Mark Bargen
May 2023 - "Eden and the Scorched Earth (Orakei Korako)"
Original
About the Image(s)
Orakei Korako is one of the more dramatic of the innumerable geothermal areas on the northern island of New Zealand. I was very taken by the way the scorched earth lies only meters from a dense jungle of these tree palms.
Canon EOS R5, 1/2000 second, f/6.3, ISO 640
Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM at 200mm, cropped in post to approximately square, resulting FoV roughly comparable to about 160mm
At first I found it impossible to compose an image that showcased the contrasting landscapes; I was trying to do it with a wide-angle capture. It was only later, when I was positioned at some distance, with the geothermal activity between me and the jungle on the further hillside, that I realized I could do it with a long focal length that would compress the whole scene. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the result.
I don't recall why it was that I had the ISO cranked up a bit. As usual, I exposed for the highlights.
The (nearly) square aspect ratio felt comfortable and allowed me to trim away what felt like excess. I took care to keep the diagonal from ending near a corner, and to keep it asymmetric. Because of the crop, I started off with a side-trip to Topaz Gigapixel AI, where I kept the additional sharpening to a minimum but did denoise it a bit.
Post-processing was about sculpting locally to correct a bit for the compression. I painted in some contrast, primarily in the tree ferns and in the harsh grey mineral deposit area. I did have to tone down the nearly burnt-out highlights in the middle tree ferns.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
And, yes, if you can get there, DO! But maybe not on an organized tour if you want to do any serious photography. I found the experience amazing and terribly frustrating. Posted: 05/17/2023 19:52:40
(Group 39)
And seeing as how I've been posting a lot of waterfalls, you can't be blamed for expecting yet another one. Posted: 05/24/2023 13:00:03
After reading your description I see where this is a good image in recording a unique physical place. However, from an artistic viewpoint I don't see a specific item of interest that draws my eye into the photo. Because of that the image, while nice to view, doesn't hold my interest. Posted: 05/27/2023 11:11:31
Did you get to the South Island at all? I'm heading there in November. Posted: 05/29/2023 19:23:27
Yes, we did get to the South Island for six days. It's spectacular! For me, it was bittersweet: so much spectacular beauty, yet so frustrating and disappointing. We joke that my husband "hates photography, but loves to take pictures". We took an organized tour, spending a large part of the day sitting in a motor coach, stopping for "a brief photo stop" once in a while. Everyone was THRILLED at the beautiful weather: not a cloud in the sky! (While I wished for just one day of moody skies and/or rain, preferably on our day on Milford Sound; never happened.) I did get a few images that I'm pleased with from a helicopter trip up Franz Josef and down Fox Glaciers; I highly recommend the trip, well worth the expense; take a long zoom if you have one.) Christchurch is interesting, and likely offers great photo opportunities if you're interested in architectural photography. If you're planning to take the Trans Alpine Train, I recommend only going as far as Arthur's Pass. And if you do, and want to take photos from the open-car car, get there early, stake out a position on the right side (relative to the direction of travel) and brace yourself for an onslaught of tourists from cultures that are less restrained in terms of crowding than we are. Posted: 05/31/2023 11:04:01