Webpage description of post-processing: Platte River panorama

Hi everyone. I've been blown away by the kind comments on the Platte River panorama image I posted recently, seen here. Based on several comments, but mostly for the fun of it and to clarify my thinking on the matter, I've posted a webpage describing (in fairly general terms) the post-processing of this image. The link is here. Thanks for looking, and I'd welcome your thoughts on the content and post-processing strategies, including alternatives you find useful in your own work.

Thanks for sharing that process Brett. I've never used DxO...don't even know what it does but I'm familiar with Photomatix, CS5 and LR3 so I could do most of these steps. Question though...you said you stitched the images and then moved into Photomatix...did you use multi-bracketed, stitched images or a single exposure and then made adjustments to that one?

Brett, it was very interesting to see the evolution of your great image. Thanks for taking the time to post your workflow.

You don't mention any processing done in Camera RAW, i.e. capture sharpening, etc.
Did you really go directly to the Photoshop merge step, without any adjustments to the raw files?

I like your cropping decisions. A major problem that I see with many panoramas is that the photographer shoots as wide as possible and then refuses to crop anything. I think the crop is a major strength in your final image.

Wonderful write-up, Brett. Thanks very much!

Hi guys. Jack, the stitched images were single exposures, not bracketed, because the histograms showed that all tonal information in the scene was being captured without any blown highlights or blocked shadows. Bill, I did go directly into Photomerge without first converting the RAW files and adjusting them with capture sharpening or other edits. I've always held off on sharpening until the last step, although I understand and appreciate the reason why others apply some sharpening at the outset. Thanks for you thoughts about the importance of cropping - I agree that eliminating some of the original capture made a huge difference in this case.

For single exposure capture, you were spot on for sure! Watching the progression of your workflow certainly shows that you know your stuff! I agree with the way you cropped this as well. I bet this is a pretty decent file size. One thing for sure..I need to get out and practice shooting panos. Thanks again for sharing both the photo and the process!

Brett, great stuff, well done! I didn't realize you could process a single image in photomatix the same way you do multiple. Very interesting find!

Thanks so much for this tutorial...it is most helpful. I hope it encourages much more sharing of this type on the forum.
Joe Rogers

Thanks for posting such a detailed response to my humble question, Brett!
Can't tell you how much I appreciate the info.

Great write-up; extremely informative. Thanks for sharing.

Great write-up! Well conceived and well done image. Thanks for sharing it!

Way cool. Thanks for sharing.