Posted by Rick Lundh on October 26, 2010 at 3:53 AM
Hi Greg, Nice comp here. Sounds like an amazing hike and a magical place. I can see where this would be nice during the magic hour or more dramatic light. I feel this is a bit too contrasty for my taste, plus I find a repeating theme in your whole group of photos from the trip. Did you apply any "web" sharpening on any of these images? The appear pretty fuzzy to me.
Posted by David Bostock on October 26, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Sweet location and image, Greg. Looks like a great place to explore.
Posted by Aaron Cowan on October 26, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Greg,
This is a cool shot but the gallery you linked to has some exceptional captures in it...excellent work!
Posted by Mike Reid on October 26, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Great shot and even better ones in the gallery.....nice work
Posted by Cliff Dodge on October 26, 2010 at 6:20 PM
Super shots. This is nice as is and so are the others, great job.
Posted by wade pettitt on October 26, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Greg, your gallery has some very nice shots, well done.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on October 27, 2010 at 1:03 AM
Thanks to all for the feedback.
Rick: I agree that early or late light would be a big improvement. Unfortunately, during the 4 days I was in The Enchantments there was only one decent sunrise. Otherwise sunrise and sunset was either solid clouds or a clear sky that produced no color. Then again, I'll take that over the thick fog that rolled in the last day. : ) I tried sharpening this image more but got too much halo-ing. I'll have to try some alternative sharpening methods and see if I can get it better. The sharpening on the gallery images is something I can't change. The photos I put up on PhotoShelter are intended as stock images, and as such I only do some moderate capture sharpening, since any buyer will have different requirements for sharpening depending on the intended output. PhotoShelter applies some sharpening to the display images, but I have no control over how much.
Posted by Rick Lundh on October 27, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Greg, sorry for your bad luck on this trip, especially on a backpacking expedition. Its one of the most frustrating things to not get what you had hoped for, photographically speaking.
I understand how certain customers even just want the file without any sharpening. I just mention the clarity issue because you have quite a name/biz going for you, and the supporting respect. Personally, I would want to present my work on the web as if it were to be printed or published. A good sharp image really pulls the viewer into the scene, as if they were standing there themselves. You want that initial buy in, because the customer/viewer doesn't know if your lens was out of focus or ?.
In this scene you posted, the real focus point is the golden needles...but you cant see them because they look like mush. You got everything else perfect, especially the way difficult exposure/range. On this one, I might be tempted to convert it to Lab color, then just sharpen the lightness channel. I'm not sure if you've tried that sharpening process, but it is my failsafe on sharpening finite details without making stew out of the image.
I'm a little surprised that PhotoShelter manipulates your images. I'd look into whether or not you can disable that function...
Anyway, just my two cents.
Posted by Sean Bagshaw on October 27, 2010 at 6:53 PM
Great stuff Greg. I'm bummed I couldn't make that trip with you this year.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on October 29, 2010 at 12:52 AM
Rick: thanks for the additional feedback. Some good points. I need to refine my sharpening skills and pay more attention to presentation. PhotoShelter doesn't really "manipulate" the photos, but applies a standard amount of sharpening depending on the size of the image as displayed.
Posted by Scott Smorra on October 30, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Great shot Greg. You did a nice job handling the dynamic range in this photo. Sorry you didn't have better weather on your backpacking trip. The Enchantments in fall are high on my list of places to backpack and you gallery photos make me want to go even more.
Discussion
11 repliesWith a little luck and a lot of planning and help from friends, I was there at the peak of color for the larch trees - end of first week of October.
Posted this in ESS, but wanted to include it here too for those who only check the PNWNP Forum.
More photos from the trip at http://gregvaughn.photoshelter.com/gallery/Washington-The-Enchantments/G0000rs4XUQAH6xU
This is a cool shot but the gallery you linked to has some exceptional captures in it...excellent work!
Rick: I agree that early or late light would be a big improvement. Unfortunately, during the 4 days I was in The Enchantments there was only one decent sunrise. Otherwise sunrise and sunset was either solid clouds or a clear sky that produced no color. Then again, I'll take that over the thick fog that rolled in the last day. : ) I tried sharpening this image more but got too much halo-ing. I'll have to try some alternative sharpening methods and see if I can get it better. The sharpening on the gallery images is something I can't change. The photos I put up on PhotoShelter are intended as stock images, and as such I only do some moderate capture sharpening, since any buyer will have different requirements for sharpening depending on the intended output. PhotoShelter applies some sharpening to the display images, but I have no control over how much.
I understand how certain customers even just want the file without any sharpening. I just mention the clarity issue because you have quite a name/biz going for you, and the supporting respect. Personally, I would want to present my work on the web as if it were to be printed or published. A good sharp image really pulls the viewer into the scene, as if they were standing there themselves. You want that initial buy in, because the customer/viewer doesn't know if your lens was out of focus or ?.
In this scene you posted, the real focus point is the golden needles...but you cant see them because they look like mush. You got everything else perfect, especially the way difficult exposure/range. On this one, I might be tempted to convert it to Lab color, then just sharpen the lightness channel. I'm not sure if you've tried that sharpening process, but it is my failsafe on sharpening finite details without making stew out of the image.
I'm a little surprised that PhotoShelter manipulates your images. I'd look into whether or not you can disable that function...
Anyway, just my two cents.