This year while there all the sunrises and sunsets I shot were pretty much void of much color but on occasion had some great clouds. We arrived and were set up for shooting long before sunrise. Even at the elevation though the temperatures although cool were exceptionally warm for this time of the year.
Here are some images from that mornings shoot.
Randy
Since there is always immediate speculation regarding doing too much to an image when you identify it as a HDR image I wanted to show the small difference between the HDR and a mnually blended image in PS prior to regular workflow. As I noted someone else recently mentioned I don't process my images to exactly mirror the actual scene but do enhance them to become what I feel is more visually attractive. When I use HDR I mention that in my post, and it is not my intention to fool or mislead anyone in thinking that was the exact scene.
You'll find that there is not much difference between the two, and neither has any noticable haloing even with the small web jpeg enlarge to 200%.
Is there a difference between the two, yes. I happen to prefer the HDR version. All the information is there and with the use of Photomatix you can pull what is actually there in the image out.
mooch wrote:
Hello Randy , the 1st shot is my favourite from the series but what is that brown err....splodge , for want of a better word , in the water ?
Thanks Mooch! That my friend is a photoshop blunder! I'll repair....much have accidently hit the mouse. Thanks!
Hey,
I remember that morning
Great composition in the first on. Nice HDR as well. Back in Bishop after a long drive over Hwy 88 in the snow.....Colors sucked today, it snowed everywhere I went. This cold is really taking its toll on the leaves even the green ones. I am happy we went when we did the first time.
Inge
I am wondering about the direction of the light on the foreground in the first and last, Randy. Were you shooting with the sun behind you? Love the color and light in all the shots, but I particularly love the compositions in the first and last.
Randy,
Numbers 1 & 4 have my vote.
My only caveat is the HDR on #4 is just a we bit more than I like to see, .
BUT a nice image just the same
You definitely got some better morning skies than I did at North Lake.
I visited Rock Creek area on 10/1 mid day, and couldn't figure out where to go.
I hope to visit Rock Creek & South Lake next time.
Klaus Priebe wrote:
Randy,
Very nice series. The last image is a beauty and the color is wonderful.
Thanks Klaus! I knew when I posted the HDR that some would like and some wouldn't. It does even when used very lightly as this image was it does impart a different type of look. Glad you liked the set and that image.
bshamilton wrote:
Lovely set, Randy! Love the 1st, especially. You know I love the soft, pre-dawn And a deft touch with Photomatix in the last Nice work, bud!
Barry
Glad you liked these Barry! Great place to photograph and fall is a great time. Appreciate your input on the HDR. Thanks!
ifernau wrote:
Hey,
I remember that morning
Great composition in the first on. Nice HDR as well. Back in Bishop after a long drive over Hwy 88 in the snow.....Colors sucked today, it snowed everywhere I went. This cold is really taking its toll on the leaves even the green ones. I am happy we went when we did the first time.
Inge
Thanks very much Inge. Was thinking about how you were doing up there this morning. Sorry to hear there might have been too much snow. I'm glad we went when we did too! Thanks for taking me to many of your favorite spots!
Oct 12, 2008 at 12:01 AM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
A very pleasing series , Randy , and I can see what you mean about searching for fine clouds ! My favourite is the last shot ; no objection to HDR techniques when used sensitively , as in this case . The brightness behind the right hand cliffs seems a bit off to me , but it may be the decrepit laptop I'm using at present !
Bandi wrote:
Hi Randy,
I'll echo the sentiments about the first. Beautiful stuff. Also like the shadow play in the second and the golden feeling in the last. Great set
Anthony
Glad you liked these Anthony! Thanks!
pearlstreet wrote:
I am wondering about the direction of the light on the foreground in the first and last, Randy. Were you shooting with the sun behind you? Love the color and light in all the shots, but I particularly love the compositions in the first and last.
Sharon
Hi Sharon, #I was shot from a hill above the lake and the sun was rising to my left and the 4th image was taken at lake level. In the 3rd image you can see the sun about to rise and that shot was taken approximately 20 to 30 degrees to the left of the 1st and the 4th. Glad you enjoyed those shots! Many thanks!
dswiger wrote:
Randy,
Numbers 1 & 4 have my vote.
My only caveat is the HDR on #4 is just a we bit more than I like to see, .
BUT a nice image just the same
You definitely got some better morning skies than I did at North Lake.
I visited Rock Creek area on 10/1 mid day, and couldn't figure out where to go.
I hope to visit Rock Creek & South Lake next time.
Thanks for posting
Dan
Hi Dan, glad you like the 1st and 4th images. Not sure I understand what is a wee bit more than you like to see on #4 But still glad you liked it. Where the color is at pretty much dictated to Inge and I where to go and the best location this year at that time were the higher elevations around Bishop.
Btw, HDR is nothing new it's been around since the mid 1930's just not commonly known by many photographers. Like folks used to regard digital vs film with disdain, hdr is the future of photography. Don't keep blinders on reagarding its use. Link for interest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging
Oct 12, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Allen Maestas Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Excellent series Randy. Would you consider an HDR black and white conversion? I'm seeing (and doing) some of it in the Black and White forum. It is pretty effective, and give the shots a very different (and pleasing IMHO) look.
Holy Crap! The first one is really good! The last one doesn't look natural.. The HDR looks way off to me... Sky is too dark in relation to the foreground... And the mountains have a halo, and are light at the bottom and conspicuously dark at the top. But that first one is excellent!!
#4 is overdone in my book - i appreciate what hdr can do, but here you have lost sight of the correct hierachy of light - how can your rocks be brighter (or as bright as) than the sky?!
I'll repair....much have accidently hit the mouse. Thanks!