Puddle hunting

[MattBurt]

This high desert recreation area, Hartman Rocks is just a couple of miles from town and I spend a lot of time here.
Last night after just finishing some real estate work in town the heavens unleashed and we had a real gully washer of a storm.
I knew that would fill up some puddles out at Hartman's so I headed out once the sky was clearing and hiked to this area where I have a few favorite puddles. They weren't as full as they sometimes get but they were pretty good compared to my last visit. The sky was pretty nice and cooperative too.

[HSakols]

Nice planning!  I like the first one, but my eyes do like the deep reds in the last two.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Nice puddles and a very cooperative sky.

[stamper]

Definitely worth the hike. I like.

[Cornfield]

Really like these.  It's good to see images like these especially when they are not overdressed.

[RSL]

A very fine puddle collection, Matt.

[MattBurt]

Thanks for the comments! I'm pretty pleased with them too although I always find nits to pick but that is just how it goes.
I also find it can be a difficult balancing act to edit to bring out the best of a photo without overcooking it but that is generally my goal with my shots/edits.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should tell you the last three are HDRs made of two or three blended exposures. With the deep shadows and bright sky after the sun went down, I was clipping at both ends of the histogram so I decided to bracket and blend as necessary to ensure I got detail where I felt it was needed. I think that aspect worked out well here and the images do not scream "HDR!".

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Those are the kind of HDR that I can really go for: Ones where you would never even think of HDR when looking at them.
I guess that amounts to using HDR as a tool rather than as a weapon!   

[MattBurt]

Those are the kind of HDR that I can really go for: Ones where you would never even think of HDR when looking at them.
I guess that amounts to using HDR as a tool rather than as a weapon!   

I come in peace! 

[Paulo Bizarro]

Excellent set.