Posted by Anish Desai on September 26, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Here's an image from several years ago taken along the road to South Lake. I've got a few old fall images that I never gave much thought to, but find I'm liking them now. Any thoughts?
Posted by Derek Sedillo on September 26, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Anish,
I am definately with you in thinking about Fall this year.
I love the color the aspens in this image. However the light seems a bit harsh on the foreground boulders. And I just don't find the rocks that compelling. I would recommend trying to do a blended exposure here and possibly crop some of the rocks off the bottom.
My 2c,
Derek
Posted by Eric Good on September 26, 2009 at 4:28 PM
The compositional balance and lines work well enough for me, but even though the light is doing a nice job of backlighting it's just too harsh for my taste. Did you happen to take any earlier/later using the same composition with softer light? I think I'd prefer that. Other than the quality of light this works for me.
In person, I always love that kind of light on the fall aspens, but it never seems to work in a photograph... I have to agree with Derek and Eric, the light just seems too harsh here. But it's definitely a good teaser for this year!
Posted by Anish Desai on September 27, 2009 at 3:25 PM
My thoughts exactly, Floris. It's a shame such beauty can't be effectively captured. I particularly liked the way the boulders' contrasts played against the foliage, and while those contrasts would be absent under indirect light, you guys are right that the light here is a bit too harsh.
Anish
Posted by Steve Sieren on September 29, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Anish, this brings up something I've heard too many times. You can photograph fall color all day long or at least until 1030 or 11am. I have not found this to be true. If there isn't any clouds out the sun light is just too harsh even for backlighting that late. In sunlight (not shade)930 seems to be the latest I've gotten something I was happy with.
Posted by Paul Duval on September 29, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Ever thought of turning a GND up side down? Or I use the darken hightlights slider or just loop the boulders and darken them, seems to work, but I'm still pretty much a klutz, when it comes to Photoshop and I just have elements.
Posted by Anish Desai on September 30, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Steve,
From my experience, 9:30 even sounds late, but I'd have to get up there and play around to see how far I can push it. For backlight, your estimate is probably pretty good, though. I hope to get up there this weekend...
Paul,
That's an interesting idea. I've tried the upside down GND a couple times for flowing water, but not with too much success. I suppose it could be used for a case like this, but given the uneven transition between light and dark, i would probably just blend two exposures here.
Discussion
7 repliesI am definately with you in thinking about Fall this year.
I love the color the aspens in this image. However the light seems a bit harsh on the foreground boulders. And I just don't find the rocks that compelling. I would recommend trying to do a blended exposure here and possibly crop some of the rocks off the bottom.
My 2c,
Derek
Anish
From my experience, 9:30 even sounds late, but I'd have to get up there and play around to see how far I can push it. For backlight, your estimate is probably pretty good, though. I hope to get up there this weekend...
Paul,
That's an interesting idea. I've tried the upside down GND a couple times for flowing water, but not with too much success. I suppose it could be used for a case like this, but given the uneven transition between light and dark, i would probably just blend two exposures here.