Nice, Jimmy - might have gotten lower for a stronger foreground?.. but I think the comp is solid... overall though it feels to me like its slanted a bit clockwise? Could just be my impression of a spot I have never stood at.
Love the skies.
If I was to ask "what is this a picture of"? what would be your response? I think it's a great scene showing the environment with the flowers.
Care to share your post-processing techniques on this one?
Am thinking of going back up tomorrow morning. Will take your advice of getting down a bit lower. According to my bubble level this was not slanted at all.
Regarding the skies I stood there for about 45 minutes for the cloud/fog obscuring the flatiron to move aside. The clouds/fog was actually getting worse so I got this.
"What is this a picture of"? Probably a postcard shot of the Flatirons in the spring.
Shot at 5 exposures and mildly, I repeat mildly, blended in Photomatix HDR. Then a few quick adjustments in LR. Did not use PS at all. Does it look too HDRish?
Thanks for the processing details, I don't think it looks overly HDRish... I like the look of it. Just wish there was a bit more foreground/background perspective for drama... note how the texture of the flowers and the trees are very similar in size and texture. Maybe could use a stronger focal point? Think "contrasts" in terms other than tone.
I really like the colour and mood with the low clouds!. Thanks for the heads up, I was up there last week and there were still only a few Golden Banner and bluebells appearing!.
Not to my eye.
The light touch you used brought out great detail in the trees and clouds.
In fact, I wouldn't have known you used a blended 5 shot exposure had you not mentioned it.
The sign of a well 'developed' image, IMO.
Ok, went back up to Chautauqau this AM. Got blessed with some "Caudle" clouds and took Nat's advice to get down lower. After looking at the image am thinking I could have got down even lower and closer to the flowers.
I've been enjoying this discussion. I can't count the times I've gotten home and thought to myself "I wish I had _________ when I took this". You were blessed with a chance to go back and try again and we benefited from seeing a different perspective.
Of all three, I think I like the vertical best. You've composed the foreground, middle and background well. The mountains and clouds seem more dramatic to me in this format. You've got a great depth of field (hyperfocal?) yet the mountains seem close like you were using a long lens. Care to share the shooting info?
I'm impressed with your HDR skills. A lot of HDR photos look unnatural I couldn't tell these were HDRs. Very nice!
I like the last one best too. I'd like to see that one with a little wider angle with more of the flowers showing or I might have gotten down even lower (as close as you can to the flowers while keeping everything in focus). But it's very nice as is. The 2nd one seems oversaturated and the clouds on the left are a little blown out. Did you try this without HDR? To me, this seems like a scene that wouldn't need HDR (maybe just some highlight recovery in Lightroom), especially if the sun was directly behind you.
These are all great. A very unique and dramatic view of this popular spot. I also love the last one best. I'm also curious what the last one would look like without HDR.
I think you narrowed down my hiking choices for tomorrow. But with my luck it's going to be a blue sky morning
Grant,
Thankls for the insights. Regarding HDR, I am just in the learning/facination stage with HDR. As a result, I am HDR'ing everything. But, you are right. This scene on its own does not have any extreme dynamic range issues and so will go back to a single shot and see how that looks compared to the HDR. Thanks for your thoughts.
Aleks,
If you decide to visit Chautauqua tomorrow morning keep in mind that the Boulder Bolder is tomorrow...lots and lots of traffic. Also, just checked Accu-Weather and it looks like solid clouds tomorrow morning.
The ones from today are AWESOME, Jim! I knew the clouds were happening this morning (snagged this web cam image today at 7:30-ish), but was unaware the flowers had progressed quite that far.
That last vertical takes the cake of the three. Very dramatic! I would definitely like to see what you come up with a non-HDR version as I agree with Grant in that it should be very unnecessary for this scene.
The flowers are in the meadow right off of Baseline. When you turn in to the main Ranger station parking lot, just look for the prolific patch of yellow. Can't miss it.
Discussion
26 repliesJim
Love the skies.
If I was to ask "what is this a picture of"? what would be your response? I think it's a great scene showing the environment with the flowers.
Care to share your post-processing techniques on this one?
Regarding the skies I stood there for about 45 minutes for the cloud/fog obscuring the flatiron to move aside. The clouds/fog was actually getting worse so I got this.
"What is this a picture of"? Probably a postcard shot of the Flatirons in the spring.
Shot at 5 exposures and mildly, I repeat mildly, blended in Photomatix HDR. Then a few quick adjustments in LR. Did not use PS at all. Does it look too HDRish?
J
Not to my eye.
The light touch you used brought out great detail in the trees and clouds.
In fact, I wouldn't have known you used a blended 5 shot exposure had you not mentioned it.
The sign of a well 'developed' image, IMO.
The low clouds make this one sing!
Jim
I like this composition much better!
Of all three, I think I like the vertical best. You've composed the foreground, middle and background well. The mountains and clouds seem more dramatic to me in this format. You've got a great depth of field (hyperfocal?) yet the mountains seem close like you were using a long lens. Care to share the shooting info?
I'm impressed with your HDR skills. A lot of HDR photos look unnatural I couldn't tell these were HDRs. Very nice!
Canon 1Ds III
24 - 105 Lens at 80mm
100 ISO
1/16 second at f16
Focused at Hyperfocal distance.
Thanks,
Jim
Jack
I think you narrowed down my hiking choices for tomorrow. But with my luck it's going to be a blue sky morning
Thankls for the insights. Regarding HDR, I am just in the learning/facination stage with HDR. As a result, I am HDR'ing everything. But, you are right. This scene on its own does not have any extreme dynamic range issues and so will go back to a single shot and see how that looks compared to the HDR. Thanks for your thoughts.
Aleks,
If you decide to visit Chautauqua tomorrow morning keep in mind that the Boulder Bolder is tomorrow...lots and lots of traffic. Also, just checked Accu-Weather and it looks like solid clouds tomorrow morning.
Jim
Bill Brennan
yep, Bolder Boulder tomorrow...tough enough getting around in a car in that town as it is...
Was up at NCAR today doing some GPS work, and these clouds were rolling in at 12:30, and were rumbling pretty dern good...
Jack
The flowers are in the meadow right off of Baseline. When you turn in to the main Ranger station parking lot, just look for the prolific patch of yellow. Can't miss it.