Monument valley AZ

Rnovo · 11-06-2009, 09:41 PM

Comments on my last post were really positive and they got me going. So I really started to work on some more shoots I made on our trip, this time in monument valley...(there has to be 100's of shots like this).
I used PSE6 and the B&W plug-in provided by Elements+ created by Dubrovsky which I found very effective, a little dodging on the clouds and burning in the shadows. I noticed that the sharpening may be too much?
Note: In the PSE6 RAW converter, I found that a lot of noise showed up fast in the sky when I applied any correction, everything else being equal,...interesting?
thank you for your comments...
Richard

*Ash* · 11-07-2009, 12:46 AM

Well you've got another positive comment coming here. This is a fine B&W landscape. I like it a lot. My only wish for it is an added touch (?contrast/curves adjustment) in just the foreground, which looks just a tad bland. Otherwise excellent.
Well done.

flippedgazelle · 11-07-2009, 09:08 AM

A very nice shot, Richard. I agree with Ash, the foreground needs a little more definition to balance the image.

I don't know about the PSE6 RAW converter. You get more noise and banding when operating in 8-bit color channels rather than 16-bit.

Rnovo · 11-07-2009, 12:13 PM

I agree, I'll work on the foreground. It has the same depth as the background which prevents the eye to go from the front to the back. The tower in the background with its clouds seems like a ship arriving in the harbor and that is distracting from the foreground.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Richard

Rnovo · 11-07-2009, 12:34 PM

As for the PSE6 raw converter - adobe RAW 5.5 - it does accept the Pentax 16 bit info from the K10D for all RAW PP and that's what I find strange. For all other PP PSE6 will only accept 8 bit info. In the DNG file the noise is not there (between the clouds and the horizon) so it seems that the problem might come from the B&W plug-in I used, grant's tools. I also use Elements+ made by Dubrovsky which appears to be very close to the one in CS and I'll try that one?

**Damn Brit** · 11-07-2009, 03:49 PM

It looks like the foreground is sloping away from you which is what diminishes it (the foreground). Apart from that, it's a fine shot. If you're in a similar situation with foreground like that, try getting low to the ground and either find a rock that will boost the foreground or shoot at a slightly downward angle. Be careful though, with a wide angle lens you might get distortion on the horizon if you aim too far downwards.

Rnovo · 11-07-2009, 07:14 PM

Thank you all for the positive comments that are well taken. I'm just wondering wether I should keep the original shot as is.
There is a thought: since I'm one of the " think out your shot first or stuff it...", I'll keep the color original and maybe, God willing, I'll drive by that view point again and then, I'll nail it, by J...!
Cheers to all
Richard

*Frank Fletcher* · 11-07-2009, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Ash

My only wish for it is an added touch (?contrast/curves adjustment) in just the foreground, which looks just a tad bland. Otherwise excellent.
Well done.

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

It looks like the foreground is sloping away from you which is what diminishes it (the foreground). Apart from that, it's a fine shot. If you're in a similar situation with foreground like that, try getting low to the ground and either find a rock that will boost the foreground or shoot at a slightly downward angle.

I like it! It's the quintessential MV / Southwest view.

I agree with both Ash and Gary about the foreground.

... But I also understand that your background IS your foreground - so to speak. Your background is your main subject and it'd be a shame to diminish that.

Might I suggest cropping about an inch off the bottom (60px here) - you'll get rid of alot of the "dead" space and find a natural lead-in with the trees and gully.

I started by cropping it - but got carried away (as usual) ala a younger Ansel Adams (moody/high contrast). If you're interested, that version is here: http://rhythmicnature.com/temporary-other/mv/

**Damn Brit** · 11-07-2009, 07:23 PM

This is just a suggestion, it's a bit of a shame that you get that abrupt transition in the sky, I cropped it to give you a diagonal leading in from the left hand corner, removed a lot of the sky and cropped it a little tighter on the right. It kind of reminds me of a scene from one of those fifties 'B' movies with the giant spiders.

*Frank Fletcher* · 11-07-2009, 07:30 PM

great minds and all...

Rnovo · 11-07-2009, 07:51 PM

Frank, old son, you nailed it by J...!
That is just how I had it in my mind... that ship, yonder, coming in to port
That Monument valley is such a photogenic place and I hope I can go back there and spend the time - all in B&W.
Attached is another view...
Thanks again to all who provided the comments.
Richard

Rnovo · 11-07-2009, 08:03 PM

Gary, thanks to you and Frank for providing the feed back that makes me (and all other others... in this thread) enjoy this web site (Pentax!)
Nice group in the "photo critique"...
Richard

*Frank Fletcher* · 11-08-2009, 03:27 PM

You're welcome. You have some very nice captures!

I've started not to post re-processed photos up on these pages directly unless the OP asks for it directly. Sometimes, people don't like to see their original work "re-envisioned".

That's why I only provide a link.

Glad you liked it. If you're interested, I have a screenshot of the layers used at: http://rhythmicnature.com/temporary-...SNAG-00163.jpg

**Damn Brit** · 11-08-2009, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Rnovo

Gary, thanks to you and Frank for providing the feed back that makes me (and all other others... in this thread) enjoy this web site (Pentax!)
Nice group in the "photo critique"...
Richard

You're welcome Richard.

Rnovo · 11-09-2009, 03:22 PM

Got the layers, Frank. I have to admit I have trouble getting into that sort of thing. My limit for now is basic PP in PSE6 but not yet layers. I might get my arm twisted soon and go into it!
Thanks again
Richard