Onondaga Cave 2 w/alt version

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 14, 2009386 views15 comments

This is the other chamber of the Lilly Pad Room at Onondaga Cave in Missouri. This one more clearly shows the lilly pad formations than my other shot, but the water isn't as pretty.

I worked on this one quite awhile to try and tame the brightness at the top of the frame where a light was shining on the upper formations, without a lot of success. I used the quick selection tool and burned a little, adjusted exposure, hue and saturation in this area and it's better than it was but not great. Any processing suggestions? I have CS4 but am very much a novice so don't get too technical

I suppose I could just crop it out but I like the line of stalactites there.

Canon Rebel XTI, handheld
10-22 mm lens
ISO 1600, F4 @ 1/15
used noise reduction in LR2

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on November 14, 2009 at 12:52 PM

In this one my eye is drawn to the more colorful formations and water reflections in the background. The foreground isn't as strong in my opinion, like your earlier shot, which was fantastic.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 14, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Interesting formations Angela. I find Tony Kuyper's Luminosity Masks work well for me.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 14, 2009 at 2:08 PM

Cool shot, Angela! I might crop a bit off the sides to focus more on the center which is the most interesting due to the reflections. The artificial lighting in show caves really makes them a tricky subject, i think that's why so few shots end up on ESS, they rarely seem to come off as you hope they do. Luminosity masks would work great here, or simply pulling down the curve of those highlights and masking out the rest of the shot. But it looks ok to me as is.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 14, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Angela,

An excellent capture from the cave and I think you did a good job with the processing. If you haven't tried Tony's masks and actions, I would highly recommend it. This would be a great image to use his techniques.

I think you did well with the highlights and color up top. My only minor nit is the brighter, large mound in the LLC. While not a distraction per se, it does pull me eye down there and it's certainly not as interesting as the rest of the scene. Not sure what you can do or could have done differently though. Still, a great takeaway from here.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 14, 2009 at 2:39 PM

Don't see much cave photography even though caves have some really fascinating formations. I'm with Lon in that it's mostly the LLC corner where the light seems too bright.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 14, 2009 at 3:07 PM

I agree with Lon and Tony. I have never tried to photograph lighted caves, but I believe a luminosity masking of the highlighted areas and enough of a crop of the round mound in the LLC to reduce its effect would be the ticket. The NR in LR2 leaves a lot to be desired. Third party NR filters do better, IMHO.

In sum, despite the nits, I like this photo. It is unusual to me, in that I am not (nor never will be!) a cave person. I think this is a solid shot and you have been very thoughtful in your approach.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on November 14, 2009 at 5:41 PM

Several have mentioned a possible crop to focus in more on the reflections. What do you think of this?

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 14, 2009 at 6:17 PM

Fascinating shot, Angela.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 14, 2009 at 6:32 PM

Angela,

That's the ticket! The crop has really simplified things and made a big improvement in my mind. Not sure if you included any additional processing, but just getting rid of the LLC really appears to have boosted color and contrast - even though it may be an illusion. Nice work in the cave.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on November 14, 2009 at 6:41 PM

The cropped version is much better for the reasons that Lon stated.
Not quite as strong as your first image from here, though.
The most fascinating section to me is the rear chamber (center top) with the beautiful light, the formations left, right and top that lead into the area and the reflection below.
If you had enough pixels to spare, that would be the crop I would like to see!

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on November 14, 2009 at 8:40 PM

Way cool image, Angela.

I think the second version with the crop fine tuned an already beautifull image.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 14, 2009 at 8:43 PM

I am on the crop bandwagon with the others. The second version looks really good!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Chrysanthou on November 14, 2009 at 10:11 PM

I think your processing here is great for a beginner.

I think a stronger composition would be to eliminate some of the left side of this image.

Registered on December 18, 2007, 71 Posts, 1191 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 15, 2009 at 1:28 AM

This has to be a real challenge to photograph and process but your image is really gorgeous. The cropped image is the stronger composition, focusing more on the reflections and on those fascinating formations in the water. Outstanding work.

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

Comment posted by Nick Moore on November 16, 2009 at 3:36 PM

I too will jump on the vertical crop band wagon. Cave formations are always so interesting, and you really captured some unique ones in this scene. The vertical crop really makes the most of the reflections and the wonderful stalactites, great work!.

Registered on May 23, 2006, 93 Posts, 2228 Comments