Archive 2016 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

dswiger
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

The words, "Iv'e been through the desert on a horse with no name" kept going through my mind.
I've been through Death Valley only once before, cycling from Stove Pipe Wells to Shoshone, but that's another story.

This place is much too vast to do it justice in such a short visit, but had to go with the wildflower bloom

"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these"
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1701/25184480035_5b130a512c_b.jpg

Desert Bouquet -
Count the types of flowers in the foreground.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1580/24845401140_e3fc3e7700_b.jpg

The desert carpet.
I took this while standing on cooler, on a chair, with PVC tripod "extensions"
Something I noted from Ansel's book

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1441/25022808042_ef41906f2c_b.jpg

The garden at the ruins
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1614/25047784701_1ed3204a7d_b.jpg

The 1st shot was taken with a Mamiya 7, on Provia,
The others were taken with an RZ67, on Ektar

C&C

Dan

Feb 25, 2016 at 09:10 PM

Tuan Le
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

Looks like you ran into some nice patches of wildflowers. #1 and #4 are my favorites though I would probably prefer some softer light for these scenes. I was hoping to make it down to Ashford Mills a few weeks back from my visit but didn't quite make it that far south.

Mar 01, 2016 at 10:32 PM

DonK-hotey
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

lovely work , #2 is fav... captures the contrast of a dry ,rocky foreground & upon a little study , 5 or 6 varietys of flowers in just a small area , with the midgrond & mountains creating depth & scale
very nice !

Mar 03, 2016 at 12:04 PM

gordon l
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

Hey I missed this post but see it now. I like the first shot and the shot with the ruins.

First shot might have a slight color tint to it. The sky doesn't seem right but I don't think it's too far off from normal. I'd try adding a mask with increased contrast just in the sky and saturate the blues a bit more. Don't include the flower or anything else because they all look right to me. Just my 2 cents.

Mar 07, 2016 at 01:17 AM

dswiger
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

gordon l wrote:
Hey I missed this post but see it now. I like the first shot and the shot with the ruins.

First shot might have a slight color tint to it. The sky doesn't seem right but I don't think it's too far off from normal. I'd try adding a mask with increased contrast just in the sky and saturate the blues a bit more. Don't include the flower or anything else because they all look right to me. Just my 2 cents.

Gordon,

Thanks for the critique! That is what I had hoped for from so many views. I tried what you said, going for just a small change. If I haven't quite got it, I at least know the direction to go. If you didn't already know, I have color-blindness with reds/greens (typical). That means I have a tendency to push them up too much to compensate if not careful. I have folks that have offered to preview & I have some techniques in processing to catch it but it's not 100%.

People often ask why I still shoot film if it's more trouble? I do it because I still enjoy the process & seeing the transparencies, etc.

Here is a corrected image.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/25598303155_bc46d2befc_b.jpg

Thanks again

Dan

Mar 07, 2016 at 06:02 PM

Ed Sawyer
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

Nicely done, well shown. +1 for the Mamiya 6x7 love. ;-)

Mar 10, 2016 at 01:35 PM

gordon l
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

dswiger wrote:
Gordon,

Thanks for the critique! That is what I had hoped for from so many views. I tried what you said, going for just a small change. If I haven't quite got it, I at least know the direction to go. If you didn't already know, I have color-blindness with reds/greens (typical). That means I have a tendency to push them up too much to compensate if not careful. I have folks that have offered to preview & I have some techniques in processing to catch it but it's not 100%.

People often ask why I still shoot film if it's...Show more →

Had no idea about the color blindness to red/green. You must have a fascinating process to sort these colors out using different methods than the majority. I applaud your determination and successes!

Apr 07, 2016 at 10:31 PM

dswiger
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

gordon l wrote:

Had no idea about the color blindness to red/green. You must have a fascinating process to sort these colors out using different methods than the majority. I applaud your determination and successes!

Gordon,
It's not as drastic as it sounds. Color vision issues are common, mostly among men (8%)
Think of it as a spectral response, just like an audio spectrum.
Mine is down on the lower end in the reds & greens, let's say 10-15% (just a guess).
In many cases it's not an issue. If I get a well balanced scan, even better.
With film you have the color balance of that particular media, then the scan, then you are into Photoshop.
I go around the scene looking for white or grey to check the WB.
Then check the RGB "balance" for sky, foliage, etc.
Sometimes I'll send a link to an image for a 2nd opiniion.
Its a mix of objective & subjective. Sometimes I get it right, others just close

Thanks
Dan

Apr 08, 2016 at 01:18 PM

Jon Buffington
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

Very nice work Dan!

Apr 10, 2016 at 05:47 PM

gordon l
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Death Valley, wildflower bloom

Gordon,
It's not as drastic as it sounds. Color vision issues are common, mostly among men (8%)
Think of it as a spectral response, just like an audio spectrum.
Mine is down on the lower end in the reds & greens, let's say 10-15% (just a guess).
In many cases it's not an issue. If I get a well balanced scan, even better.
With film you have the color balance of that particular media, then the scan, then you are into Photoshop.
I go around the scene looking for white or grey to check the WB.
Then check the RGB "balance" for sky, foliage, etc.
Sometimes I'll send a link to an image for a 2nd opiniion.
Its a mix of objective & subjective. Sometimes I get it right, others just close

Thanks
Dan

Fascinating nevertheless. My partner at work is colorblind (red/green) too. Your description of your process to make sure things are accurate color is very enlightening and educational to me. Thanks. And keep shooting!

Apr 10, 2016 at 07:13 PM


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