Landscape Mountains - blazing highlights

ytterbium · 08-26-2010, 01:23 PM

My main concern in situations seen is blazing highlights. I've already taken a 0.3..0.7 stops away to preserve some of them, but recovering their detail completely would make the main part of the image heavily underexposed.
I've often heard opinions that you should preserve highlights at all costs and then pull the shadows.
Still i'm not a big fan of pulling. Even if you save ALL of the image, you seriously degrade with noise MOST IMPORTANT parts for few unimportant, clipped highlights.

How would you expose in such situations (any other critique - composition, subject, etc is welcome as well). Btw, haven't i used polarizer at too strong setting in some of the shots (where blue sky gets darker than the ground)?

If you're interested i might post some more pictures from the same series.
Which one do you think is the best, from images posted?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Adam · 08-26-2010, 02:36 PM

Your exposure here actually looks quite good - the only critique I'd have would be related to over-sharpening, but I think that might be a side-effect of resizing.

Generally, when I need to shoot the sky and don't have a polarizer handy (99% of the time), I just point the camera and whatever I want to shoot and do a -1 EV. Photoshop can then take care of the rest. When really in doubt, I also turn to bracketing.

tibbitts · 08-26-2010, 04:26 PM

Sorry but those exposures look really good to me, and I even think the sharpening is ok, too.

Paul

**Ash** · 08-26-2010, 10:33 PM

Spot on in my eyes also, mate.
That last image is breath-taking. So it's #4 for me.
Well done.

08-26-2010, 01:23 PM	#1
ytterbium Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,076	Mountains - blazing highlights Lens: 18-55 WR / DA 50-200 / CPL Camera: k200d Photo Location: Switzerland ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/125s Aperture: F8 My main concern in situations seen is blazing highlights. I've already taken a 0.3..0.7 stops away to preserve some of them, but recovering their detail completely would make the main part of the image heavily underexposed. I've often heard opinions that you should preserve highlights at all costs and then pull the shadows. Still i'm not a big fan of pulling. Even if you save ALL of the image, you seriously degrade with noise MOST IMPORTANT parts for few unimportant, clipped highlights. How would you expose in such situations (any other critique - composition, subject, etc is welcome as well). Btw, haven't i used polarizer at too strong setting in some of the shots (where blue sky gets darker than the ground)? If you're interested i might post some more pictures from the same series. Which one do you think is the best, from images posted? 1. 2. 3. 4.

08-26-2010, 02:36 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Your exposure here actually looks quite good - the only critique I'd have would be related to over-sharpening, but I think that might be a side-effect of resizing. Generally, when I need to shoot the sky and don't have a polarizer handy (99% of the time), I just point the camera and whatever I want to shoot and do a -1 EV. Photoshop can then take care of the rest. When really in doubt, I also turn to bracketing. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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08-26-2010, 04:26 PM	#3
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	Sorry but those exposures look really good to me, and I even think the sharpening is ok, too. Paul

08-26-2010, 10:33 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Spot on in my eyes also, mate. That last image is breath-taking. So it's #4 for me. Well done.