A few photos from our trip to Mono Lake today. Photo #1 is a view from Hwy 89 coming down the mountain towards the 395. Photos #2 and #3 is of Mono Lake.
Sounds like a fun trip with the family. #2 is my favorite here. Adding a Magenta filter works pretty good in #2, because the sun is not seen in the shot, so the mind can be tricked to thinking this is a twilight shot. But in #3, with the sun high in the sky like that, there is no fooling the mind anymore so it comes across as fake.
JimFox wrote:
Adding a Magenta filter works pretty good in #2, because the sun is not seen in the shot, so the mind can be tricked to thinking this is a twilight shot. But in #3, with the sun high in the sky like that, there is no fooling the mind anymore so it comes across as fake.
Fake? Wow, what a slam - and my first post in this forum too. Here is the exif data and thumbnail of in-camera image. These were shot at 5:15pm and 5:18pm respectively. No filters. You could of just asked rather than making assumptions.
It was very obvious to me that the shot is moonlit, because of the lack of direct sun lighting on the tufas and ground, although the glimmers suggest that the light source is high up. Two is best and a very interesting shot.
shoenberg3 wrote:
It was very obvious to me that the shot is moonlit, because of the lack of direct sun lighting on the tufas and ground, although the glimmers suggest that the light source is high up. Two is best and a very interesting shot.
Fake? Wow, what a slam - and my first post in this forum too. Here is the exif data and thumbnail of in-camera image. These were shot at 5:15pm and 5:18pm respectively. No filters. You could of just asked rather than making assumptions.
Michael - lets not over react here. He said comes across fake - at least to him. That's an opinion only, not a slam. Relax its all good.
Personally, I thought the color was off also. The snow isn't white and I don't understand with moonlight why there would be such a color cast - its not like there is reflected light from a nice sunset etc. So I thought it looked wrong and to some that means fake...
Also why should it matter if its your first post Don't you want honest opinions or would you just have at-a-boys or just treated different because you are new? Personally, I want the real "tactful" opinion so I can improve And lets face it they are just opinions...
I realize this really bugs you since you refer to it in other posts in other threads
Before Jim says it "comes across as fake", he says, "Adding a Magenta filter works pretty good" - I did not use a magenta filter.
He says, "...because the sun is not seen in the shot, so the mind can be tricked to thinking this is a twilight shot." - the sun had already set and this WAS a twilight shot. I was not trying to trick anyone with filters.
He goes on to say, "...with the sun high in the sky like that, there is no fooling the mind anymore..." That is not the sun high in the sky, it is the moon; And I'm not trying to fool anyone.
It doesn't bother me that you think the color is off - it was a creative decision to push the white balance warm. Not everyone will like it, I'm okay with that. You think it looks wrong... I'm okay with that too. That's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
What bothers me is me when someone presumes incorrectly that I'm trying to trick the mind into thinking it is twilight with the use of filters when that was clearly not the case. You may think that's perfectly acceptable on the forum. Fine. I respect that. But it's unfortunate that you label me as overreacting simply because I don't share your opinion.
I feel that the rest of your post is designed to label me as the problem guy with a victim mentality, therefore, I choose not to play your game.
I clearly joined the wrong forum so I’m moving on.
Jim made a mistake about the filter - well not really since your post processing did in effect added a magenta filter. If you did this by physically adding a filter on the lens or in post processing the effect is the same. Don't you agree?
Yes the comment about the sun was incorrect - big deal. Honest mistake...
The rest of my post? really, a victim. I'm attacking you and playing a game - really.
I think you are over reacting because you state you want an apology from Jim and post that in another thread unrelated to this one. It has nothing to do with your opinion on the image(s), its you reaction to someones comments. Keep in mind the written word on the internet isn't a perfect medium.
If you want to move on that is your choice, but I think its kind like taking my toys and going home.
Michael Sharps wrote:
Phil,
Before Jim says it "comes across as fake", he says, "Adding a Magenta filter works pretty good" - I did not use a magenta filter.
He says, "...because the sun is not seen in the shot, so the mind can be tricked to thinking this is a twilight shot." - the sun had already set and this WAS a twilight shot. I was not trying to trick anyone with filters.
He goes on to say, "...with the sun high in the sky like that, there is no fooling the mind anymore..." That is not the sun high in the sky, it is the moon; And I'm not trying to fool anyone.
It doesn't bother me that you think the color is off - it was a creative decision to push the white balance warm. Not everyone will like it, I'm okay with that. You think it looks wrong... I'm okay with that too. That's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
What bothers me is me when someone presumes incorrectly that I'm trying to trick the mind into thinking it is twilight with the use of filters when that was clearly not the case. You may think that's perfectly acceptable on the forum. Fine. I respect that. But it's unfortunate that you label me as overreacting simply because I don't share your opinion.
I feel that the rest of your post is designed to label me as the problem guy with a victim mentality, therefore, I choose not to play your game.
I clearly joined the wrong forum so I’m moving on. ...Show more →
Michael, why don't you give Jim a chance to reply? I am sure he was honestly confused by these shots.
Talking about your shots -they are cool. I like the moon reflection in a water. #2 is my favorite, but do not understand why the tufa structures on background seem out of focus, as it should be sharp from about 40 meters to infinity.
Yikes! While our photography is very personal to each of us, Fred Miranda is not like Flickr where all you are going to get is attaboys, though some have accused us of that in the past... I stated what I saw in your photo, I didn't like the look of it, whether that look came from a filter or a WB that was off, I didn't like it. Because it's your first post I should lie to you and tell you I liked the shot? What would be the purpose in that?
Hopefully you will stick around and become part of the family here, but if honest comments are hard for you to take, than perhaps it is best for you to go elsewhere as you stated to a place where you feel more at home.
That is MUCH better! That, I can understand and accept. I wish you would have posted that to begin with rather than postulating that I was trying to fake twilight with a filter, etc.
I desire honest comments. I do not need the atta-boy's or the opinion of other photographers to validate my work and boost my confidence.
Terrain shot outside the lake is interesting -- never get to see that.
As an aside -- I'm not sure I've ever understood the 'beauty' in mono lake -- the rock formations are relatively ugly to me. Maybe I'll get to visit one day ad find out for myself.
Don't you want honest opinions or would you just have at-a-boys or just treated different because you are new? Personally, I want the real "tactful" opinion so I can improve 
And lets face it they are just opinions...