About the Image(s)
The Midas Touch
Equipment/Source: Nikon D800 with 24-70mm lens. Plus 3 stop GND filter. ISO 100, F10, shutter 30 seconds. Image processed from Nikon RAW file using Lightroom.
Technique: I have always believed that bad weather makes good photos. Thus on this evening in early July I found myself walking in the rain through the meadows of Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains looking some a subject for my camera. The skies had been a dull, flat grey all day but now in the last hours of daylight the wind had picked up and the clouds were rapidly moving across the sky. The sun had set by the time I reached this meadow but there was a slight break in the moving clouds and I saw the possibility of an image. I began to run across the meadow trying to find a composition around the only trees separated from the forest. The fog (for which these mountains are famous) was drifting across the far side of the meadow but composed in the camera the foreground was just flat and dull. I knew a long exposure would bring up what light still existed in the sky so I dialed in 30 seconds knowing this would render the clouds into a nonde blur. I kept the ISO low to maintain image quality and adjusted the fstop to acquire proper exposure. It was then that I realized the 30 seconds was the key—I had time. I dug my backpackers flashlight out of my pack and placed a yellow balloon over the bulb to tint the light. I then made a snood out of my map and that allowed me to create directional rays of light to highlight the foreground. The GND filter, applied to the sky kept it from becoming too bright. It was that simple. All I had to do was walk the last 1.5 miles back to the car with my image safely stored on my memory card.
Processing: In Lightroom I brought down highlights, and used a GND filter over the sky to slightly enhance the orange color. I then used the Adjustment Brush to lighten some of the shadows in the foreground so allow for some detail to show. Finally, although I had tried to apply Hyperfocal techniques to ensure sharpness throughout the image, I still had a slight amount of blur on the bottom edge of the image so I cropped that off.
Michael Weatherford
I am so sorry that I cannot find anything to suggest to improve this wonderful photo. The light, the "smoke" on the mountains, the improvised lighting on the grass, just the overall mood. This is one to put on the wall, use as a screen saver, just sit and look at it when you need to calm yourself down. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find a way to improve it. Posted: 03/02/2019 10:12:21
Larry Treadwell
Thank you Michael. This is one of my favorite images of the Smokies as I feel it embodies what the name says. There is also a 20x30 of this on my wall. Every year there is a little known National Park Day called "Thank a Ranger". I sent a 8x10 framed copy of this to the rangers at Cades Cove as my way of thanking them for the work they do. Posted: 03/10/2019 11:16:22
I agree with Michael - this would be a great screen-saver image. At the horizon of the mountain, the juxtaposition of the ominous dark clouds and the light fog are outstanding contrasts. The entire composition is balanced and light streaks on the nearby grass are a coup de grâce. As I look at it, I wonder about a ½ stop brighter exposure, but I think the greater detail in the shadow areas would be a distraction. I like this as the moody image that it is. Posted: 03/03/2019 13:43:46
Larry Treadwell
When I first took this image and saw it on my computer I thought about making it brighter but in the end I liked the moody look. I felt it brings out the feel of the day's rain storms and I liked that. As for the foreground light, There was just too much empty wasted foreground so while i was shooting i kept thinking, I have to either crop it or do something with it. My handy flashlight provided the answer. I've come to use light painting quite a bit with photos I take in the evening or at night. I carry both yellow and blue balloons in my camera bag to tint the color of the light from the flashlight. You should give light painting a try---it is really easy once you get the hang of it.
Thanks for the compliment on this image. Posted: 03/10/2019 11:23:03
I think this photo should be in an art show or gallery! I don't know if you were thinking about it at the time, but the light painting on the grass brings it together with the movement of the clouds and and color of the sunset. The blues and greens in the middle are wonderful complimentary colors to the yellow highlighted grass and sunset. The first highlight on the grass leads the viewer's eye to the pathway and into the picture. You always seem to be in the right place at the right time, but creating a beautiful photo and making it look easy shows your great technique. Posted: 03/09/2019 22:22:27
Larry Treadwell
Thank you so much Cheryl. The photo was a last minute addition to a show I did last fall and it has sold quite well in a short period of time. My composition originally was to use the path as a leading line to the tree (since the rolling fog and the pinks in the sky also point that way) so when I realized there was too much foreground light painting the brush to enhance the leading lines was a natural result.
This photo demonstrates my two photography mantras: Bad weather makes good photos and always shoot in the Golden and Blue Hours. When you get them both working together---I think magic happens. Posted: 03/10/2019 11:42:43
Stunning image Larry as always! I see there is so much to learn from your landscapes right from day 1 of my induction to this group. Your pointers on giving directional light also helps think what we could do with the little things we have in the backpack sometimes... thanks for those tips too...
I do agree it is a great wallpaper image and appreciate your gesture to send a framed copy to the Rangers. Superb!
To be nit picking... looking at the fog levels across, it makes me feel the fog was covering the trees on the extreme left of the image but was removed during post processing. Is that so? Posted: 03/11/2019 05:29:39
Larry Treadwell
Thank you Madhu. I feel this forum is the place to discuss techniques that will make all of us better photographers. I have gleaned a great deal from your instructive macro images. I carry strips of velcro in my bag to pull limbs of brush or to hold lights when in the field. So there are lots of little things in my camera bag.
I'm really glad you liked the image. As for the fog, I did not remove any of it---what you see is what was there. I did lighten some of the trees on the far RIGHT and I did lighten the foreground a little bit. As always highlights were brought down and I adjust the black point in Lightroom. There was a 3 stop GND filter used when I took the image to control the sky. I tend to make most of my images a bit on the dark side, as I like the moody feelings, especially with a scene like this. Thanks for the comment. I value your opinion. Posted: 03/11/2019 11:39:50
Richard Matheny
One of my favorite locations in the smokys. I just returned from the Carolinas Nature Photography Association Annual conference in Spartanburg SC where Bill Lea was our feature speaker. Bill has authored several books on Cades Cove and even a great book on the Everglades in you neck of the world. Cades Cove offers so many chances for beautiful images it is sometimes hard to decide which spot to spend your time at. This is a beautiful image Larry, I love the mist and the softness of the clouds just add to the effect you captured. I am not sure if I would have thought of using your technique for the directional lighting. I do keep a flashlight in my pack for light painting but not sure I would have even thought of adding that touch. I may remember it the next time the venue presents itself after reading about your image. Very cool idea. The only thing that would have set this image off even more is if you would have had a nice Black Bear or a couple of White Tailed Deer in the photo. Posted: 03/11/2019 08:35:36
Larry Treadwell
Thanks Richard for your kind compliment. I hope it shows, but I love Cades Cove. I also love bad weather and I firmly believe that it helps to create great images. Since photography is about light, and using it, I always carry light with me. I have a pair of flashes, but I also have two sizes of flash lights, a small bright LED and a monster Deer Shiner that I generally keep in my car. Over the years I 've done a lot of light painting--it is a thought that is always in the back of my mind.
As for the deer or bears I wish I could bring them along and insert them as needed. When you figure out how---let me know.
I do have an image of a cabin in the cove that I photographed at night and had a bear drop by to "NOT" help me--it was touch and go for a few minutes. I'm post it here---but the cabin is the subject and it violates the Nature Code. Still the story and the image is pretty interesting.
I hope the discussions here are helping to broaden photographic horizons.
Posted: 03/11/2019 12:00:13
