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Wandering in the alpine foothills
sarasphotos
Registered Users Posts: 3,831 Major grins
A few weeks ago we had a freak day where the weather was lovely (it's been a rainy Spring, what can I say...) so instead of jumping on the bikes we decided to take a wander. The route was marked as "family-friendly" so I knew that I could probably cope with the 12km.
For the curious, here's a link to the area where we were wandering. We started and ended in the village of Eisenberg.
https://www.google.de/maps/place/87637+Eisenberg/@47.6104057,10.5787051,5946m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x479c60155d0660b1:0x41e48add78bf2e0!8m2!3d47.611993!4d10.6058693
1) about 15 minutes from our starting point my friend pulled over and demanded that I step out and take a photo - who was I to say no???
2) this scene was spotted about 10 minutes into the hike
3) there were lots of conveniently placed benches where one could stop and enjoy the view
4) if you check out the bell, you can see that it was ringing the hour. I found it interesting that all of the churches in the area had shingles on the weather-facing side.
5)wasn't quite sure what to think of this...
6) another bench with a view
7) this small graveyard (to the left) was for the plague victims of 1635
8) one last glimpse to the south
For the curious, here's a link to the area where we were wandering. We started and ended in the village of Eisenberg.
https://www.google.de/maps/place/87637+Eisenberg/@47.6104057,10.5787051,5946m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x479c60155d0660b1:0x41e48add78bf2e0!8m2!3d47.611993!4d10.6058693
1) about 15 minutes from our starting point my friend pulled over and demanded that I step out and take a photo - who was I to say no???
2) this scene was spotted about 10 minutes into the hike
3) there were lots of conveniently placed benches where one could stop and enjoy the view
4) if you check out the bell, you can see that it was ringing the hour. I found it interesting that all of the churches in the area had shingles on the weather-facing side.
5)wasn't quite sure what to think of this...
6) another bench with a view
7) this small graveyard (to the left) was for the plague victims of 1635
8) one last glimpse to the south
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Comments
I just had another wonderful armchair vacation!
Do you use Lightroom 5-6 Sara? There is a useful tool - Graduated Filter - that I often use in
shots like this, to bring-down the sky a bit. I find that it balances the image, as well as cuts the haze and increases contrast as desired.
Yes, I'm a LR user since Version 1 but don't use the Graduated Filter very much - thanks for reminding me, I'll have to give it another try. Since LR CC I've taken to using dehaze, which also helps with the sky. But I am fairly conservative and usually only push it to 20.
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I'd love to know the story behind 5), all I know is that it make me smile.
--- Denise
Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
@Mitchell: have fun on your trip to the Alps - I hope the weather cooperates.
@Denise: I too would love to know the back story to #5!
Another option for the haze and sky may be the use of a Circular Polarizer Filter - I find that the filter can help in cutting through the haze and deepening the sky. Also, Topaz Lens Effects filter has a lot of options.
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Since Eric mentioned it above I've gone back and played a bit with the gradual filter and am reminded that it really helps in certain situations.
For this particular lens (I was using the Panny 14-140, my go-to travel lens) I haven't gotten around to buying a pol filter - it would have been helpful on a day like this one. In the afternoon the clouds rolled in and when that happens I know I'm headed for trouble. My camera (Panasonic G5) just does not play nicely with clouds. Or perhaps I need to learn to shoot with different settings in these situations. I confess to being lazy and shooting with AV so that I can control the DOF. If I don't like the exposure that I see in the EV I stop down or up as needed.
Here's a re-worked version of the final shot where the sky in the original was very white. I played with the color balance a bit and used a gradual filter that took the exposure down (-,40) and the clarity and dehaze up 10.
Panasonic DMC-G5
LUMIX G VARIO 14-140/F4.0-5.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 54.0 mm (108.0 mm in 35mm)
Aperture f/11
Exposure Time 1/250
I don't know that I can get much more from this one without it looking funny or overworked.
Thanks again for commenting!
--- Sara
Photos: jowest.smugmug.com
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I had a lot of "pinch me, I'm so lucky I actually live near this beautiful place" moments that day!
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I don't leave the house with a camera that doesn't have a circular polarizer on the lens. If it's not needed, there's no penalty to have it on but its usefulness is something I can't do without.
Stay safe,
Tom
While I have sometimes used a circular polarizer, I find them tricky with my slow Panasonic zoom lenses (the one that I used on the day of the hike is 4-5.6). It has to be a REALLY bright day for me to be able to use one and not constantly shoot wide open - and those days are few and far between here (especially lately!!). I have a feeling you have more luck with the weather in Florida...
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@Hikin' Mike - tell your daughter to keep working on her German - one never knows where Central Valley girls named Sara(h) will land. (I grew up in Turlock...)
Like your Snowdonia, the scenery here is quite majestic. I always feel fortunate to live near enough to take advantage of it.
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity!
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
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