Landscape Mississippi River at Sunrise

Mississippi River at Sunrise · 02:42 PM

Saturday January 22, 2011

I woke up before sunrise and with two of my photography buddies headed down to the river with grand plans of shooting the sunrise. It was a good, hearty -15 F, and at that temperature things like fingers, tripods and camera batteries don't fully cooperate. Just before the sun breached the tree tops and seconds after this photo was taken, the batteries in my camera and in Steve's both died. Although fully charged the night before, they were unable to withstand the bitter cold.

I'd still like to get a winter shot of the sun rising over the river, but it will have to wait. I don't care for -15 any more than my camera battery does. With all further photography plans for the day defeated by the weather, the three of us headed to Caribou and nursed hot drinks while thawing out.

This is an HDR image created from three exposures at -1.5, 0 and +1.5. I used both Photoshop and Photomatix.

tessfully · 03-25-2011, 06:56 AM

I have seen the sunrise in just these conditions. The colours, the mist, the reflections. Great capture of the animal tracks too. WOW! This really is a nice image, and I do love the processing using the HDR. Living where I live I understand the problem with batteries loosing their charge and fingers freezing. It is a challenging time to take photos but I think you were rewarded with this gem. Thanks for posting!!

str8talk83 · 03-25-2011, 07:25 AM

Pretty scene, but the colors seem a little bit cool to me. Great image regardless.

Frogfish · 03-25-2011, 08:01 AM

Lovely shot - really is. However I too would like to see it a touch brighter.

Batteries : that is a surprise to hear (how old are the batteries ?) as guys on other forums are using them at -30 and below with no problems (lasting longer than they can in the cold) ! I know Pentax only say something like -10 but I've not heard of them packing in so quickly before.

ccrookston · 03-25-2011, 11:24 AM

Tess: "Great capture of the animal tracks too"

That was tricky. If I processed the image one way, I kept the details in the sky and trees, but lost the tracks and texture in the snow. If I kept the details in the tracks and snow, then I lost details in the sky and trees. I ended up processing it both ways in two different files and then splicing the two together along the river and at the base of the tree line.

str8talk83: "the colors seem a little bit cool to me"

Yes, they are. I played around with this for literally hours trying to get everything just right, and finally concluded there was no "just right". If you feel like doing some color adjusting on this, I'd love to see what you can come up with!!!

Frog: "I too would like to see it a touch brighter"

I don't know how to make it brighter without washing out details in the sky, trees, water and snow!! If you can show me how, I'd love to see it. :-)

Frogfish · 03-25-2011, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by ccrookston

Frog: "I too would like to see it a touch brighter"

I don't know how to make it brighter without washing out details in the sky, trees, water and snow!! If you can show me how, I'd love to see it. :-)

I've had a go. I think it is now brighter and there are now more details. The sky is more saturated (I had to use the Blur tool so some details were lost - this would not be necessary if I was using the original of course) and the snow has been cleared up (colour cast removed and details - footprints, river & trees - are now more visible). YMMV !

The original is on the top and the new version on the bottom.

ccrookston · 03-28-2011, 07:49 AM

Interesting, and thank you! I wish we could sit down next to each other with the original so you could show me what you've done. I still have so much to learn about Photoshop. I will try and replicate what you've done. But in the mean time, can you point me in the right direction? What effects/filters/tools did you play with?

Frogfish · 03-28-2011, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by ccrookston

Interesting, and thank you! I wish we could sit down next to each other with the original so you could show me what you've done. I still have so much to learn about Photoshop. I will try and replicate what you've done. But in the mean time, can you point me in the right direction? What effects/filters/tools did you play with?

CC - I'm afraid I use a MAC and I do my editing in Aperture 3.

I do remember that the main tool I used was Curves - PS also has this of course, I also used the Shadow recovery tool (14.14 / 100), NR (1.0 out of 2.0 with 1.5 edge detail out of 3.0) and from what I can see that is about all. Not a lot really and it only took 5 mins so once you get to grips with PS you shouldn't have any problem recovering detail at all.

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 03-28-2011, 10:10 AM

That is another outstanding image, I usually do not like HDR but this one is well done indeed. I am surprised with your battery problem, I have had mine out for a long time at -15 C and never even used the spare in my pocket.

ccrookston · 03-28-2011, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

That is another outstanding image, I usually do not like HDR but this one is well done indeed.

Thank you!

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

I am surprised with your battery problem, I have had mine out for a long time at -15 C and never even used the spare in my pocket.

I'm going to have to look into this. If it was just me I would have thought maybe my battery was not fully charged. But my friend, who was using a Nikon, also lost battery power at almost the exact same time I did. Who knows, maybe it was colder than -15? That was mostly a guess on my part.

str8talk83 · 03-29-2011, 07:57 PM

Tricky working with a small file, but here's a quick edit.

Corrected color balance (less blue)

increased exposure on foreground

some saturation adjustments on the sky

Frogfish · 03-29-2011, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by str8talk83

Tricky working with a small file, but here's a quick edit.

Corrected color balance (less blue)

increased exposure on foreground

some saturation adjustments on the sky

This is a tough one I'l admit .... but the tops of all the trees are now bright orange !

ccrookston · 03-30-2011, 08:27 AM

Well... you have both given me good ideas. I will play around with the original and see what I can do. I'll re-post when I've had a chance.

Thanks!

str8talk83 · 03-30-2011, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

This is a tough one I'l admit .... but the tops of all the trees are now bright orange !

I noticed that as well. I should have done a lot more masking and selective editing, but I was being lazy...

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03-25-2011, 12:53 PM	#6
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by ccrookston Frog: "I too would like to see it a touch brighter" I don't know how to make it brighter without washing out details in the sky, trees, water and snow!! If you can show me how, I'd love to see it. :-) I've had a go. I think it is now brighter and there are now more details. The sky is more saturated (I had to use the Blur tool so some details were lost - this would not be necessary if I was using the original of course) and the snow has been cleared up (colour cast removed and details - footprints, river & trees - are now more visible). YMMV ! The original is on the top and the new version on the bottom. Attached Images

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03-25-2011, 06:56 AM	#2
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860	I have seen the sunrise in just these conditions. The colours, the mist, the reflections. Great capture of the animal tracks too. WOW! This really is a nice image, and I do love the processing using the HDR. Living where I live I understand the problem with batteries loosing their charge and fingers freezing. It is a challenging time to take photos but I think you were rewarded with this gem. Thanks for posting!!

03-25-2011, 07:25 AM	#3
str8talk83 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bluffton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Pretty scene, but the colors seem a little bit cool to me. Great image regardless.

03-25-2011, 08:01 AM	#4
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Lovely shot - really is. However I too would like to see it a touch brighter. Batteries : that is a surprise to hear (how old are the batteries ?) as guys on other forums are using them at -30 and below with no problems (lasting longer than they can in the cold) ! I know Pentax only say something like -10 but I've not heard of them packing in so quickly before.

03-25-2011, 11:24 AM	#5
ccrookston Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Tess: "Great capture of the animal tracks too" That was tricky. If I processed the image one way, I kept the details in the sky and trees, but lost the tracks and texture in the snow. If I kept the details in the tracks and snow, then I lost details in the sky and trees. I ended up processing it both ways in two different files and then splicing the two together along the river and at the base of the tree line. str8talk83: "the colors seem a little bit cool to me" Yes, they are. I played around with this for literally hours trying to get everything just right, and finally concluded there was no "just right". If you feel like doing some color adjusting on this, I'd love to see what you can come up with!!! Frog: "I too would like to see it a touch brighter" I don't know how to make it brighter without washing out details in the sky, trees, water and snow!! If you can show me how, I'd love to see it. :-)

03-28-2011, 07:49 AM	#7
ccrookston Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Interesting, and thank you! I wish we could sit down next to each other with the original so you could show me what you've done. I still have so much to learn about Photoshop. I will try and replicate what you've done. But in the mean time, can you point me in the right direction? What effects/filters/tools did you play with?

03-28-2011, 09:53 AM	#8
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by ccrookston Interesting, and thank you! I wish we could sit down next to each other with the original so you could show me what you've done. I still have so much to learn about Photoshop. I will try and replicate what you've done. But in the mean time, can you point me in the right direction? What effects/filters/tools did you play with? CC - I'm afraid I use a MAC and I do my editing in Aperture 3. I do remember that the main tool I used was Curves - PS also has this of course, I also used the Shadow recovery tool (14.14 / 100), NR (1.0 out of 2.0 with 1.5 edge detail out of 3.0) and from what I can see that is about all. Not a lot really and it only took 5 mins so once you get to grips with PS you shouldn't have any problem recovering detail at all.

03-28-2011, 10:10 AM	#9
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	That is another outstanding image, I usually do not like HDR but this one is well done indeed. I am surprised with your battery problem, I have had mine out for a long time at -15 C and never even used the spare in my pocket.

03-28-2011, 10:13 AM	#10
ccrookston Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann That is another outstanding image, I usually do not like HDR but this one is well done indeed. Thank you! Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann I am surprised with your battery problem, I have had mine out for a long time at -15 C and never even used the spare in my pocket. I'm going to have to look into this. If it was just me I would have thought maybe my battery was not fully charged. But my friend, who was using a Nikon, also lost battery power at almost the exact same time I did. Who knows, maybe it was colder than -15? That was mostly a guess on my part.

03-29-2011, 07:57 PM	#11
str8talk83 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bluffton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Tricky working with a small file, but here's a quick edit. Corrected color balance (less blue) increased exposure on foreground some saturation adjustments on the sky

03-29-2011, 11:22 PM	#12
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by str8talk83 Tricky working with a small file, but here's a quick edit. Corrected color balance (less blue) increased exposure on foreground some saturation adjustments on the sky This is a tough one I'l admit .... but the tops of all the trees are now bright orange !

03-30-2011, 08:27 AM	#13
ccrookston Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Well... you have both given me good ideas. I will play around with the original and see what I can do. I'll re-post when I've had a chance. Thanks!

03-30-2011, 08:26 PM	#14
str8talk83 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bluffton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by Frogfish This is a tough one I'l admit .... but the tops of all the trees are now bright orange ! I noticed that as well. I should have done a lot more masking and selective editing, but I was being lazy...