A Progression of Thought – 1 Step Closer

Jul 21, 2010 | Landscape Photography

We’re back to color you’re asking, how is that making a B&W image? If you compare this color rendition to the one at the bottom of the page, you’ll notice the color is now punchier, the range of light between the shadow and highlight greater. Yeap, it’s a 1 image HDR of the original image. Why would I do that if I’m wanting to go B&W? Remember what I said about the B&W image, what it was lacking? That’s why I did the 1 image HDR.

A Progression of Thought – cont

Jul 21, 2010 | Landscape Photography

OK, so now you know I was dismissing the color when I arranged the elements in this photograph. I was seeing B&W from the get go. You can see below the drama the color brings to the photograph, something that is lost in the simple B&W. With that being the case, we need to take it further for you to see what I’m seeing and more importantly, feeling.

A Progression of Thought

Jul 21, 2010 | Landscape Photography

When helping folks at the camera, I often talk about what needs to be done in post to finish the image. Landscapes are something we need to romance and many times in order for that passion to come out, we have to do some finishing in post. The problem is, which comes first, camera knowledge or post knowledge? I often get these funny looks when I say I mention this post technique or that. Inevitably the question comes out, “How am I supposed to know all of that?” An here lies one of the many challenges of landscape photography, seeing the finished photo in the viewfinder.

You gotta start somewhere and that’s what we have here, the click out of the camera. The finishing you see here is straight out of ACR where just the colors are helped with Vibrance and while it looks nice, it’s not what I say when I took the photo. So let’s take it to the next step.

Photo captured by D3x, 24f1.4AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

That’s Right, They’re Mtn Bluebirds

Jul 20, 2010 | Landscape Photography

Many don’t know they are cavity nesters. They use old woodpecker holes for nests. This particular one is in the Ghost Forest and regrettably pretty high up (hence the use of the 2x). I personally don’t like shooting “up” on cavity nesters, the perspective just bugs me but it was a good illustration of an important aspect of photographing cavity nesters.

In the top photo, notice how you see nothing but wood in the frame? Shooting early in the morning gave the tree trunk shading so you have the idea it’s a “round” tree. Without that shading, if would look like a piece of wood from the hardware store. The bottom photo is the more preferred angle and that because the photo has a visual depth. Seeing any background behind the tree, in this case blue sky, gives a feeling of roundness without the shading and at the same time a sense of place. Background is everything even in this simple scene.

Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Male Gives it Away?!

Jul 20, 2010 | Landscape Photography

Or does it? We look forward each spring to their return to the Sierra, their song is so mellow and sweet. Know who it is yet?

Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

Who’s That Peaking Out?

Jul 20, 2010 | Landscape Photography

Yeap, it’s a nesting bird here in the Sierra, actually it’s a species you’ll only find at higher altitudes. Who is it? Another hint to come shortly.

Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film