Rick Cloran, HonPSA, MPSA  

Pemaquid by Rick Cloran, HonPSA, MPSA

April 2021 - Pemaquid

About the Image(s)

Still no new material. This month from back in 2012 using a Canon 5D MK II 24-105 at F22 and 47 mm and iso 200. The bracket was three shots in all +/- two stops around an initial exposure of 1/20 sec +.33 compensation. The view is that classic puddle reflection of Pemaquid light. The blend was done in Aurora 2019. Sharpening to offset the F22 was done with Focus Magic (cleaner than Sharpen AI in this case) with a little boost from DeNoise when I cleaned up a minimal amount of “noise” that crept into the sky from that. I used Nik Pro Contrast to tweak the overall snap and then did some selective burning in on the foreground rocks to keep them a bit more subdued and let the lighthouse be the main focal point. If you ever do get the chance to shoot it, it is an afternoon shot. I would now do a three or four shot focus bracket rather than shooting F 22. You are going to have to be patient with the tourist traffic around the light, but you only need one clean shot from up near the light if you focus bracket. From this angle, that near piece of ledge is about 12 inches, so trying to find a hyperfocal point even at F 22 is an exercise. The focus bracket would simplify that part even if it means blending multiple HDR brackets.

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

Max Burke   Max Burke
This image looks great to me. You did some fine work as each part you mentioned seems to stand due to doing a focus bracket. You stood at a place that likely has had many tripod locations since it shows the reflection in the relief in the rocks to enable the tower. Your explanation of all you did explains why this is a quality image of this popular site for photography.   Posted: 04/19/2021 22:56:50
Bill Buchanan   Bill Buchanan
You New Englanders get all the good pictures Pemaquid. I've been there three times and have gray skies. The Photoshop Sky Replacement is going to come in handy. You nailed the exposure and color too.   Posted: 04/26/2021 14:28:12
Lisa Cuchara   Lisa Cuchara
A great classic scene.

Covedits are fine during this time. I actually have so many images in my queue I could be quarantined for five years and still not run out of material, although I always prefer taking the photographs to editing them.

Most cameras today can handle f22 without too much distortion, yet you saw it and adjusted for it. I am not familiar with focus magic, better than Topaz Sharpen AI?


"I would now do a three or four shot focus bracket rather than shooting F 22. You are going to have to be patient with the tourist traffic around the light, but you only need one clean shot from up near the light if you focus bracket. From this angle, that near piece of ledge is about 12 inches, so trying to find a hyperfocal point even at F 22 is an exercise. The focus bracket would simplify that part even if it means blending multiple HDR brackets."

Intersting, I never thought about focus bracketing there. Patience is a virtue, there are photographers waiting for you puddle and a lot people walking around top. It was easier before cell phones, someone walking around is easy to wait for, but people standing and staring at their tiny screens when they are visiting such a majestic place is another!?! chjeck out Brad Becker's April image -- wonderful sunset and the person is looking at their phone http://psadigital.org/group41/showfull.php?iid=58576   Posted: 04/26/2021 16:09:05
Rick Cloran   Rick Cloran
Focus Magic has two settings out of focus and motion blur. The motion blur is tricky to work with as, like motion blur in Smart Sharpen, you have to supply the angle of motion ad the number of pixels for the shift. On the out of focus, it actually does a good job. I've had it since before Sharpen AI came out. I would say that for shots not involving motion bur where Sharpen AI's machine learning has the edge, Focus Magic yields a better image than Sharpen AI's Focus option half of the time. It also doesn't have a tendency to create a cyan shift which Sharpen AI has yet to eliminate. There is a free trial based on processing a number of images. I found a trick was to look at the image in the stand alone version of the program and make my decision. If I liked it better than Topaz I would go into Photoshop and use the plug-in to process the image and have one image knocked off my trial. If I didn't like it I just backed out of the stand alone and it wouldn't consider it as an image for the trial where the plug-in would.   Posted: 04/27/2021 19:10:14
Brad Ashbrook   Brad Ashbrook
Absolutely a beautiful classic photo with an amazing reflection, well done on all accounts!   Posted: 04/27/2021 14:45:47
 
Wonderful shot. Interesting subject, beautiful angle and lovely composition. Nice blending and beautiful color tones. Texture and reflection are amazing. Just perfect. Congrats.   Posted: 04/30/2021 13:03:11