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Wandering in the alpine foothills
![sarasphotos](https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/uploads/customavatars/32/navatar_86132.jpg)
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???
![20160508_024_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-vwfs22B/0/X2/20160508_024_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
2) this scene was spotted about 10 minutes into the hike
![20160508_037_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-hLg5jqt/0/X2/20160508_037_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
3) there were lots of conveniently placed benches where one could stop and enjoy the view
![20160508_050_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-cd5r65T/0/X2/20160508_050_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
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.
![20160508_054_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-SpDJK56/0/X2/20160508_054_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
5)wasn't quite sure what to think of this...
![20160508_087_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-B9LjtWL/0/X2/20160508_087_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
6) another bench with a view
![20160508_099_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-tw5LxVm/1/X2/20160508_099_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
7) this small graveyard (to the left) was for the plague victims of 1635
![20160508_119_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-pzQNB2c/1/X2/20160508_119_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
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???
![20160508_024_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-vwfs22B/0/X2/20160508_024_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
2) this scene was spotted about 10 minutes into the hike
![20160508_037_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-hLg5jqt/0/X2/20160508_037_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
3) there were lots of conveniently placed benches where one could stop and enjoy the view
![20160508_050_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-cd5r65T/0/X2/20160508_050_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
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.
![20160508_054_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-SpDJK56/0/X2/20160508_054_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
5)wasn't quite sure what to think of this...
![20160508_087_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-B9LjtWL/0/X2/20160508_087_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
6) another bench with a view
![20160508_099_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-tw5LxVm/1/X2/20160508_099_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
7) this small graveyard (to the left) was for the plague victims of 1635
![20160508_119_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-pzQNB2c/1/X2/20160508_119_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
8) one last glimpse to the south
![20160508_134_DMC-G5-X2.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Private-Galleries/2016/2016002April-June/i-jNTMXxL/0/X2/20160508_134_DMC-G5-X2.jpg)
0
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
Book1: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUBMI1C
Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079V3RX6K
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jo.west.16
I had a lot of "pinch me, I'm so lucky I actually live near this beautiful place" moments that day!
Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
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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Images in the Backcountry
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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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