Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: James Clark on December 30, 2012, 03:56:56 pm

Title: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: James Clark on December 30, 2012, 03:56:56 pm
It was a white Christmas in northern New Mexico, and I made the drive along the Rio Grande Gorge into Taos Pueblo.  The result was a series of captures that I think will be among my favorites of everything I've ever done. Here's a work in progress.

(http://www.jclarkgallery.com/photos/untitled-taos.jpg)
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: francois on January 03, 2013, 06:30:06 am
I quite like it and B&W processing is perfect for this type of images.
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: langier on January 03, 2013, 07:39:23 pm
Nicely done, James!
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on January 04, 2013, 04:06:47 am
The textures in the snow and in the sky are wonderful.
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: luxborealis on January 04, 2013, 08:42:53 am
Beautifully seen with strong composition that really gives me the feeling of "being there". I can't say I like the edge treatment, but that's an artistic presentation decision of your own and I know many would disagree with me :)

I am curious about the toning - it has a beautiful hue, not quite warm, not quite cold, not sepia, not selenium, not gold but not brown, yet all of these in one way or another. Would you mind sharing your settings?
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: James Clark on January 04, 2013, 11:08:34 am
Beautifully seen with strong composition that really gives me the feeling of "being there". I can't say I like the edge treatment, but that's an artistic presentation decision of your own and I know many would disagree with me :)

I am curious about the toning - it has a beautiful hue, not quite warm, not quite cold, not sepia, not selenium, not gold but not brown, yet all of these in one way or another. Would you mind sharing your settings?

Thanks!  Wouldn't mind at all - I'm at my office right now so I'll verify later, but I believe the toning is done through the LR4 split toning panel. Highlights are untouched but shadows have a hue value of a bout 30 with a very small application of 10 or so on saturation over an LR4 B&W neutral conversion.

Funny about the edge treatment - I *know* it's a little cheesy but I just can't help myself - I love it  ;D   But for a display print I'd dump the burned edges and just go for an actual torn paper edge I think...
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: speedyk on January 05, 2013, 07:28:24 am
Nice work!!, reminds me to revisit my NM haunts and soak in the unique energy that lives there.
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: MTGFender on January 05, 2013, 12:30:03 pm
Fantastic picture!
I would like the edge to be straight as it will create the "simplicity" of Taos.
Thanks for sharing,
Pramote
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: Tony Jay on January 05, 2013, 03:32:19 pm
I would like to echo the previous posts.
Well done.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: James Clark on January 06, 2013, 02:55:41 pm
Thanks for all the comments and opinions :)    Here's one more slightly different version.  Different toning, higher contrast and a different aspect ratio obviously.  And no border ;)

(http://www.jclarkgallery.com/photos/taostest2.jpg)



Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: sdwilsonsct on January 06, 2013, 05:05:23 pm
I like this. It has more context than the first version.
I'm not as crazy about the dark corners in the sky, they strike me as imposed. But, hey, it's your image. :)
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on January 06, 2013, 05:09:03 pm
I like this. It has more context than the first version.
I'm not as crazy about the dark corners in the sky, they strike me as imposed. But, hey, it's your image. :)

I too prefer this one and I agree about the sky. It's much better without the fancy edge as well ;)

Jeremy
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: gerafotografija on January 07, 2013, 03:03:46 am
I was drawn to the first one more. Maybe the lower contrast makes it little less unsettling, and the fine details provide a path from foreground to background. My eyes immediately started hopping around the second version.

Nice capture - looking forward to seeing the rest from the series!
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: francois on January 07, 2013, 05:45:13 am
I like the second version best but the dark vignetting is over the top for my taste.
Title: Re: Untitled/Taos NM
Post by: shaunw on January 07, 2013, 01:26:47 pm
Such a fascinating image..my preference would be the processing of the first in a landscape orientation.

Great shot very well done.

Shaun