I spent the last week and half or so out on the Eastern Sierra, and had a fantastic sunset at mono lake with some fresh snow on the Tufas. I took this one with and without a 2-stop hard GND, and have been trying to get the Tufa's blended right using the two exposures, but I've stared at it for so long now I can't tell if I'm imagining halos, and whether the exposure looks right now or not... what do you all think? Thanks!
Canon 5D, 17-40mm
3-stop ND
2-stop hard GND
iso 100, f/16, 3.2 sec
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 31, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Floris,
The overall exposure looks ok to me. The left tufa looks a little darker on top and I'm not sure if that's a halo or just the clouds. Great sunset and I like the snow on the tufas. I was at Mono last Saturday after skiing at Mammoth. Judging from the freshness of the snow, it looks like you were there a day or two before me.
Rudy
Thanks Rudy. That left tufa, (and the right one), are the ones I've been having trouble with. It is indeed a little darker, I just can't seem to brighten it without making it look weird or introducing more halos.
I think this was thursday (12/25) evening, I got there right as the snow stopped falling, the storm cleared, and it was lovely :) There was about 5 inches of snow on the road out there, and no one had driven it yet, very nice to see it so pristine.
Posted by Lon Overacker on December 31, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Floris,
This is a very good winter image from Mono Lake. There is a gradual darkening of the tufa from bottom to top, but certainly no "grad line." I think you did well to mitigate the effect. I do see a bit of haloing on the left tower, but it's pretty minimal. I think you could also brighten the R and L upper corners as the sky seems brighter in the middle as if a polarizer was used. But all these are pretty minor and from what your saying and what I'm seeing, this looks like a good challenge in terms of processing.
I love the colors here and this is definitely worth continuing to work on.
Discussion
3 repliesCanon 5D, 17-40mm
3-stop ND
2-stop hard GND
iso 100, f/16, 3.2 sec
The overall exposure looks ok to me. The left tufa looks a little darker on top and I'm not sure if that's a halo or just the clouds. Great sunset and I like the snow on the tufas. I was at Mono last Saturday after skiing at Mammoth. Judging from the freshness of the snow, it looks like you were there a day or two before me.
Rudy
I think this was thursday (12/25) evening, I got there right as the snow stopped falling, the storm cleared, and it was lovely :) There was about 5 inches of snow on the road out there, and no one had driven it yet, very nice to see it so pristine.
This is a very good winter image from Mono Lake. There is a gradual darkening of the tufa from bottom to top, but certainly no "grad line." I think you did well to mitigate the effect. I do see a bit of haloing on the left tower, but it's pretty minimal. I think you could also brighten the R and L upper corners as the sky seems brighter in the middle as if a polarizer was used. But all these are pretty minor and from what your saying and what I'm seeing, this looks like a good challenge in terms of processing.
I love the colors here and this is definitely worth continuing to work on.
Lon