Here's my take on the lupine along Whitney Portal Road from a three day stay May 16-18. This one was just below the first campground. Thanks to Paul Duval and others for the location info. Actually, I think Division Road was better---many more lupine in bloom along with a mix of other varieties. Unfortunately, there were nearly constant 10 mi/hr winds with 20-30 mi/hr gusts. I was able to get some sunset shots of the lupine on Division Road and the Giant 4-O'clock that Paul mentioned on Old Hwy 395. I’ll post them later.
Bob, the wind seems to almost always play havoc with these long stemmed lupine out there. This is a very nice and interesting composition with the colorful light in the BG too. I might adjust the cyan slider down just a bit on this one. Otherwise, very nice work.
Pretty flower scene, with quite the sky background?. I would agree with Paul about the cyan cast. It is pretty strong. Nice job in the wind. It sure does make it tough. It has been an unbelievably windy spring, as the wind picks up outside my house as I type. No shortage of wind.
Thanks, Paul. Yeah, I noticed all the colors were a bit hot after I posted it. I think over saturation is way too common these days---which is a trend I've never liked. Hope this on is better
Bob,
The re-post looks better, but maybe still needs a little adjustment as Paul and Harley suggested. Very pretty scene, nicely composed. Best Regards.
Good colors in the sky and Lupine. Well composed. Thanks for
sharing and giving us some of the good locales for wildflowers.
You did well considering how windy it was.
Bob, the re-post is much better and really looks good. So far as saturation, it's the toughest part of finishing off images IMO. I find that I tend to be high on mine, but it's not over intentionally at all. It's just hard to judge at times, and I also find no contrast or very low saturation to be worse. To me, it must look like it's "alive", even if it does not have a heart beat. Again, IMO anyway.
Paul, Harvey, Michael and Robert, thanks for the comments and especially the suggestions for improving the image. This was a difficult image for me to post process due to the unusual lighting conditions. The warm-toned clouds were only covering the part of the horizon that formed the background for this shot. The rest of the sky was deep blue/cyan which provided most of the front lighting. No doubt this lead to the strong FG color cast. Of course, human vision corrects much of this color cast. My general goal is minimal PP. However, a more important concept for me is to capture the seen as I saw it. Attached is a third interpretation. In this one I neutralized the color cast by setting a grey point on the granite rock in the FG. Unfortunately, this caused the pedals on the lupine to go distinctly magenta---perhaps appropriate for direct sunlight (5000K) illumination. But, what I distinctly remember in this seen was the blue/violet tones of the lupine pedals. So I layered the original RAW conversion and created a mask which allowed me to paint back in some of that color. I also toned down the sky, which I think had gone a little too yellow. I think this version is much closer to what I saw.
Impressions on this converision, better? Did I go too far? Although I do remember distinct yellow tones in the sky, I’m still not completely happy with sky rendering here.
Bob, I truly think your last version has an excellent natural look to it. Now, there are various ways to interpret that look overall, but I think we all strive to make the finished image appear as we recall seeing it. With that said, if this is how it looked in the field it should work as is. Again, this is never an easy task with all the anomalies our images pick up in the various stages of capture-processing-print. Actually, with all the issues we do have to work out it's amazing the stuff does come out as nice as this one here.
Thanks, Paul. In retrospect, I think the final rendering of this image depends a lot its intended use. If I were interested in maximum image sales, the first or second version with their higher saturation levels (perhaps with some correction of the cyan color cast in the FG rocks) might be most effective. For the more seasoned palate here on NPN, the last version may be more acceptable. That said my goal is to create fine art images not documentary photographs. So, while I personally find the last understated version much closer to my ideal representation, I think it is about as far as I would go in this direction without risking loosing the feeling that the image is, as you say, “alive”.
I’d also like to add that, although I’ve been doing nature photography most of my life, as creative outlet and great excuse to visit some beautiful locations, I have rarely posted my images online. This is not because I’m concerned about criticism or what others might think of my work---kinda the opposite. I’m not looking for validation as a photographer; my goal is continuous improvement to my chosen passion. I regularly monitor many of the multitudes of photo forums, including NPN. Over the years I’ve grown to trust the honest, unbiased and experienced opinions here as the best match to my ‘photographic philosophy’. So I chose NPN---lucky NPN!
One of my favorite expressions of ‘photographic philosophy’ was given in the bio page by Darwin Wiggett (I think it was Darwin?). Paraphrasing, when it comes to my photographs, all I know is my mother likes them.
Speaking of Darwin Wiggett. In case anyone has not seen this video. I think it offers some truely fine examples regarding use of state-of-the-art equipment, highly effective camouflage clothing, proper field etiquette when approaching other photographers already on location and backpacking nutritional requirements, by three top pros---it's a must see!
Thank you, Michael. That's what I like most about NPN. I know I can count on appropriate recomendations here. Net result---a much better image! Funny how that works, huh?
Bob not Dave, jeez where did I get that. I don't embarrass easily being to old and fat to worry about it anymore. Anyway, both of your images ( posted) with the sunset in the sky are very well done and yes, i agree with your own assessment, sometimes the filter applied by the people on the website here has a much finer mesh than the public. Their tolerance for wow is a lot higher and desired. Last post is the most realistic but not necessarily the most artistic, if that makes sense.
Paul
Posted by Robert Cubit on June 5, 2010 at 12:59 AM
Hey Paul, no problem about the name. Heck I have days when I'm lucky to remember my name.
That area of the E. Sierra is sure beautiful. Don't know why I haven't visited there much. I've gone to the Alabama Hills a few times and drove further up Whitney Portal Road at least once. But I've never driven up Division Creek Road...that area has now become very high on my favorites list.
Discussion
13 repliesHere's my take on the lupine along Whitney Portal Road from a three day stay May 16-18. This one was just below the first campground. Thanks to Paul Duval and others for the location info. Actually, I think Division Road was better---many more lupine in bloom along with a mix of other varieties. Unfortunately, there were nearly constant 10 mi/hr winds with 20-30 mi/hr gusts. I was able to get some sunset shots of the lupine on Division Road and the Giant 4-O'clock that Paul mentioned on Old Hwy 395. I’ll post them later.
Thanks for looking.
The re-post looks better, but maybe still needs a little adjustment as Paul and Harley suggested. Very pretty scene, nicely composed. Best Regards.
sharing and giving us some of the good locales for wildflowers.
You did well considering how windy it was.
Impressions on this converision, better? Did I go too far? Although I do remember distinct yellow tones in the sky, I’m still not completely happy with sky rendering here.
All comments welcome.
Regards,
I’d also like to add that, although I’ve been doing nature photography most of my life, as creative outlet and great excuse to visit some beautiful locations, I have rarely posted my images online. This is not because I’m concerned about criticism or what others might think of my work---kinda the opposite. I’m not looking for validation as a photographer; my goal is continuous improvement to my chosen passion. I regularly monitor many of the multitudes of photo forums, including NPN. Over the years I’ve grown to trust the honest, unbiased and experienced opinions here as the best match to my ‘photographic philosophy’. So I chose NPN---lucky NPN!
One of my favorite expressions of ‘photographic philosophy’ was given in the bio page by Darwin Wiggett (I think it was Darwin?). Paraphrasing, when it comes to my photographs, all I know is my mother likes them.
Speaking of Darwin Wiggett. In case anyone has not seen this video. I think it offers some truely fine examples regarding use of state-of-the-art equipment, highly effective camouflage clothing, proper field etiquette when approaching other photographers already on location and backpacking nutritional requirements, by three top pros---it's a must see!
http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/into-the-field-with-the-pros/
Paul
That area of the E. Sierra is sure beautiful. Don't know why I haven't visited there much. I've gone to the Alabama Hills a few times and drove further up Whitney Portal Road at least once. But I've never driven up Division Creek Road...that area has now become very high on my favorites list.
Regards,
Bob