Holy Grail of wheat fields

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Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #1 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

I discovered this jewel of a location 2 weeks ago and went back last week before the wheat is harvested. It's about 300km from home, but well worth the drive. If your ever going to South Africa you can pm me for the gps location

Before the sun set the lighting was near perfect. Single exposure,( 3 of them ) I just darkened the sky by about 0.5 stops.

40D
24-105mm L @ 50mm

Then the sun set for a stunning light show

40D
Sigma 10-20mm
3 exposures ( 2 for the sky, one for the field )
Blended exposures....I find that even my Lee grads can spoil the colors of these Cirrus cloud sunsets so I try to blend exposures where the horizon allows it.

The last red light on the clouds in the distance

40D
24-105mm @ 105mm

2 weeks later I got lucky again and was treated to another stunner of a sunset

40D
10-20mm
3 exposures blended with some intensive mask and brush work

I have about 200 photos from each sunset with so many compositions, but spring has been keeping me really busy and I'll probably only get to processing them all in peak summer.

All rights reserved. this may not be used or reproduced in any way

Oct 15, 2008 at 07:47 AM

kkartphoto
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p.1 #2 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Well you already know my thoughts from seeing them over on DA

Oct 15, 2008 at 08:17 AM

Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #3 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

I don't believe you commented too much John? Life keeping you busy?

Oct 15, 2008 at 08:19 AM

kkartphoto
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p.1 #4 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Hougaard Malan wrote:
I don't believe you commented too much John? Life keeping you busy?

Hmmmm I think I did??
Ya VERY busy, Autumn in the Rockies is my busiest time of the year! I don't have a whole lotta time for DA at the moment, I am so far behind it is insane...over 10,000 messages lol I suppose I would just rather be out shooting as much as I can, especially in Autumn

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:12 AM

Nathan Hobbs
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p.1 #5 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Ahhh South Africa a treasure trove of hidden landscapes to be discovered...everyone goes to the game farms and they miss gems like this. fantastic location and photos...makes me miss that country badly I lived there for a few years back in 2000

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:15 AM

hfillmore
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p.1 #6 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

What is DA? I love the first. Basic midwest peace. Beautiful soft lighting.

The mood definitely transmits. I like the third a lot also, but something about it bothers me. Maybe there's too much space to the right of the windmill, and possibly the slope of the ground hints of a tilted, horizon. Not sure about the slope, but feel pretty sure about the crop to the right. The proportions are nice though, if you do crop the right, you might have to reduce the height one way or the other to maintain the same proportions. I'm dying to try it, may I? Beautiful colors

Harvey

Edited on Oct 15, 2008 at 09:42 AM · View previous versions

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:30 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #7 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Hi Hougaard,

Wow, these are special! Each one is so cool in it's own way, and you really processed them nicely. I love sunset colors, but I think #1 is incredible in how it has such a nice wide view. In #2, I do really like it, but I think with the direction of the windmill, it should be on the right side of the frame like in #3. But it is still a sweet shot, maybe I am being too picky...

Jim

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:31 AM

aFeinPhoto.com
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p.1 #8 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

A goldmine of wheat...so to speak. Good work again Hougaard. 2 and 4 are special indeed. Way to be patient w/ that blending in 4.

kkart - see ya over on dA too ;-)

aF

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:34 AM

Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #9 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

It is exactly like you say Nathan. Everyone comes to Namibia and South Africa for the wildlife and the landscapes go completely unseen...I ain't complaining

Maybe I'll be South Africa's Marc Adamus in 5 years.

DA = deviantart

Jim, the windpump isn't quite ideal, it's a bit slanted and a bit too short. I would have preferred on the right but there were bluegum trees to the left that would just have been abberation silhouettes.

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:39 AM

Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #10 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Thanks Afein

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:39 AM

joe C.
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p.1 #11 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

great set. you really did well with these. I do have a question.

your merged exposures are not overdone by far but when every I try to use photomatix, it over sat. and blows out shadows all the time. What software are you using to merge these exposures?

again awesome set. I am a sucker for the wide angles

joe C.

Oct 15, 2008 at 09:54 AM

Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #12 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Joe, I don't blend the photos using an automated HDR process, I blend the layers manually with layer masks and brush tools

Oct 15, 2008 at 10:05 AM

bshamilton
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p.1 #13 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Sweet set, Hougaard. Really lovely sunset, the light in the 1st 2 is delicious.

Barry

Oct 15, 2008 at 12:43 PM

BenV
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p.1 #14 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

wow really great photographs, the colors are simply amazing! this is definatly different from the typical African images.

Oct 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM

Hamburg
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p.1 #15 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Great! I love all 4! Theyre absolutely beautiful

Oct 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM

Louis Granato
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p.1 #16 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

All are great, but the blending work in the last one really sets it apart. Perfect.

Louis

Oct 15, 2008 at 01:49 PM

gordon l
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p.1 #17 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

I really love that 1st shot.

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:52 PM

pearlstreet
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p.1 #18 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Love the first shot. Perfect use of the pano.

Sharon

Oct 15, 2008 at 03:26 PM

greswolde
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p.1 #19 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

great stuff here, really nice location too, thats one hell of a find.

Martyn

Oct 15, 2008 at 04:09 PM

Mirza Ahmad
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p.1 #20 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Nice capture,

Mirza

Oct 15, 2008 at 04:52 PM

Hougaard Malan
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p.1 #21 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments

Oct 15, 2008 at 06:43 PM

SeanP
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p.1 #22 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

yes these are really nice. tough to choose a favorite

Oct 16, 2008 at 12:11 AM

stanj
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p.1 #23 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Great series. Love them, esp. the first and last.

Oct 16, 2008 at 03:05 AM

Brenton Biggs
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p.1 #24 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

These are excellent!!! I love the golden colors in the first and the rest are just breathtaking as well!!!

Oct 16, 2008 at 03:07 AM

Ariel Bravy
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p.1 #25 · Holy Grail of wheat fields

Da-yum... What spectacular lighting! I love 1 and 2, as well as 4.

Oct 16, 2008 at 07:58 AM


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