Coudln't think of a name so I just went with half of Eric's title.
I shot this yesterday morning after starting the hike around 1:30 am. Of course my headlamp did the flashing thing right before it dies just after the moon went down. It stayed working though. I've only been stuck out there once in the dark so far. As soon as I made it up there still in the dark it started snowing so I hung out under a boulder for a while. As soon as the dawn light came so did the snow until I left the parking lot around 1pm.
Does anyone here process these type of images made when it's overcast out?
I've been night hiking many years to shoot at dawn and sunrise. Sometimes I read of peak baggers that may start really early like that. The earliest I ever start out is about 4am when the dawn is just about to peak over the eastern horizon. If you are going to nighthike, if you haven't already, you really ought to get a powerfull headlamp, (like not with the little AAAs), fill it with high capacity NMH batteries, and regularly test the wiring etc to make sure it isn't intermittent.
Of course some of your DSLR peers manipulatively process such images simply by heavily playing with Photoshop brightness, contrast, and saturation. One thing that is true is the actual human visual experience on a dim overcast day is usually unimpressively boring much the same as shooting off the light blue skylight before sunrise on a cloudless morning.
David, I always carry some sort of back up but I probably should upgrade from the AAA version I currently use.
It's a tough world out there for the photographer processing images. There is digitally noticable and reality where PS can be used and go unoticed. I try to keep as natural as can be but I do find some images on both ends of the scale. This image just has localized contrast adjustments and a sky gradient. In overcast light everything directly in front of you up to a certain distance will have good contrast and saturation just with softer light. The background always loses contrast off into the distance because of the atmosphere.
This could be the more processed look you might talking about.
I like the S-curve and the rocks in the FG. However the light and subject matter really aren't dramatic enough for me, and I don't really get drawn into the image... even your over-processed monstrosity of a second version
Jeesh Steve, you really get around! We were just talking about your NorCal coast trip and now you are up in the mtns. This must be becoming more of a full time gig for you.
Overcast lighting can be tough to work with unless it is a foreboading storm. This proved true again for me on my latest trip to the NorCal coast. In the mtns clouds are usually more dramatic and in this case they aren't totally flat looking thats for sure. The S turn water is really cool compositionally in the high alpine meadow. While this is a nice image, I just don't find quite as compelling as your other High Sierra work. Thats not to say it is not a nice image however.
BTW was this taken at night? I don't know if I understood your story correctly.
The first image looks pretty much spot on to me considering the conditions you shot in. I like the way you used the fg rocks to frame and anchor the bottom of the image. I can't think of anything to recommend in terms of PS wizardry. Only spectacular light could make this any better IMO. Nice work!
Discussion
8 repliesI shot this yesterday morning after starting the hike around 1:30 am. Of course my headlamp did the flashing thing right before it dies just after the moon went down. It stayed working though. I've only been stuck out there once in the dark so far. As soon as I made it up there still in the dark it started snowing so I hung out under a boulder for a while. As soon as the dawn light came so did the snow until I left the parking lot around 1pm.
Does anyone here process these type of images made when it's overcast out?
Of course some of your DSLR peers manipulatively process such images simply by heavily playing with Photoshop brightness, contrast, and saturation. One thing that is true is the actual human visual experience on a dim overcast day is usually unimpressively boring much the same as shooting off the light blue skylight before sunrise on a cloudless morning.
It's a tough world out there for the photographer processing images. There is digitally noticable and reality where PS can be used and go unoticed. I try to keep as natural as can be but I do find some images on both ends of the scale. This image just has localized contrast adjustments and a sky gradient. In overcast light everything directly in front of you up to a certain distance will have good contrast and saturation just with softer light. The background always loses contrast off into the distance because of the atmosphere.
This could be the more processed look you might talking about.
Overcast lighting can be tough to work with unless it is a foreboading storm. This proved true again for me on my latest trip to the NorCal coast. In the mtns clouds are usually more dramatic and in this case they aren't totally flat looking thats for sure. The S turn water is really cool compositionally in the high alpine meadow. While this is a nice image, I just don't find quite as compelling as your other High Sierra work. Thats not to say it is not a nice image however.
BTW was this taken at night? I don't know if I understood your story correctly.
Derek
It was taken at the perfect moment of sunrise on an overcast morning. Which means I was just waiting.. . for something that never happened.