Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Roman Racela on October 27, 2013, 03:00:56 pm

Title: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 27, 2013, 03:00:56 pm
I took this image during a detour to Goblin Valley on my way to Capitol Reef National Park. It was around 2:00PM, cloudy but unusually bright and contrasty...so I took a long exposure image and turned it into B&W. Not sure if I like it so I'm open to suggestions or maybe just send it to the recycling bin.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_MGL9618-BampW-lowres_zps2cc5e136.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_MGL9618-BampW-lowres_zps2cc5e136.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on October 27, 2013, 03:05:36 pm
I'd call this a keeper.
I like it.
The clouds look a bit irritating if you have a conservative eye, but I think its great.

Cheers
~Chris
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 27, 2013, 03:17:25 pm
Chris- thanks for pointing that out. I think that's what I don't like about the image. For a LE image, the clouds look choppy. I think this would look so much better if this was taken at sunset as a non-LE image...obviously.

I'd call this a keeper.
I like it.
The clouds look a bit irritating if you have a conservative eye, but I think its great.

Cheers
~Chris
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: David Eckels on October 27, 2013, 03:18:57 pm
I like it too, as for irritating clouds I will proffer a theory that they might be competing with the hoodoos. I like the drama of the sky, but there seems to be some imbalance with the rock formations; what about painting some clarity into the sandstone? Particularly the frontmost rock? Curious as to settings and whether you used an ND filter.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 27, 2013, 03:31:37 pm
I actually added some clarity to the big hoodoo. I think it's just the right amount when viewed bigger, but it probably could use more for the smaller low res version.

I took this @ f/22, ISO100, 50 sec exposure stacking two (2) Lee Filter 10X Big Stopper ND filters. So, basically a 20-stop filter.

I like it too, as for irritating clouds I will proffer a theory that they might be competing with the hoodoos. I like the drama of the sky, but there seems to be some imbalance with the rock formations; what about painting some clarity into the sandstone? Particularly the frontmost rock? Curious as to settings and whether you used an ND filter.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: batmura on October 27, 2013, 05:07:59 pm
This is absolutely stunning. The long exposure makes this image, and the editing is fantastic.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: sdwilsonsct on October 27, 2013, 08:46:10 pm
Outstanding!
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: langier on October 28, 2013, 01:52:23 am
Nicely done of an old favorite haunt!
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: bretedge on October 28, 2013, 02:03:35 am
I think this is very well done.  Goblin Valley isn't the easiest place to photograph but this is a wonderfully unique view of the park.  The long exposure and black and white conversion both work well, IMHO.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: john beardsworth on October 28, 2013, 02:04:52 am
I like it too, as for irritating clouds I will proffer a theory that they might be competing with the hoodoos.
I think that's exactly it and the problem is in the B&W conversion. How are you converting to B&W? I suspect it needs a red filter look for the hoodoos to be lightened and more prominent compared with the bright clouds.

Ps I like the image.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on October 28, 2013, 02:13:15 am
On a second and third look, I like the contrast between the clouds,
which indicate movement and the hoodoos, which stand like pillars more and more.
For me its symbolizing the calm and silent mind in an uncalm and rushing world.
I'd really work hard to give that image the perfect toning, print it large and hang it on a wall!

Cheers
~Chris
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on October 28, 2013, 04:35:35 am
I like it. I think the contrast between stasis and motion works well. However, I do think the hoodoos are too dark.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on October 28, 2013, 07:50:22 am
It´s a good photo, with nice contrast between the stillness of the rock and the movement in the clouds. I would like to see a bit more texture in the hoodoos themselves, they seem to be a bit flat. Maybe the light was not the best to capture that textural detail?
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: brandtb on October 28, 2013, 09:01:31 am
One of the great things about this image, mentioned a few times, is the contrast btw the soft long exposure of the sky and the rock formations. It's a fantastic example (and a bit rare) of long exp. being used for the advantage of a composition. I think along with D.E. and others...the clarity/sharpness of the formation(s) in near fg is something I would work on. Secondly, if this is a crop I would add some ground at bottom and crop a little of top...the closest formation's "base" almost sits on the lower edge of the picture plane...would like to see a bit more ground below. Lastly, If this were mine, I would bring up the shadows in the ground and take out a good deal of the contrast/clarity in sky...and see what that looked like as an option...the ground surface area is a bit to "murky" for me.  /B
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 28, 2013, 11:42:36 am
I shot this at around 2:00PM and it was quite bright so the lighting wasn't ideal. The sun was almost directly above as you can see from how the shadow falls. I'll add a bit more detail to the hoodoos and see how it goes. :)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_MGL9618-lowres-unedited_zpse8422506.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_MGL9618-lowres-unedited_zpse8422506.jpg.html)

It´s a good photo, with nice contrast between the stillness of the rock and the movement in the clouds. I would like to see a bit more texture in the hoodoos themselves, they seem to be a bit flat. Maybe the light was not the best to capture that textural detail?
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 28, 2013, 11:46:20 am
I'll massage the F/G a bit more and add details...I'll try to balance out the f/g and ground surface with the sky a bit better also :)

I'll post a revision later in the day.

One of the great things about this image, mentioned a few times, is the contrast btw the soft long exposure of the sky and the rock formations. It's a fantastic example (and a bit rare) of long exp. being used for the advantage of a composition. I think along with D.E. and others...the clarity/sharpness of the formation(s) in near fg is something I would work on. Secondly, if this is a crop I would add some ground at bottom and crop a little of top...the closest formation's "base" almost sits on the lower edge of the picture plane...would like to see a bit more ground below. Lastly, If this were mine, I would bring up the shadows in the ground and take out a good deal of the contrast/clarity in sky...and see what that looked like as an option...the ground surface area is a bit to "murky" for me.  /B
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 28, 2013, 11:47:41 am
Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. They gave me some ideas my revision.  ;D
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: shaunw on October 29, 2013, 04:34:38 pm
Surreal feel about it not just the sky, yer like it works for me.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: batmura on October 30, 2013, 03:05:05 pm
Roman, you made a great choice by converting to monochrome. How did you edit it? To me, it's the clouds that make it so powerful. The angle of the shot is amazing too.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 30, 2013, 05:18:05 pm
Thank you, Shaun.

Surreal feel about it not just the sky, yer like it works for me.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 30, 2013, 05:25:37 pm
Thank you, batmura. I basically just used PS and played with the color adjustments and creating layer masks to fine tune my highlights and shadows. These particular hoodoos aren't that tall. The smallest around 4 feet and the tallest is maybe 8 feet. I wanted them to look bigger and taller so I shot from a low angle. I only stayed there for less than an hour and would have loved to stay til sunset but Capitol Reef was waiting :)  This is definitely a place that I would visit again and camp out for a couple of nights.

Roman, you made a great choice by converting to monochrome. How did you edit it? To me, it's the clouds that make it so powerful. The angle of the shot is amazing too.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: davidh202 on October 30, 2013, 10:18:28 pm
I have experimenting with the blur filters in CS6, and found that if I select the sky and use the Iris blur pulled all the way in behind the foreground hoodoo, and soften the clouds it works a little better to my eye. Kind of like a long exposure on sea water. I'll  post my version if you'd like.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 30, 2013, 10:59:27 pm
Yes, please share.

I have experimenting with the blur filters in CS6, and found that if I select the sky and use the Iris blur pulled all the way in behind the foreground hoodoo, and soften the clouds it works a little better to my eye. Kind of like a long exposure on sea water. I'll  post my version if you'd like.
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: davidh202 on October 30, 2013, 11:00:33 pm
What do you think Roman?
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on October 30, 2013, 11:56:46 pm
I'm on the fence on this. lol :)

I think it may be too blurry. Can you do another version with just 50% opacity of what you did?
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: davidh202 on October 31, 2013, 10:53:47 pm
This is just slightly softer than your OP
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: Roman Racela on November 01, 2013, 12:40:46 am
I may have to start incorporating this technique where appropriate! :)

I'm liking it, dude. :)

This is just slightly softer than your OP
Title: Re: Goblin Valley in B&W
Post by: davidh202 on November 01, 2013, 03:31:29 pm
This was one of my first attempts to use the Iris Blur in CS6 I thought it was a good tool to accomplish the task.
Glad you liked it Roman. Yes, I think the second version is better. Just enough to soften the clouds without going too far .
David