Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 21, 2011 at 1:24 AM
#1
These aren't spectacular but I felt like posting. Both mornings (yesterday and today) held such promise - but Mother Nature is a fickle friend.
Yesterday the moon set right over one of the shoulders of Pike's Peak. Snow was predicted the night before, so I figured conditions would be good if there were still clouds from the clearing storm in the sky at sunrise. I got up at 0430, looked outside, saw clouds and partial clearing, and decided not to go back to bed (a real feat!).
Well, by the time I got up to the overlook on Rampart Range Road, the clouds had cleared over the peak and most of the fog in the valley had pushed down to Colorado Springs. Still the moon was spectacular, and the blue of the dawn was great. Clouds to the east would block any color/light at sunrise, so it wasn't going to be as good as it could be.
This shot was just before first light on the peak, and just as the moon settled behind it.
This is a two image merge in HDR Efex Pro, with some tweaks in LR. Still kinda noisy, but its getting late.
Canon 5DII with Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6L
[edit: Wow, compression didn't help this at all. Guess I got some HDR artifacts]
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 21, 2011 at 1:27 AM
#2
A little later yesterday morning after the sun finally got above the layer but after the moon had set.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 21, 2011 at 1:31 AM
#3
This morning I was hopeful for a colorful sunrise with the moon right over Pikes Peak. When I got up, it was completely clear over my house, but I hoped there was enough moisture in the air to carry some color across the sky. As I drove through Woodland Park and up Rampart Range, I drove into the clouds - hoping they would clear a little and show the peak.
I ran into Todd at the overlook. We were both hoping for the best. Again, great potential!
Well, it never really cleared. At least not there. We got a few glimpses, but nothing that lasted too long.
Here is one of those glimpses.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 21, 2011 at 1:34 AM
#4
While watching the clouds swirl around me and hoping for the best, I looked around for other stuff to shoot. These aspen buds against the trees and fog caught my eye. At first I though the buds were frosty, but further inspection confirmed they're just fuzzy. Bring on Spring!
Hopefully this weekend in SE Utah will treat me right.
Ta Ta for now!
Posted by Jack Garrett on April 21, 2011 at 9:42 AM
I like the rays in number 2 best, followed by 3..the clouds and light work well along with the framing.
I definitely sympathize with that kind of frustration; I feel like I've had a lot of promising outings where the light fizzled this winter. Nonetheless, #2 has a good amount of appeal, and I like the aspen buds too.
I hear you on the frustration for conditions. As for the shots, #2 has potential, but I do see some strange halo effects, probably due to HDR conversion. Take a look and see if you can minimize those and you will be sitting pretty.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 21, 2011 at 6:51 PM
Thanks for the comments, guys. It's nice to be getting out again. Let the creative juices start flowing. I may take some more time with #2.
Posted by Bob Falcone on April 23, 2011 at 2:02 AM
REALLY like #3!
Posted by Kurt Bowman on April 23, 2011 at 12:59 PM
2 & 3 are my favos of the group, but all are nice. I like how the tree really frames the third one.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on April 23, 2011 at 5:42 PM
#3 is my favorite. I love the way you used the branches to frame the peak and moon. To my eye, it seems like it could use a little brightening though.
Well, #4 is actually my fav here--real pretty. #1 looks kinda grayish on my monitor, and it looks like you lost some focus in the bg of those first posts. But im jealous cause i had to work while you and Todd were out playing...
Discussion
11 repliesThese aren't spectacular but I felt like posting. Both mornings (yesterday and today) held such promise - but Mother Nature is a fickle friend.
Yesterday the moon set right over one of the shoulders of Pike's Peak. Snow was predicted the night before, so I figured conditions would be good if there were still clouds from the clearing storm in the sky at sunrise. I got up at 0430, looked outside, saw clouds and partial clearing, and decided not to go back to bed (a real feat!).
Well, by the time I got up to the overlook on Rampart Range Road, the clouds had cleared over the peak and most of the fog in the valley had pushed down to Colorado Springs. Still the moon was spectacular, and the blue of the dawn was great. Clouds to the east would block any color/light at sunrise, so it wasn't going to be as good as it could be.
This shot was just before first light on the peak, and just as the moon settled behind it.
This is a two image merge in HDR Efex Pro, with some tweaks in LR. Still kinda noisy, but its getting late.
Canon 5DII with Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6L
[edit: Wow, compression didn't help this at all. Guess I got some HDR artifacts]
A little later yesterday morning after the sun finally got above the layer but after the moon had set.
This morning I was hopeful for a colorful sunrise with the moon right over Pikes Peak. When I got up, it was completely clear over my house, but I hoped there was enough moisture in the air to carry some color across the sky. As I drove through Woodland Park and up Rampart Range, I drove into the clouds - hoping they would clear a little and show the peak.
I ran into Todd at the overlook. We were both hoping for the best. Again, great potential!
Well, it never really cleared. At least not there. We got a few glimpses, but nothing that lasted too long.
Here is one of those glimpses.
While watching the clouds swirl around me and hoping for the best, I looked around for other stuff to shoot. These aspen buds against the trees and fog caught my eye. At first I though the buds were frosty, but further inspection confirmed they're just fuzzy. Bring on Spring!
Hopefully this weekend in SE Utah will treat me right.
Ta Ta for now!