Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Roman Racela on September 29, 2013, 03:51:01 am

Title: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 29, 2013, 03:51:01 am
I couldn't sleep so I started editing this image. Sure enough I'm now falling asleep at my desk and now I'm ready to go to bed.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_DSC7084-Recovered_zpsa9d86180.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_DSC7084-Recovered_zpsa9d86180.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: john beardsworth on September 29, 2013, 05:15:42 am
I like it and it's certainly striking. I just wonder if you can do better making the tree stand out from the rock, especially on its lower left. Maybe you need to tweak how the green channel is converted? Make green a lighter tone of grey and the eye will be drawn to the tree and the foliage will be distinguished from the rocks.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on September 29, 2013, 06:19:26 am
Nice photo.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 29, 2013, 09:28:31 am
I agree with John. A really light tree would stand out better. Good image, worth additional tweaking.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 29, 2013, 09:51:39 am
Very fine art-ish.

To concentrate attention better, I would also get rid of the two clouds that intersect with the left edge (and maybe even all other clouds on the left).
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: David Eckels on September 29, 2013, 11:08:02 am
Very fine art-ish.

To concentrate attention better, I would also get rid of the two clouds that intersect with the left edge (and maybe even all other clouds on the left).
Agree. Edge patrol. I'd be interested if the green channel trick works, too. I think the title is perfect. Very nice.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: thierrylegros396 on September 29, 2013, 12:51:53 pm
Really amazing.

The rocks look like crocodile skin  ;)

Thierry
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: sdwilsonsct on September 29, 2013, 02:14:27 pm
Well-seen and captured.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 29, 2013, 02:37:51 pm
... Edge patrol...

Border patrol? ;)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 29, 2013, 05:24:43 pm
Sorry. I was tweaking the image while I was half asleep. I read all the comments and re-edited the image. I adjusted the greens and yellows and even experimented with masking to make the tree pop out of the scene. This is the best I can do with the tree. I could make this into an IR image and the tree would really pop out but I think it would make for a weird image. Got rid of some of the clouds and added a vignette to draw a bit more focus to the tree...not sure if that helped. I also darkened some os the shadows on the rocks trying to create some sort of leading line.

Anyways, tweaking this image was a good exercise in editing :)

Thank you for all your suggestions!

ORIGINAL VERSION
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_DSC7084-Recovered_zpsa9d86180.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_DSC7084-Recovered_zpsa9d86180.jpg.html)

REVISION
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_DSC7084-EditV2_zpsddd24608.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_DSC7084-EditV2_zpsddd24608.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Christian Carlsen on September 29, 2013, 06:24:02 pm
Stunning image!
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: David Eckels on September 29, 2013, 07:02:05 pm
I think it was successful! Just enough for me.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: luxborealis on September 29, 2013, 08:16:45 pm
Fantastic photograph all around. I love what you've done to the second version except for the sky. While eliminating the edge clouds was successful, the vignetting appear too strong now; the natural vignette of the version 1 worked really well. The sky in v2 also looks more "blotchy"
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 29, 2013, 09:03:38 pm
Version 2 is almost perfect. I look forward to version 3, with Terry's suggestions implemented.  ;)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 29, 2013, 10:50:04 pm
You guys are never happy! Hahaha. Okay, V3 tomorrow :)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 01:22:03 am
Here is version 3. I actually just overlaid V1 to V2 and did a 50% opacity. I think it's a good compromise. Sound kinda funny how I did this but I think it works out. What do you guys think?

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_DSC7084-EditV3_zps4027a41a.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_DSC7084-EditV3_zps4027a41a.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Tony Jay on September 30, 2013, 01:54:30 am
To my eyes the tonal rendition is much improved.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: john beardsworth on September 30, 2013, 06:49:21 am
So tell us a little more about it - was it somewhere in the US South West and was the picture originally in colour?
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: David Eckels on September 30, 2013, 08:53:57 am
You guys are never happy! Hahaha. Okay, V3 tomorrow :)
You can say that again! But but v3 nailed it perfectly in my view except for the edge clouds upper left.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 30, 2013, 09:23:06 am
You can say that again! But but v3 nailed it perfectly in my view except for the edge clouds upper left.
Picky, picky, picky! But yes!
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 30, 2013, 10:09:05 am
V3 also lost crispness in the clouds that should stay, while leaving phantom traces for those that should go :(
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: David Eckels on September 30, 2013, 10:54:46 am
Picky, picky, picky! I agree with Eric. But as I have found out herein, some of these subtle things will help tremendously with your image, which I think is fantastic. I didn't notice the clouds until I saw Slobodan's comment re v3, but he's right. Usually is :P I can't tell you how many times these folks have helped me rework an image and I hope you are getting what you wanted out of it, as I have.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 11:04:11 am
Hi John. The shot is from the Vermillion Cliffs area in Southern Utah/Northern Arizona area...US Southwest. The original image was in color shot with a Nikon D800 with a 35mm prime lens.


So tell us a little more about it - was it somewhere in the US South West and was the picture originally in colour?
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 11:26:03 am
Here is version 4. I took our some of the clouds on the left and made the clouds in the middle crispier like bacon :)

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. You guys a tough crowd! :)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/romanwarrior/_DSC7084-EditV3flat_zps8d75a213.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/romanwarrior/media/_DSC7084-EditV3flat_zps8d75a213.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 30, 2013, 01:49:09 pm
Best version yet. I'd be willing to stop with this one, unless Slobodan wants further perfection.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 30, 2013, 02:27:55 pm
I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. You guys a tough crowd! :)

Worth it, I'd say. I think you've nailed it now. I like the subtle toning, too.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 03:17:02 pm
Thanks Eric. I can see some slight haloing with the low res image. I'll have to inspect the high image closer to see if it's there. I would hate to print this and it turns out like crap.


Best version yet. I'd be willing to stop with this one, unless Slobodan wants further perfection.

Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 03:19:59 pm
Thanks Jeremy, but just like I told Eric...I noticed some haloing with the low res image. I am hoping it's not on the high res image or I'll have to start from scratch.

I was going to do a B&W image originally, but thought that a slight hint of sepia would give the image more character. :)
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: john beardsworth on September 30, 2013, 04:11:51 pm
Have you thought of a square crop? One that places the tree centrally.

The tones now seem to suit the red rock landscape.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: dhancock on September 30, 2013, 05:02:17 pm
You got it!
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 05:29:23 pm
I considered it and just stuck with the original aspect ratio. I didn't want the image to be too artsy fartsy with a square format. I'm not saying it won't look good as a square format. It's just now my style I guess.

This particular grouping of rock at the location where this was taken had no red Navajo sandstone. They were all grey rocks. :)


Have you thought of a square crop? One that places the tree centrally.

The tones now seem to suit the red rock landscape.
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Roman Racela on September 30, 2013, 05:44:39 pm
Thank you, Daniel.

You got it!
Title: Re: Dream Scape
Post by: Tony Jay on October 01, 2013, 06:36:07 am
Again, I am a bit late on this one too.
Nonetheless, version 4 seems to have nailed it with the tree standing out very well and the tonal range wonderful.

Tony Jay