Liathach HDR

[paddy]

Hi all

I've finally had a little time to get stuck into the processing of some more shots from last week in Torridon and am keen to seek your views on this shot. Its not the image I set out to take - I had intended to use a longer focal length to concentrate on Liathach itself, but the clouds and reflection started to form a frame around the mountain that I thought gave it real atmosphere. As a result I used my wise angle to capture this image.

Processing it was proving tricky, and I was finding HDR results from CS4 were unsatisfactory. I trialled photomatix which I found far more effective so have downloaded it now and used it to tone map 3 bracketed shots of the scene.

One area I'm keen to get thoughts on is the sunset orange area. My initial inclination was to boost the colours, but I found that such a bright orange clashed with the cool blues of the mountain. I used a cooling filter to balance things a little. I think I like the results, but am open to suggestions.

As always any comments are welcome.

Cheers

Paddy

5d, 17-40 @19mm, iso 100, f13, 3 images 0.3 sec, 0.6 sec and 1/8 sec. HDR with Photomatix, additional edits with cs4.

No edits please

[rob lloyd]

A very attractive scene. I think you could make a little crop off the bottom about 20%. Rob

[STUARTINPERTH]

My first thought was do I like this?
My second third and fourth were yes, yes very much, like it a lot, love it.
the colours, tones and clarity of this picture could probably only be done in HDR well thought out, captured and processed.
another Paddy stunner.
Stu

[grumpygeorge]

paddy = editing inexperience is showing. that basically means that you are very much still not looking hard enough at what you are doing to an image and the natural flow of light and shadow = from its source = the sun.

look at the sun(not) lightened shore on the left.
the imbalanced difference between right and left shore shadow.

its not the natural flow.

i have done a butcher quickie here to show what i mean. its way far from improving = its only for illustration purpose.

and.

x = the black area that does not work with the right side of the image and it dont work with the border cos the border melts into it.

y = remember to reflect on the water what you do on the land.

regards
grumpy

[STUARTINPERTH]

very obersvant grumps

[paddy]

Hi all

Thanks for the comments so far.

Rob - I have tried cropping this, but the reflection and symmetry are what appeal to me.

George - thanks for your detailed feedback - very interesting. I've gone back to study the initial raw files. I've posted the brightest, eg the one Ive used for the land. The tonal imbalance between left and right is how it was at the time. The sun had just set behind a hill to the left and some rays were still hitting the right side whilst the left was in shadow.

Also the band of bright colour on the left that you have darkened is not part of the hillside but is reeds in the lake that were still catching some light.

I think I may have done myself a disservice by reducing the size of this for the post. That said having studied the original raw files I feel the final image represents the light that was there at the time. You are spot on about the black frame though - it certainly doesn't help!

Thanks again

Paddy