So weather.com, wunderground.com, and cleardarksky.com all convince me to take a chance at Dream lake this morning for the elusive perfect reflection that I have never seen with my own eyes. So here are the results, I apologize for the external links and the BW treatments (the color version just doesn't appeal to me)
Predawn. I was extremely excited when I hiked up because there were clouds, no wind, and the eastern sky was lighting up nicely. But 5 minutes after this shot it started to rain! This is a 20-second exposure with slight warm-filtering in post-processing.
Dawn The alpenglow did show up for 1.5 minutes during which I took 3 shots because I had to wipe out the rain on my lens/grad ND after each shot. This one is 2-second with slightly different composition to avoid the underwater rock inside the Hallett peak reflection, but in retrospect I like the predawn one better because the position of the slightly off-center rock.
Very nice BW conversions. You got some great reflections in the remarkably calm water.
It's a tough choice between the two. I think I prefer the greater detail in the trees in the first, but the second certainly has a more dramatic atmosphere.
Looks like you had an amazing morning and knew just what to do with it! I particularly like the first as it seems more natural and has a lot of great detail. It seems like you had to do a bit more work on the second one and so at the top where the mountains touch the sky it doesn't seem quite as natural. Hey, for us color junkies how about posting the second image in color?
Posted by Mike McNeill on June 10, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Damn, and I was going to go up there this morning too. Definitely going tomorrow morning seeing as they are talking rain this weekend.
I have to agree, the predawn shot is awesome. My only nit pick would be to dodge ( I believe dodge darkens? I always forget which is which!!) the clouds to give it that dramatic look you have in the 2nd shot. Regardless, job well done!!
Posted by Brian Jackson on June 10, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Love the reflections. Been up there several mornings and the wind has always howling for me.
Thanks a lot everyone for the comments! I will post the color version later tonight.
Posted by Scott Fricke on June 10, 2010 at 1:18 PM
I'd vote for the Predawn shot, I like the extra bit of sky in that image. Both are very well done.
Posted by Erik Aagaard on June 10, 2010 at 1:52 PM
Another vote for predawn.
The dawn shot is nice, but in my mind the contrast is a little too much; also there appears to be a halo along the right-hand ridge from oversharpening (?) Also, I much prefer the respective tonal values of the rocks in the water vs. the reflections on the predawn shot - the dawn shot looks more messy, somehow. The mountain reflection stands out better from the background in the predawn shot.
I prefer the first too. It's a beautiful scene and for the most part I like your processing. I do find though that the reflection of the ridgeline and clouds looks a bit over processed.
Discussion
14 repliesPredawn. I was extremely excited when I hiked up because there were clouds, no wind, and the eastern sky was lighting up nicely. But 5 minutes after this shot it started to rain! This is a 20-second exposure with slight warm-filtering in post-processing.
Dawn The alpenglow did show up for 1.5 minutes during which I took 3 shots because I had to wipe out the rain on my lens/grad ND after each shot. This one is 2-second with slightly different composition to avoid the underwater rock inside the Hallett peak reflection, but in retrospect I like the predawn one better because the position of the slightly off-center rock.
All comments are appreciated!! Thanks.
Tien-Chien
It's a tough choice between the two. I think I prefer the greater detail in the trees in the first, but the second certainly has a more dramatic atmosphere.
I'd say you had a very good morning.
I have to agree, the predawn shot is awesome. My only nit pick would be to dodge ( I believe dodge darkens? I always forget which is which!!) the clouds to give it that dramatic look you have in the 2nd shot. Regardless, job well done!!
Also I'd love to see the color version as well.
The dawn shot is nice, but in my mind the contrast is a little too much; also there appears to be a halo along the right-hand ridge from oversharpening (?) Also, I much prefer the respective tonal values of the rocks in the water vs. the reflections on the predawn shot - the dawn shot looks more messy, somehow. The mountain reflection stands out better from the background in the predawn shot.
I look forward to seeing the color versions!