OT & some on topic: I just want to thank you all!

I just want to say thanks for helping me kick my Ken Rockwell habit. For a long time I was glued to his site daily reading his propaganda believing every word of it. Seeing the great work here and participating in these forums has helped me worry more about taking pictures than camera stats.

Once again, thanks.


Ken Rockwell's ego was not harmed very much by the posting of this topic.

And for something on topic; here is a shot from Trail Ridge in October. C&C is welcome. I cropped a bit of the upper sky because it seemed distracting. I am thinking it needs more contrast between the rocks and the tundra but I am not sure how i am going to do that or if it needs it.

D70 12-24mm @ 12mm f/11 1/400

Nice image Jim. If you have Lightroom 2, you can use the adjustments brush to paint a lower exposure on the hillside. That would bring the foreground out a little.

It's a lovely comp, but the rock and tundra are too yellow on my display.

Friends don't let friends read Rockwell.

Dave is right, Jim.

Open up the Levels or Curves dialog, click on the grey eyedropper, and then click on the grey area of the rock not covered in lichen close to the lower left corner.
You'll be amazed at the difference.

That correction in itself will help resolve the difference between the foreground rocks and the tundra.

Thanks for the suggestions, I tried a couple things once i got home and was able to use lightroom. This one is with darkening the tundra and cooling the temp a little. I am doing a little more experimenting so let me know if you think of this one.

Still has a slight yellow cast.

Try that grey eyedropper tip. I tried it at home with this image, and it'll do the trick.

I am seeing the yellow a bit more, I shot this while I was following another one of Rockwell's ism's (always have a 81a filter on your lens) My eyes have gotten used to seeing too much yellow I think. Let me know what you think of this one.

After viewing this one on the web I think this looks washed out, too much blue, I will try it again.

Here's the result of using the ol' grey eyedropper. No sliders or temp. changes involved
I'll remove this immediately if you wish.

"Always have an 81a filter on your lens."
What a pathetic loser that guy is.

No John, that is great, that is the look I have been trying to get. I just have not had any luck getting this with the grey eyedropper. Where are you clicking? I click the grey rock on the left in the curves dialog box in PS and it all turnes blue, I don't know where the grey dropper is in LR except for the WB dropper. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Try the larger grey area on the big rock on the left in the lower area slightly left of center.

You can click on several of the grey areas 'til you find a good match.
Can't help you with Lightroom...never had a need for it.

Yep, looks like John nailed it.

Another Rockwell gem that was pointed out to me last week:
He considers that high ISOs and IS have made tripods obsolete:

"Sadly many people still look like idiots using tripods with digital cameras in daylight.
These guys are throwbacks to the 1950s, or the early 2000s. "

I haven't visited his site for years, but it should be good for some humor.

Ken Rockwell is the fellow who criticized the Sigma SD9 as a worthless camera after allegedly taking some sample photos without a CF card inserted. "I'll be honest and admit that I didn't even bother to pop in my CF cards when I used this, sorry."

Thanks for the help, I got off my butt and opened it in Photoshop and that made the process a little bit easier. I just opened the original in PS and modified it so it is not cropped. I think that it looks ok this way but may need a little cropped on the top the sky is distracting to me. I am just please to think I have the color close to what I wanted.

It is unfortunate that I spent over a year faithfully following what he had to say. I now feel like I am having to relearn a lot. Oh well it is a great experience that leads to great photos.

There's no bigger joke around than KR.

Once, I thought it was satire.

Good to kick that particular site to the curb.