California II

[drmarkf]

Some less warm and cosy images from Cali.

I would much appreciate a bit of gentle C&C on these, if anyone's got any suggestions for how to improve them in PP.

All are via a tripodded E-M5ii, variously with the 7-14 Pro, and Panasonic 12-35 and 35-100 f2.8.

The first two are from the Merced River in Yosemite Valley with intermittent grey drizzle in the mid-morning, and are blends of 2 images in HDR eFex to make something (but hopefully not too much) of the cr@ppy light.

The second lot are from the top of Sentinel Dome looking east towards the Ansel Adams Wilderness during a developing, "biblical" sunset, so here I was facing the opposite problem of trying to prevent crazy reality looking unbelievable...

El Capitan in the rain by drmarkf, on Flickr

Merced River Yosemite Valley by drmarkf, on Flickr

Squall Ansel Adams Wilderness by drmarkf, on Flickr

Evening clouds over the Eastern Sierras by drmarkf, on Flickr

Evening clouds Ansel Adams Wilderness by drmarkf, on Flickr

[pdk42]

Re: California II

Love those squall shots Mark - very impressive.

As regards PP on the first two... they do seem a bit flat, which is a pity because the composition and subject matter are excellent. I'd be happy to try my hand at PP on them if you wish - but you'd need to upload the raws somewhere.

[drmarkf]

Re: California II

Thanks Paul.
I'll have another go at the river ones tomorrow: looking back at them, it could be mainly a contrast issue as you imply. I think I was trying too hard to keep it natural-looking.

I'll leave the sunset ones alone.
It was an amazing evening - we could see the horizon gap developing as we ascended the granite dome. There were quite a few hikers up there, but they were all snapping away facing west while the two of us with proper tripods (me and a guy from the Ansel Adams Gallery!) had the real vista to ourselves.

[alfbranch]

Re: California II

I agree with Paul about 1 & 2
Well done for looking around not just towards the sun as the sunset shots are lovely. It is still worth playing more with them but if you like them as they are then be happy.

Edit
I hope you dont mind but I would up the contrast a little on the others myself but I was not there

Not my shot 2017-01 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[alfbranch]

Re: California II

looking again at the first I love the raindrops you caught in the water. I would like to see a shot from a single image as I am not liking the HDR shots which as is often the case lack contrast.
The sky looks unnatural to me and the shot lacks shadows.

Ps look at you Flickr settings as I was able to copy the large image from there

[drmarkf]

Re: California II

Thanks - I've taken the view that I don't do photography for personal gain so I've got more important things to do than get stressed about anyone pinching images!

Yes, I'll have a go at wicking up the contrast selectively in the first two tomorrow, and I might try a single image as well.

I prefer my original of the later set - it's much as I recall the scene, and I do find so many people's sunset confections just painfully OTT!

[alfbranch]

Re: California II

Thanks - I've taken the view that I don't do photography for personal gain so I've got more important things to do than get stressed about anyone pinching images!

Yes, I'll have a go at wicking up the contrast selectively in the first two tomorrow, and I might try a single image as well.

I prefer my original of the later set - it's much as I recall the scene, and I do find so many people's sunset confections just painfully OTT!

Mark
I am not looking for personal gain either.
As I said I was not there and there is nothing wrong with what you did.
I think that photos should have shadows and I am not a fan of HDR much myself. Also are the first two level?

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: California II

A lovely set. Personally, in the last three, especially the 2nd last one, I would lift the shadow areas slightly so there is a little more detail there while keeping it looking like it is still in the shadows. Anyhow, here is my suggested take on it as adjusted from the JPEG (& reproduced at 80% quality) with a 35% shadow lift & a 10% Clarity lift (using Capture One, Pro 10).

[Phill D]

Re: California II

Another excellent set of images Mark. I don't think I'd do anything to them, I like them as they are. The tones in 1 and 2 do convey the cold damp impression of light drizzle.

[drmarkf]

Re: California II

All good suggestions: many thanks indeed.

I started off by taking Alf's suggestion of working on single images and I do prefer the results, although there is something I still also like about the 'watercolour' effect of the HDR ones.

Both went via Viveza 2 to extract more detail, which I might have overdone a bit on the first, but I'll let them marinate for a week or two before going back and having a final look.

Merced River Yosemite Valley by drmarkf, on Flickr

Merced River and El Capitan in the rain final by drmarkf, on Flickr

[pdk42]

Re: California II

Mark - I tried something a bit more radical on one of your images. Maybe a little OTT? What do you think?

[drmarkf]

Re: California II

I think it looks a bit sunny, Paul!

Undoubtedly more attractive as an image, but I think I'd prefer it to resemble what it felt like at the time. If we hadn't had that amazing sunset the day would have been frustrating.