La Ventana Arch with re-post

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 12, 2009397 views18 comments

I made this image of the largest arch in the State of New Mexico this Summer. I was after the reflected light of the wall behind the arch while holding detail of the arch itself just before the sun came over the rim. By using a 5 image HDR blend I believe I accomplished my goal. I do know there is a small bit of noise in the sky but to me a bit of grain in the sky is OK. It is not really evident in a 16x24 print which is actually quite stunning. Does it work?

added comment:
Just a comment about the halo at the rock edge: that was actually there because the suns rays were directly shining there which is causing the " glow halo " and within in few minutes the the sun popped over the rim. I agree I need to deepen the shadows a bit but the glow( halo) I believe is an important part of the image IMHO

See the repost below with no HDR, just Tony's luminosity masks and some dodging and burning

Nikon D700
Nikor 17-35 mm afs f/2.8
RAW processed in LR,Photomatix pro, and CS4

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on October 12, 2009 at 9:39 PM

I'd say this is quite stunning also, Steve. Beautiful composition. NO nits from me.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on October 12, 2009 at 10:08 PM

Steve, great comp here. There is a halo between the rocks and the blue sky, but maybe more careful processing could resolve that issue. I would also like to see a bit more contrast. All of the shadow areas have lots of light in them, which looks slightly unnatural. I don't have any experience with HDR, but if you can lessen the effect of that process to keep some of the shadows a bit darker that would look better to my eye. All of that said, this looks like a beautiful area that you have composed very well in your shot. Thanks for sharing it.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on October 12, 2009 at 10:12 PM

Beautiful composition and lovely reflected light, Steve. I also recommend deepening the shadows a bit and fixing the halo between rock and sky. Both fairly minor but if fixed, I think this would be a simply outstanding image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on October 12, 2009 at 10:30 PM

This is a great image with a lot of impact. I agree about needing a tad more darkness in the shadows. HDR seems to remove just a bit too much of the shadows. The halo around the rocks was the first detail I noticed after being impressed with the wonderful overall impact of the image. If you used Shadow/Highlight tool you might try reducing the radius a bit.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on October 12, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Great sense of depth and exposure control. Wow!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Weaver on October 12, 2009 at 10:53 PM

Just a comment about the halo at the rock edge: that was actually there because the suns rays were directly shining there which is causing the " glow halo " and within in few minutes the the sun popped over the rim. I agree I need to deepen the shadows a bit but the glow( halo) I believe is an important part of the image IMHO

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 12, 2009 at 11:38 PM

I like how you brought out the chiseled look of the rock. Different shades between the fore, mid and background make it also interesting. Nice work.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on October 12, 2009 at 11:39 PM

Lovely, Stephen, and worth all of the HDR work. I wouldn't change anything.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on October 12, 2009 at 11:49 PM

Beautiful shot of that arch well 'developed', however this type of halo is quite common to images that have been processed using HDR techniques, and I think this would be greatly improved by fixing it.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on October 13, 2009 at 1:32 AM

Steve, thanks for the added notes.

By the way, I visited your website and really enjoyed viewing your extraordinary photography.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 13, 2009 at 1:50 AM

Incredible image Steve. Love the details and tones in the rock that you have presented in a superb composition. The glow of the reflected light is very nice. The FG rocks work really well in your comp as well. Well done.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on October 13, 2009 at 2:05 AM

Sweet! I love the perspective and the glow.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on October 13, 2009 at 3:01 AM

Whoa. nice 3d feeling to this. the light is awesome. didn't guess the HDR work, which is a good thing. this would be one hell of an image with a mountainbiker on top of that arch...!

georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 13, 2009 at 1:28 PM

Wow--very cool, Stephen! I love this comp and the light and colors are outstanding! You wont convince me the halo is natural though--plus there are serious jpeg artifacts all around the edge where the HDR-caused halo appears

The rest of the processing/exposure looks great though

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Weaver on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Ok guys
I went back and processed just one of the 5 images with no HDR, just RAW in LR and PS using Tony's luminosity masks. The jpg artifacts are gone as well as the halos but the glow is still there. Is this better??

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 13, 2009 at 9:07 PM

Excellent comp and color.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on October 13, 2009 at 9:21 PM

Steve, I like both versions. Personally, I think you could have lived with the HDR, it just needs a little contrast added back in.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Jesse Speer on October 14, 2009 at 2:59 PM

Impressive in every aspect. I know this would be a killer print. I actually like the brighter shadow areas.

Registered on September 18, 2004, 19 Posts, 339 Comments