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Author Topic: Mitten, Monument Valley  (Read 1869 times)

Shakyphoto (Slim)

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Mitten, Monument Valley
« on: May 28, 2014, 01:00:25 am »

Wasn't planning on going to Monument Valley, but found myself there anyway.  Taken at dusk after a rain storm.

Untitled by shakyphoto, on Flickr

Southwest-00224 by shakyphoto, on Flickr
« Last Edit: May 29, 2014, 12:24:23 am by Slim »
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Jeremy Roussak

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2014, 03:53:04 am »

I like both versions, but in the monochrome version you've introduced a halo around the mitten (and the formation to the left) that is really distracting. I suspect you could do more with the sky, too.

Jeremy
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francois

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2014, 05:23:52 am »

I like the framing and the light but post-processing is not optimal. There's a halo as noted by Jeremy and maybe too much clarity on the right mitten... With a little more work, you'll have two splendid images of Monument Valley.
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john beardsworth

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2014, 07:06:59 am »

The black and white has potential but looks dark and lifeless by comparison with the colour. You probably need to do more than just turn down the colour, so render the reds in a lighter greyscale tone which will make the landscape look more desert-like and allow the viewer to distinguish the trees and bushes. Also darken the tone for the blues to beef up the sky. In Photoshop this means going for the red filter preset in the black and white adjustment or in Lightroom you'd use a red filter preset.

Update - now much better. Maybe burn in the sky and push the eye back down into the landscape?

John

« Last Edit: May 29, 2014, 02:54:25 am by john beardsworth »
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Hayhill

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2014, 03:24:47 pm »

I, too, find the halos very distracting.  That in turn makes me question if the sky and clouds were cloned in from a different time and place. I am bothered by the warmth of the foreground and coolness of the background, plus there is some halo along the entie bottom edge of the sky. Bottom line: over processed.

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Shakyphoto (Slim)

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2014, 12:20:13 am »

Okay, a little too rushed on uploading these photos which I processed in the car driving from UT to AZ, and didn't notice the errors in processing.  I've loaded up two better processed photos.  Thanks for the honest opinions which where pretty consistent across the board.
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Jeremy Roussak

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2014, 03:02:28 am »

Okay, a little too rushed on uploading these photos which I processed in the car driving from UT to AZ, and didn't notice the errors in processing.  I've loaded up two better processed photos.  Thanks for the honest opinions which where pretty consistent across the board.

The monochrome is now much better. I still think you could bring out the detail in the sky above the mitten, making it a little more interesting, though.

Jeremy
« Last Edit: May 29, 2014, 02:10:15 pm by kikashi »
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Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2014, 04:08:19 am »

I like the B&W shot.

francois

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2014, 06:48:41 am »

Yes, it's much better. I like both version but the B&W is more dramatic.
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Roberto Frieri

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2014, 02:00:25 pm »

Mono or color, just very fine. Many compliments.

luxborealis

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Re: Mitten, Monument Valley
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2014, 07:51:57 am »

Love the subtle tones in the sky which contrast with the hardness of the rock.
Prefer the black & white, but consider...
 - adding a grad mask to darken the immediate foreground and gradually becoming lighter towards the Mitten;
 - increasing the mid tone separation in the rock.
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