Looking for some comments here on where to go w/ this photo. Part of me likes it as is, but I do find that I want to tweak the contrast. But, when I do, I am not happy w/ the result.
You may notice the "sky" in this photo. I have used the sky from this image in a composite that I've posted before. Both of those images were from Death Valley anyway. For some reason, I was never able to get this foreground where I wanted it when editing the image, and I kind of wrote it off.
But I had another go at it, and I am pretty happy where it is, but would like some feedback about how you would edit this image to your liking.
Do you perceive the darker tone on the first sand ridge as normal shadow, or grad line?
Fuji S2 Pro
Sigma 20mm
3-stop Rev ND Grad & 2-stop Hard ND Grad
-1.7ev fill flash
Just a quick recap on the surroundings:
Death Valley National Park
22-JUL-2005
116F at sunset
Sandstorm kicking up...
Given that there are patches of clear sky and thick dark clouds, I don't find that dark sand ridge to be bothersome at all. Some technical minded photographers might make a fuss about it but I don't think the general viewing public would care in any way.
This image has lots of drama which is a positive. I like it as is and wouldn't touch it any more.
BTW, you never told us how your exhibition from a few months ago turned out.
Posted by Timothy Swope on March 4, 2006 at 10:17 PM
If I crop off much of the heavy dark cloud at top, I find this working much better IMO. The grad is of no bother to my eye.
I have always felt similarly about the dark undersides of clouds... until I really started looking at them in real life. I realized that there *are* dark undersides of clouds. I always figured it was a grad effect, etc. But if you look closely you can pretty much tell that there's no light being thrown on it. So, for that reason I kept it in.
---
Anil,
It was good... just a reception at a local gallery. The photos that I had there were IR w/ "ghost" images (long exposures w/ people walking thru). This type of photo always lends itself to questions and dialogue, which is good.
Posted by Richard Wong on March 5, 2006 at 11:01 PM
I generally like this, but there seems to be an unnatural yellow cast to the sky in my eyes. I know it's golden light, but something about the image looks warmer than it should be. The sand looks like it's blowing to create leading eye lines. Very nice.
Richard: That's the kind of feedback I am looking for.
I could never get the colors that I really wanted when I edited. So, sometimes when I get in a rut like this I will convert to LAB mode and adjust the colors there. Honestly, I don't even know what the heck A & B mean. But, if you bring up the levels tool and move the A&B channels you get huge color shifts. I happened to find one that I like
Comments appreciated.
Posted by Richard Wong on March 6, 2006 at 12:57 PM
The new one looks incredible, keep up the good work.
Discussion
6 repliesYou may notice the "sky" in this photo. I have used the sky from this image in a composite that I've posted before. Both of those images were from Death Valley anyway. For some reason, I was never able to get this foreground where I wanted it when editing the image, and I kind of wrote it off.
But I had another go at it, and I am pretty happy where it is, but would like some feedback about how you would edit this image to your liking.
Do you perceive the darker tone on the first sand ridge as normal shadow, or grad line?
Fuji S2 Pro
Sigma 20mm
3-stop Rev ND Grad & 2-stop Hard ND Grad
-1.7ev fill flash
Just a quick recap on the surroundings:
Death Valley National Park
22-JUL-2005
116F at sunset
Sandstorm kicking up...
Given that there are patches of clear sky and thick dark clouds, I don't find that dark sand ridge to be bothersome at all. Some technical minded photographers might make a fuss about it but I don't think the general viewing public would care in any way.
This image has lots of drama which is a positive. I like it as is and wouldn't touch it any more.
BTW, you never told us how your exhibition from a few months ago turned out.
I have always felt similarly about the dark undersides of clouds... until I really started looking at them in real life. I realized that there *are* dark undersides of clouds. I always figured it was a grad effect, etc. But if you look closely you can pretty much tell that there's no light being thrown on it. So, for that reason I kept it in.
---
Anil,
It was good... just a reception at a local gallery. The photos that I had there were IR w/ "ghost" images (long exposures w/ people walking thru). This type of photo always lends itself to questions and dialogue, which is good.
I could never get the colors that I really wanted when I edited. So, sometimes when I get in a rut like this I will convert to LAB mode and adjust the colors there. Honestly, I don't even know what the heck A & B mean. But, if you bring up the levels tool and move the A&B channels you get huge color shifts. I happened to find one that I like
Comments appreciated.