom or Bridge or try luminosity masks (google "Tony Kuyper, luminosity mask"). If you have a remove cord, you might also try different length exposures. Just hold the shutter open until you think you have the shot. But all in all, you have some really great shots here!
I can't add a thing to Grant's words of wisdom, except to say that you've captured some fine lightning bolts with some pretty sweet light here and there.
Your comment about having to wait for the 'camera processing' before taking another shot leads me to believe that you have the Noise Reduction feature turned on. This means that every 20 sec. exposure will have a concurrent 20 sec. 'dark frame subtraction' exposure taken and applied to the original shot.
This doesn't reduce noise, but eliminates hot pixels on the sensor from showing that may occur with long exposures. Turn this off and the next time you do a shoot like this (or any using long exposure times), you won't be waiting for the camera to do its work.
Yup, lots of good stuff there. I like 0016 a lot, too. The ones (like that one) where the cloud bottoms are lit up really say a lot. And that last one, WOW!, looks like a change-your-undies moment for sure!
I agree with everyone else with 16. Really like that one. I'd crop most of the negative space from the bottom though. Most of the others just have too much negative space (for my tastes) which detracts from the impact. That last one has a lot of promise though. Hopefully, Grant's suggestion will help you in recovering from the over exposure.
Thanks everyone so much for the suggestions and positive feedback. Here are my attempts at some additional processing of the two images. The luminosity mask is a tricky one, so I have much more experimenting to do with that one.
Discussion
12 repliesThese images were taken in between Castle Rock and Larkspur. All were taken with a 20sec exposure. I am looking for comments, feedback, and suggestions. Thanks for looking!
Oren
PS - This is my first post...but I did introduce myself on the appropriate thread.
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/Lightning1.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0027.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0026.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0016.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0021.jpg
Ok, this one is the aftermath of a transformer hit (I think). Unfortunately, the camera was processing the previous image when the lightning hit, but I was able to snap again in time to get the blue glow.
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0023.jpg
Finally, the first of these is the original (which I feel is overexposed, but it was the original...) The second is doctored a little. Thoughts?
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0038_2.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/DSC_0038.jpg
Your comment about having to wait for the 'camera processing' before taking another shot leads me to believe that you have the Noise Reduction feature turned on. This means that every 20 sec. exposure will have a concurrent 20 sec. 'dark frame subtraction' exposure taken and applied to the original shot.
This doesn't reduce noise, but eliminates hot pixels on the sensor from showing that may occur with long exposures. Turn this off and the next time you do a shoot like this (or any using long exposure times), you won't be waiting for the camera to do its work.
Ken
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/updates/DSC_0016_3-small.jpg
http://www.brieseandassociates.com/pictures/updates/DSC_0038-small.jpg