Trey Foerster
November 2023 - Ice Age Trail at IWSC
Original
About the Image(s)
This is a 6-image pano of a swamp area along the Ice Age Trail (a statewide trail in Wisconsin) on the Iola Winter Sports Club segment. Tech stuff: f/14, 1/40 sec., ISO 220, 18mm focal length, aperture 3.6, pattern metering. Used PS, LR, Topaz Studio, Luminar NEO ( to enhance the sun light at top right).
This round’s discussion is now closed!
15 comments posted
I think with this image you had some challenges with the dark foreground and bright trees. There is some good autumn colour in the trees, but I think in boosting the shadows, the image looses depth and looks a little flat and lacking contrast. I also think the original sky looked softer and more natural than the final image. Obviously this is your image to edit as you wish (and normally I think your editing is very good), but this time it's not to my taste - sorry to be negative, but the purpose of the group is to give honest feedback.
PS - I am however intrigued as to what makes this an 'Ice Age trail'? Posted: 11/11/2023 05:19:43
PS - I am however intrigued as to what makes this an 'Ice Age trail'? Posted: 11/11/2023 05:19:43
I didn't replace the sky, the processing of the multi-image pano did. I did boost the sunlight at top right. The image you see here is actually brighter than on my monitors, which is to be expected. But point taken here, I can tone down the shadows more for better contrast, I agree. I have no issue with frank criticism as I use this forum on images that may need tweaking. Remember, negative criticism here is a positive thing!
The Ice Age Trail is like the Appalachian Trail. It winds through the State of Wisconsin and its glacial areas. Check out iceagetrail.org. Most of it is on private land, so the organization secures permission from landowners and the organization maintains the trails. Posted: 11/11/2023 08:52:50
The Ice Age Trail is like the Appalachian Trail. It winds through the State of Wisconsin and its glacial areas. Check out iceagetrail.org. Most of it is on private land, so the organization secures permission from landowners and the organization maintains the trails. Posted: 11/11/2023 08:52:50
Here is an updated version, thoughts? Posted: 11/12/2023 11:46:38
Well I think that's better - a bit more depth to the foreground and the sky looks more natural, though a little bright on the left and far right IMO. The important question is what do you think? Posted: 11/12/2023 17:46:29
The sun is at right shining on the light clouds at left. I think the brightness on the right is correct, so I'll dim the clouds at left a tad. Posted: 11/12/2023 18:24:34
A great resultant pano from stitching Trey. I'm purely guessing here, but after looking at the light on the tops of the trees on the right and the foreground shadow, I'm thinking the sun was at a relatively low angle, not a problem in itself, but can cause some issues with contrasty light. As you said, this can be addressed. Posted: 11/11/2023 23:51:01
Yes, positioning of the sun at top right should probably be lower, good eye! Posted: 11/12/2023 10:56:31
Here is an updated version, thoughts? Posted: 11/12/2023 11:47:06
The final image is very pleasing to the eye. I understand everything that's been said, but I'd like to congratulate you on the work you've done to enhance the landscape with this panorama. I like the fir tree at the beginning of the picture, which gives a nice frame to the panorama. Couldn't we make the trees and sky a little denser to get a rendering closer to the original photo where the trees stand out well? Just on photshop a density more but not more than 10% to see, going over several times if necessary, but not too much.
It's still a lot of work and I appreciate it, especially as I don't know how to do it. Another avenue to explore. I promise I'll give it a try in the USA in April. Posted: 11/12/2023 03:29:40
It's still a lot of work and I appreciate it, especially as I don't know how to do it. Another avenue to explore. I promise I'll give it a try in the USA in April. Posted: 11/12/2023 03:29:40
I probably got a little heavy handed in my adjustment of the white balance to yellow, and I'll back that off a tad in the far tree line while leaving it on the grasses before it and see how that looks. Thank you. Posted: 11/12/2023 10:58:42
Here is an updated version, thoughts? Posted: 11/12/2023 11:47:50
A nice pano, but I wonder if it suffers from being too wide, hard because you obviously want to keep the left foreground and the leading lines on the right. The crop improves the original by removing the excess sky and water, focusing more on the colors of the trees. Too bad the original's sky is better. Posted: 11/12/2023 09:51:54
I agree about the sky, about all I can do is to go through the process once again to see if it gives me a better sky. Of course, there is always sky replacement! The challenge was to show the entire breadth of the swamp area, a challenge in and of itself and apparently it still is! Posted: 11/12/2023 11:03:23
Here is an updated version, thoughts? I did bring it in a tad from right side. Posted: 11/12/2023 11:48:37
I do appreciate the breadth of the swamp you captured in the photograph. I like the original photo the best because the continuation of the swamp down the right side of the photo shows how large the swamp area really is. Nice fall colors and an interesting foreground make the photo stand out. The multitude of comments this month, I think deal more with personal preferences. The way your final image is presented is the way you like it. That is all that matters. Comments and criticism are very helpful, but again reflect the personal preferences of the commenter. Well done and interesting photograph. Posted: 11/14/2023 19:35:35