Bob Legg  


Moonshine by Bob Legg

December 2019 - Moonshine

December 2019 - Bob Legg

Original 1

December 2019 - Bob Legg

Original 2

About the Image(s)

The original color was shot in the smokies at iso 400, 1/2000sec, @62mm. I processed the Raw image in Luminar to bring out the fall foliage. I then processed that image making a Monochrome in Luminar to hi light the yellow leaves. Then I used the Luminar sky replacement tool and slid in my Full Moon shot in Virginia with iso500, f10, 1/250 sec using spot metering and 300mm. I used curves to darken the foreground and bright leaves hopefully making a natural looking landscape.


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




LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Hello Bob,

I like your landscape image this month. You have a nice minimal scene with the 3 basic elements of foreground, midground, background. I like your tree it has a nice size and shape. I also like how you enhanced the light on it giving it depth and dimension. I sense restful autumn feel to this image as well.

What caught my eye when I first looked at the image was the brightness of the moon; my eyes zoomed directly to the moon. I don't think the brightness is in balance with the light on the tree and ground. The light on the ground is also in front of the tree yet the moon is in the back of the tree and the ground there is in shade. Something is not right with that. There is a tonality difference of the moon compared to the light on the ground. The moon looks more cool white, and the ground and tree more warm white.

The other concern I have is there are clouds in the sky but none on the moon. I see this as giving the image the impression the moon was added after the fact. I am all for composites but not when they are obvious to the eye; for me that detracts from the quality of the photo. The quantity of light on the ground tells me also that the sky is too dark. If the sky is dark then where is the light coming from; hence an added moon.

Bob, this is my subjective and humble opinion. I hope my thoughts are helpful. I love this image and think it is just a few adjustments away from an even better photo.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend.

LuAnn   Posted: 12/01/2019 15:33:40



Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Thanks for you comments LuAnn. They are very helpful and since I do not have a lot of experience with moon replacement. I will work of some improvements.
We had a great Thanksgiving And I hope that you did also. About time that you will be shooting snow covered scenes?
Catch you later.
Bob   Posted: 12/01/2019 15:49:56
LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Hi Bob,

Yes, I will give a try at shooting snow-covered scenes real soon. I just bought a film camera to shoot black and white so I am very excited. I got the Olympus OM 1n, do you shoot film?

LuAnn   Posted: 12/03/2019 10:07:53



Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Film? Sorry, No more BW, last used in 2003 when I got it free from small town newspaper and they processed and scanned. 100% digital since my Nikon D100. I believe as many do, that digital has surpassed what can be accomplished with film. Shoot up a storm and enjoy.
I'm not having much luck fixing my moonshine image. I won't be trying to add clouds to the sky as that is our little secret. I needed to basically start over as I'm not using photoshop. I have a darker moon ready to go.
Bob   Posted: 12/03/2019 10:24:17
LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
What software are you using to edit with, Bob?

LuAnn   Posted: 12/08/2019 06:50:40



Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Bob, I really like your idea! And, I think your composite is very well done. I agree with LuAnn's observations about the moon's brightness and, for me, it would be pretty challenging to do a good job adding clouds to the sky.

Since I recently acquired Luminar 4 and am playing with the Sky Replacement feature, I used your image to see what it might look like. Then I used one of Luminar's stock skies which I don't think would be allowed in a photo competition... at least not in my local camera club. Note that I did a quick job, so it's FAR from perfect! Nonetheless, it allowed for some interesting images. Your thoughts?

  Posted: 12/03/2019 11:25:58
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Bob Legg   Bob Legg
I agree with you Oliver. We shouldn't be using Luminar skies. Yours sky looks great except too many colors for Monochrome. I Luv how you got that Milky Way behind the tree. I find color sky replacements easier than Monochromes. I've been spending time editing sky pics to BW and then giving them a try. I found 1 that should work for LuAnn as I have sky & clouds and foreground darker. Can't figure out how to make a shadow. But we will keep it a secret that these images are composites. I used Topaz to make the BW as I have a webinar for using it on Thursday. I found a moon image that works for me, sorry moon is more centered than I would like. What say you all?   Posted: 12/08/2019 15:24:47
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Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Very impressive, Bob! I really like the clouds you added. I darkened the moon a bit (as suggested by LuAnn) and made the whole scene a yellow-ish tint. Whatda ya think?

  Posted: 12/10/2019 19:19:18
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Bob Legg   Bob Legg
I like that version in terms of being lit better, but I'm not remembering that warmer light being seen or recorded, that's why I didn't warm up the light. I was expecting you or others to comment that the moon was too big for being that high in the sky. The Moon size doesn't bother you?   Posted: 12/10/2019 19:33:38



Israel Yosef   Israel Yosef
Hello Bob ,
I really like the desire of all members of our group to add the moon to the photo. This is not so simple because you need to consider the light that emits the moon, shadows from a tree, etc.
But you are all well done.
Once again I learned from all of you.
I like the latest version of Bob.   Posted: 12/11/2019 09:30:46



 
Hi Bob - I really like your original photo, and the idea of converting it to black and white (in which the leaves look amazing - so pretty and delicate) and then adding the moon (which also looks great).

I don't think it has quite realised its potential but I admire your attempt, having attempted a composite myself recently. It leaves me feeling unsettled having the moon over the tree like that - I want to pick it up and move it to the left of the tree altogether lol.

There is so much to think about with a light source in an image and its good for me to learn about too. I wonder if it would look pleasing to you if the whole image was lighter, like your original black and white, and the moon could still be added. I am guessing it would have less atmosphere though. Oh so many things to think about! Also, I don't think the moon is too big - sometimes we have a very low moon here and it looks enormous - much bigger than what you have done - size is perfect.   Posted: 12/22/2019 11:33:17



Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Thank you for your comments Julie. Your idea of moving the moon has its problems. I don't use Photoshop (I use Luminar) so I do not have the ability to copy and paste pixels. I have various moon images and the moons are in different positions, but LuAnn and others liked the idea of having the moon with clouds. I have many fewer moons with clouds. The moon behind clouds made it so I could get away without have shadows and that was another reason for cutting part of the foreground, I didn't have to address the no shadow issue. In the days of old, we did the best we could with taking the shot in the field, now we have so many choices to make changes But ...They have to be made so the viewer believes what he/she is seeing is accurate and possible. Changing skies is now so much easier, but the result needs to be possible. I'm just in the early stages of learning this process and thought it would be helpful to everyone. You are right on...The light source in the image is key to making or improving an image.
Have a Great Week.   Posted: 12/22/2019 19:00:41
Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Bob, I know that Luminar 3 had some problems with Clone and Stamp. However, it appears that it's working in Luminar 4. This capability would allow you to copy and paste pixels if you wish to "move" the moon.

  Posted: 12/22/2019 19:16:54