Colorado National Monument

With all the snow this past winter....I didn't do too much hiking. I was able to go across the street from me to the Colorado National Monument and get these shots.

#2

#3

#1 looks awesome, what a combo of cool things in one shot!! Some funky contrast/noise issues in 2&3--especially 3.

Yea ~ its that program you told me to stay away from.....I think you are right about it....but I did these a couple of months ago and had been trying to see if I could get anything decent from it. Its fun to play with....but the results are somewhat disappointing.

#1 could be in National Geographic, I think. #2 is a great portrait, and #3 has great mood, but Stan is right on that something is amiss in the processing.

Hey guys ~ check this one out. Is it as noisey? I can't really tell with my laptop. This is pretty much straight out of the camera. I did have a star filter on the lens...but it really blew the sun out. Best I could do with such a rush shot before this pronghorn just outside of Cisco, Utah moved. I am somewhat challenged with my processing....since I am just shooting with a little "point and shoot" camera that will ONLY shoot jpegs.

I think #3 would be really cool, once corrected.

Wish I could just walk over to some place like CNM
#1 is my favorite shot, it really gives a sense of the full environment with the sheep and terrain included. My only suggestions would be to take some noise out of the sky and warm up the color balance, very, very slightly. As discussed above, #s 2 & 3 are suffering from some funky processing but are well worth working on more. I like the unique ground-level comp on #3. On your final image, noise doesn't seen to be a factor...yet. The image looks like it needs some sharpening and more noise might become apparent in that process, it's hard to tell from this Web version. I might consider cropping a little, maybe about 1/6 of the image, off the bottom too.

The first two are great! It's rare to have wildlife standing at such scenic spots. The 3rd, as others said, is a bit funky. It's interesting as is as photo art, but probably needs some work on the blown highlights and noise. #4 might be the best of the bunch with a little better processing. The uneven transitions from yellow to orange and the odd, non-circular shape of the sun make the image a bit less believable...again more like photo art and almost a creation of Photoshop, though I know it isn't. But since it's a jpeg, it may be hard to recover much from this. Maybe time to get a dslr with all the spectaculer images you're getting?

As far as #3 goes, I think you should just purposely call it photo-art and you're covered. The first one is amazing, and the second one could be even more so with a little less aggressive processing. I wish I had a shot like that from CNM! That last one, the sun is just too much. How about cropping to the pronghorn? And if you're only shooting a camera that shoots jpegs, and if you want to be serious about your photography, it's time to start saving your money for a big purchase. A lot can be done with p&s cameras, but for serious photography I think they should be relegated to secondary (or lower) status. Or you can do what one longtime forum denizen uses his point and shoot for (I won't tell you who it is, but his initials are Brent Doerzman), and just take lots of pictures of yourself.

Thanks Todd C. ~ you've got me looking at some DSLR's now! I use to be really serious about my photography back in the 60's. But I retired my 1973 Nikon F2 Photomic (top of the line at the time) and 2&1/4 to the closet when digital started coming out. I hike A LOT and I guess I am more serious about that. I switched to digital when I moved out here to Colorado and just got a cheap Canon digital p&s to hike with. In the last 5 years.....with the places that I hike into ~ has caused me to purchase 5 of these cameras now. So mine are more like disposable cameras. LOL
Anyway, I am shooting with a Canon Sx10is and I really love the tiltable swing screen. It lets me put the camera right down in the ground to get my low angle shots....of course that is one reason I am having to buy cameras all the time. I would be happy with it if it would shoot in RAW. Do you know of any DSLR's that have a swing/tilt screen?

I like the first. My eyes are lead up and over by the slope and shrub-line to the sheep, and the image gives an open view of their habitat with good depth near to far.

Rick, I'm not familiar with the feature set on the SX10is, but if you wanted to still shoot with a p&s camera, Canon's G10 and G11 are excellent cameras with raw capabilities. No swing-out lcd, though. That's a feature I wish was on every new camera produced! I'm sure others here will pipe in with their recommendations.

#1 & #2 are really nice, #3 needs work as already commented on.

You are lucky to "just go across the street" to the CNM. My husband & I want to move to GJ SO bad, but haven't been having any luck finding jobs first...

If you're intent on keeping a P&S, you might check out the Canon Powershot G11. It shoots RAW, but I don't know if it has a swing/tilt screen. Shooting in RAW is a must if you want to be "serious." I've been able to save quite a few images that if I'd shot in JPEG, they'd have been toast.

I agree, #3 will be quite the image with a little rework. It's my #1!

BTW, speaking of CNM, have a closer look at my thumbnail pic.

I liked that first one the first time I saw it, and I still like it just as well!
I agree with the others' comments on the rest.
The Canon G11 does indeed have a tilt 'n swing LCD. One of my favorite features of this camera.
However, you have an eye for photography that's better than most, so I would go for a DSLR were I you.

I love the first two images, Rick. That 2nd one looks like a museum diorama.

Can't add any more to what's been said. Sweet shots. I do like #3 as photo art - it's surreal.

And I thought I was spoiled, I gotta drive a whole 10 minutes to get there.

Thanks everyone for your honest opinions....special thanks to you John, as you have seen many more of my shots and are familiar with my style.
I am definitely in the market now for a DSLR. I am stuck on the tilt and swivel (articulating) LCD though and looks like I am very limited on what I have to choose from. I looked extensively on DPreview at the specs of many cameras...that made me dizzy..... and I didn't come up with much. I did find an old article written over a year ago here http://bit.ly/at6OTv I know they have added a few more models since this article was written...but it is still "slim pickins" I know they will start putting this feature on the more high end cameras in the future. This is such a GREAT feature....I just can't believe they are waiting this long to do it. I have put off getting a better camera just for this reason...but I might be waiting forever. So I guess it is decision time now for me.

Rick #1 is a great shot! Hard to get animals to pose that good :)

#1 is a great shot. Good luck with your research. There is a lot to consider.

I like #3 - feels apopolyptic!

A couple of ideas if you are looking for a camera with a tilt/swivel LCD. Panasonic and Olympus make models you might want to check out (I think Sony might have one too). I also came across a $19 add-on that was interesting. It is called the Flipbac and is a flip down mirror that attaches at the bottom of your LCD (when folded up it acts as a screen protector). This gives you some additional viewing angles. And, many of the new models have Live View functionality that works really well, though it doesn't give you any new viewing angles. Just a few options to consider.

Thanks Jamie ~ I have been looking at an Oly closely the last couple of days. I seemed to keep coming back to the Canon reviews though. I kept thinking I could just use a little mirror for my tilt view on a Canon......I had to laugh when you said they make an attachment like that. I should have known someone would have had that same idea. LOL
I wish they had a Canon 5D Mark ll with the tilt LCD...I would buy it in a minute. It's just none of the top models have this feature. I really must be missing something with this one........I couldn't get half the shots that I get if I couldn't lay on the ground or squeeze into the crevices that I do without an articulating LCD....so I don't understand why more photographers aren't demanding this feature. Seldom do I ever take "eye level" shots ...I find most of those shots of mine taken at "eye level" boring....guess that is why I find using a tripod so restricting.
But hey ~ thanks again for the info...I think I will Google that mirrow add-on and then go from there....maybe I will still get a Canon if that thing works.

Rick,
I completely forgot that you can download and install a Canon Sx10IS firmware 'hack' that will give your camera the ability to shoot in RAW, along with lots of other features that are 'locked' by Canon. Now that's what I call an option...check it out!

WOW John ~ I am amazed at the wealth of information you seem to possess. I didn't know anything about this. This might be the key to hold me over until they come out with what I need on a high end DSLR. I just hope I don't have to go through 5 of those in 5 years...guess I will only be shooting the "roadside" ruins with one of those 5D Mark ll's. Well, I am sure they have never been shot from the ground. LOL
If you think I am having trouble with deciding on this camera....you should see me when I buy a vehicle.....that is really pitiful. I know.... I just did it with a new Jeep......and yes...I want my OLD one back now. No wonder I like shooting the ruins and glyphs.....I'm just like a dinosaur.....and don't like change.
Thanks again