Bob Benson, FPSA, EPSA  


Snaefellsjokull National Park by Bob Benson, FPSA, EPSA

December 2019 - Snaefellsjokull National Park

December 2019 - Bob Benson, FPSA, EPSA

Original

About the Image(s)

In March of 2018 when I was in Iceland, we spent some time in this area. It was past sunset, and starting to get on the dark side, but I wanted to capture the whole scene. This is a composite of 3 shots across higher, followed by going back with 3 lower. Each shot was bracketed with 3 exposures, for a total of 18 images. After playing around with various curves layers and a few luminosity masks, I realized I had some actual residual color in the sky at the bottom. So then I decided to blend in a sunset from another image to give me the clouds at top. Original is main exposure from one set.
After all the work, I am not sure how I feel about this. I like it, but not sure if I like it enough.
1/30 sec f16 ISO 200 at 15 mm (crop factor) for main exposure.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted




Tony Au Yeong   Tony Au Yeong
I think the image you presented is more attractive and beautiful than the original photo. The people there give me the scale of the landscape. I like the shape of the hill and the pinkish cloud in the background.   Posted: 12/06/2019 09:05:52



 
You did a great job of processing all those pictures into one and enhancing the colors in the photo. The addition of the sunset sky adds a lot to the picture. I find that the two person in the middle of the picture help to draw me into the picture. I am not bothered by the other figures.   Posted: 12/08/2019 13:13:38



Mervyn Hurwitz   Mervyn Hurwitz
This is surely a beautiful scene and I'm sure it depicts the environment that you find there. The composition and depth throughout the picture is great. However, I find the colors un-natural and possibly overworked. Perhaps this is due to the HDR treatment?   Posted: 12/10/2019 10:26:46
Bob Benson   Bob Benson
The colors so seem a little strong and I will probably tone them down. The truth is my eye saw colors, but the scene as one shot was just too dark to show the warmth. Because of the low contrast, I do agree that the colors looked too "baked".   Posted: 12/10/2019 10:49:13



Jose Cartas   Jose Cartas
It is a beautiful composition, and the added clouds (although altering reality) enhance the image. I don't mind the people walking around, since they provide a scale to the whole landscape. The original shot lacked colors, and your post-processing brought them back into the picture, but perhaps you overdid it: some parts of the photo look over-sharpened. A minor detail: what do you think of getting rid of the white cord rail at the bottom left?   Posted: 12/14/2019 14:53:43
Bob Benson   Bob Benson
From Mervyn's comment, I reduced the red saturation in the hills. I keep debating the rope as a context item, but I think I will remove it now. Over sharpening probably is from the action I use to make the correct size; it probably is too much for this image.   Posted: 12/14/2019 18:07:27



Mark Southard   Mark Southard
You certainly have made one fine image after looking at an average first image. Colors are just superb.   Posted: 12/16/2019 17:59:44



Albert Zabin   Albert Zabin
(Groups 47 & 53)
This is a most impressive and skillful development. I would clone out the rope Adding an important element from another photograph raises some serious questions about what that kind of alteration will do to the usefulness of photography to document   Posted: 12/20/2019 13:24:39
Bob Benson   Bob Benson
When I work on images like this, they are always on layers. So if I wish to enter this in a photo travel exhibition, I can turn off the layer that will have the rope removed and the extra cloud. Also, images like this remind us that what we thought we saw is not what comes out of the camera, due to tech limits of the sensor and settings. I remember just the opposite once when I was just starting to use digital, and the Chicago night skyline I took seemed kind of dark and drab until I looked at the jpeg preview on the back of my camera, and saw all this marvelous color!   Posted: 12/20/2019 14:23:55