Canyonlands - Redux

wxwax

So last year Patch and I hit the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Moab, Zion.

And I hafta admit, shooting landscapes gave me a headache. For me, it's the hardest kinda of shooting. Not just lighting, but figuring out the best composition.

So I come home pretty disappointed with the quality of my work. And every time I go through it, it's obvious that most of the time, the light isn't very flattering. Midday direct light, that sort of thing. Not a lot of golden hour stuff. Very challenging to post process without blowing stuff out.

Last week I was reading one of Rutt's posts and for a brief moment, actually understood what he was saying. At least, I think I did. It led me to try a separate Curve for exposure, using the Luminosity blend mode. And a separate curve for Color, using the Color blend mode. And I think the results came out rather well for some softball shots.

Then I remembered my lousy landscapes with difficult light, and I figured I should play with my terribly exciting new-to-me technique. Here's an image I simply hadn't been able to figure out. I knew there was something there, but I couldn't make it happen. Finally, I cropped off a big chunk of sky, which that made the flat foreground and deep cleft in the ground jump out.

So here it is, the Green River in the Canyonlands.

Khaos

Nice shot. This screams for a BW treatment though. I did a little quick work and I hope you don't mind, if you do, I'll remove it. This was quick and with a low res you posted here. I would with more time do some gradient work on the sky too. This is a very cool shot.

wxwax

No, I don't mind, and I do appreciate your asking.

I hadn't thought about B&W, good idea, thanks.

Nikolai

Hey, I know the place:-)

ChrisJ

Hey Sid, care to post the original (or just a link to it), so we can see the difference?

I really like the shot. Great color and details in the canyon. Very nice sense of depth.

wxwax

ChrisJ wrote:

Hey Sid, care to post the original (or just a link to it), so we can see the difference?

I really like the shot. Great color and details in the canyon. Very nice sense of depth.

Sure thing, give me a bit of time.

wxwax

Here's the untouched file. Click on it for the Original.

wxwax

And as Khaos suggested, a B&W attempt (using a different shot.) This stuff makes my head hurt.

LilleG

I like the colors of the original post. The crop works well.

Marc Muench

wxwax wrote:

Here's the untouched file. Click on it for the Original.

Ok, I thought it just needed some TLC in post as the shot is a nice one!

Landscapes are tough especially if you don't know what to look for. I think you pointed the camera in the right spot at a decent time of day with the clouds and light still creeping its way down into the canyon. Digital cameras, by default wash out the file (make it appear to light) Most often I am darkening in post and then with layers masks painting out areas that became too dark. I hope to post this quick and easy method for adjusting images in photoshop soon, as it really is better than movin sliders in lightroom.



SID.jpg

GREAPER

I like the shot as well Sid.

I thought perhaps a gradient applied to the sky to preserve the action there.

Here is an example of what I mean.

I also cloned out the little black speck in the top right area.

wxwax

Marc, thanks for taking the time to look at, and play with, the image.

I've always thought about darkening the sky, but never considered the need to bring down other parts. I see how much richness and texture you brought out.

Your post work is an excellent working tool, thanks

wxwax

GREAPER wrote:

I like the shot as well Sid.

I thought perhaps a gradient applied to the sky to preserve the action there.

Here is an example of what I mean.

I also cloned out the little black speck in the top right area.

Greaps, you killed a hawk!

Thanks, I like your work with the sky. See how much Marc has made of the desert floor?

Marc Muench

Nikolai wrote:

Hey, I know the place:-)

Nikolai, took me a bit, but I now see the person out on the rim. Nice touch

Hopefully its not a piece of dust:D

Nikolai

Marc,

Marc Muench wrote:

Nikolai, took me a bit, but I now see the person out on the rim. Nice touch

Hopefully its not a piece of dust:D

You've noticed, huh?
Well, to be honest - I learned that from you!
And no, it's not a speck of dust, it's a man. Me and Skippy later went to the same spot. It was kinda freaky, being on top of a small boulder with no guard rails and a few thousand feet of the sheer drop in 300 degrees of direction. Jack, Doug, Mike and Michiel may have some pics with us up there...

Cheers!

wxwax

Marc, I sure hope you post your Photoshop tip for landscapes.

Using your treatment as a guide, I messed around with another shot.

Here's how I processed it last year: frustratingly bad.




And here's a new version, trying to follow your advice:

wxwax

Again, following Marc's advice (albeit poorly!) and bringing the exposure down. I can't believe it never occurred to me that this was the solution to those overbright rocks!

GREAPER

That looks great Sid

ChrisJ

I agree, beautiful images, Sid. Nice job on the post.

wxwax

Thanks, gentlemen! I learned something this weekend.

I sure hope Marc posts his Photoshop technique (hint, hint.)

Marc Muench

wxwax wrote:

Thanks, gentlemen! I learned something this weekend.

I sure hope Marc posts his Photoshop technique (hint, hint.)

Ok Ok, I'll post it soon!

By the looks of your additional images you have a great start. However, when looking through Mesa Arch on your first image, keep the distant subject matter (in the window) lighter so the image retains its depth, which is naturally caused by haze.

Sid, do you mind if I use your image for the demo?

wxwax

Marc Muench wrote:

Ok Ok, I'll post it soon!

By the looks of your additional images you have a great start. However, when looking through Mesa Arch on your first image, keep the distant subject matter (in the window) lighter so the image retains its depth, which is naturally caused by haze.

Sid, do you mind if I use your image for the demo?

Please do, and thank you for asking first!

Thanks for the additional tip.

DJ-S1

:lurk This will be good. HOF material coming...

wxwax

DJ-S1 wrote:

:lurk This will be good. HOF material coming...

House on fire?

DJ-S1

call me slow but I just realized the Hall of Fame or Hall of Wisdom or whatever it was called isn't here anymore? Anyway, this will still be a good read when Mark gets a chance to write it up.

Thanks for starting a good discussion, Wax.

David_S85

DJ-S1 wrote:

call me slow but I just realized the Hall of Fame or Hall of Wisdom or whatever it was called isn't here anymore? Anyway, this will still be a good read when Mark gets a chance to write it up.
Thanks for starting a good discussion, Wax.

We were about to replace the Hall of Wisdom forum with the Den of Despair forum until DavidTO came up with the fantastic idea of transplanting the best of the best threads in Wisdom to Tutorials (up above in the nav bar). The Den idea was abruptly cancelled after that.

DavidTO

OT: The posts from the Hall were put in the appropriate fora, at the top, as a sticky, "Moderator's Choice." Check Finishing School as an example

Sid,

I learned this when processing my Bryce shots from last year. I was unhappy, unhappy, unhappy, until I lowered the brightness in post, and then BOOM drama and interest filled the frame. Well, maybe I'm overdoing it, a tad, but the difference was striking.

Izak

Very nice shot, but I agree that this looks stunning in B&W, I also tried a Infrared filter on it and that also looks really cool!

wxwax

A *nudge* for Marc.

Marc Muench

wxwax wrote:

A *nudge* for Marc.

Hey, I live in California, what do ya expect:D
Making something quick, always takes soooo long!

wxwax

Marc Muench wrote:

Hey, I live in California, what do ya expect:D
Making something quick, always takes soooo long!

Isn't that the truth!