A little Yosemite +rework

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 16, 2010331 views28 comments

I'm a little hesitant to post this on the heels of Harley, Chris and Youssef, but had to jump in just to say hello and that I'm still here. Been about 10 days since I got back from Yosemite and I still don't have my film (ok, I dragged my feet sending it in.) So, since I have NO new work since JULY!, I thought I would go back in time to 1996!

I just recently re-worked this trying to get my processing juices flowing in anticipation of a new batch of slides. This is one of the images with so much tiny detail that it really gets crunched getting to the web and is almost not worth displaying. The large version had to be sized to 1050 and 50% quality for posting. The smaller web version is even worse. But hopefully the idea comes through and you like the image.

Any and all comments and critiques are welcome. I played a lot with the blue/cyan's reducing them quite a bit from the scan. Is the granite still too blue? just right? Also dropped the greens and boosted the reds a little to enhance the forest floor a little it. Would be curious to hear your thoughts on color/sat.

some 4x5 camera, Nikkor 210mm and Velvia 50 I'm pretty sure.

Thanks!

Lon

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 16, 2010 at 7:01 PM

I love this composition, Lon. It tells a great story about a forest. I think the blue/cyan is still too strong, Also, the yellows could use some more punch. I think the image is a little dark. I know you like the mood of a slightIy darker image, though, so my remark more of an observation than a nit. I really like all the fine detail, especially in the larger image.

I can't wait to see the reults of your latest efforts from our trip.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 16, 2010 at 7:13 PM

Lon,

The composition is lovely. I like how the stone on the right leads the eye in. I'll bet you photographed this under clear blue skies while in the shadows. The blue is really strong in the image and I think it is drowning out the other colors. The detail is, as always with 4x5, awesome. Can't wait to see some of your new work.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 16, 2010 at 7:17 PM

really nice comp as usual! I like the mottled color of the tree with the yellows and greens. I also like what you did with the forest floor. Colors and detail look real good there. My only nit is the intensity of the blues. Still too much IMO. Take for what it is since I tend to render the same type of subject on the blue side of things too.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on November 16, 2010 at 8:04 PM

Hey Lon, this is gorgeous. The composition flows nicely and is well balanced. I agree the blues are a little strong, but what a great find. It was nice shooting with all the guys, I'm very happy with all my photos. Excellent work! keep them coming. Talk to you soon.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 16, 2010 at 8:06 PM

I really like the oranges/reds of the forest floor Lon. While the blues/cyans are noticable, I don't mind them and feel they balance the oranges and reds. I also like the rich greens and composition.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 16, 2010 at 8:25 PM

Exquisite composition, Lon, and the warm tones are gorgeous. Maybe the blues are still a little strong but I wouldn't diminish them too much more as I would want to retain some of that nice color contrast with the warm tones. Love the sinuous lines of that tree in the background on the right, a wonderful compliment to the main tree in the foreground. Superb, stunning work.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 16, 2010 at 8:35 PM

Thanks for the comments and feedback so far. I thought it was pretty blue, but some times you get working on an image and you start to lose the fresh perspective. Blues and cyans toned down in both of TK's sat masks as well as a levels adj layer setting a gray pt. and adjust manually. I didn't want this going too warm, so hopefully this works better. Not sure how much of a change this is and won't know until I post this reply.

thanks again!

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

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 16, 2010 at 9:02 PM

I like them both, but the second one does look more natural.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on November 16, 2010 at 9:26 PM

Very nice, I like them both but the second version is definitely more neutral. Lovely comp. After seeing the larger version I can see what you mean about the compression.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 16, 2010 at 9:42 PM

And absolute wall of detail and color, Lon, you know, like the wall of sound on some recordings. Everything seems at about the same din, if you know what I mean, and it's the colors and textures that separates it all out.

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

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on November 16, 2010 at 10:03 PM

Definitely the second one Lon. This will look beauitful in a large print.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on November 16, 2010 at 10:29 PM

Lon,

The Zen Master of Trees doth protest too much. The repost is fine, but the original has more zip. I'm surprised, Yosemite granite especially in some areas has so much mica in it, that it has an overall bluish grey cast. So I think you went a little to far back on the blue in the second, but it's all personal opinion. I'll probably get a protest from Preston on my assessment of Yosemite granite that's ok. Moisture can affect cast as well darkening the rocks.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on November 16, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Wow, I was in high school when you took this photograph. Feel old? ;]

Hell, I really can't critique this much as you did this 14 years ago, and with film nonetheless, which you still shoot, so I'm just going to end this super long sentence with my typical...wicked.

Seriously though, it's a highly detailed photograph, and I believe your pp is spot on.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on November 17, 2010 at 1:40 AM

I like the comp and excellent detail. Man, these days of PS we get so darn nit-picky about color and contrast - the pp looks just fine as is.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Winnie Ho on November 17, 2010 at 3:35 AM

Superb composition, Lon. Preferring the repost.

Registered on January 6, 2008, 93 Posts, 1788 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on November 17, 2010 at 4:54 AM

I really wish I could see a print of this one so all those lovely details wouldn't get destroyed by compression. Even so, I can see that this is a wonderful image. Composition is, as always, spot-on and the colorful leaves on the tree and scattered about the ground add so much interest. The granite is a little bluer than I'd prefer but, this is art and if you're cool with it, so am I. It's neat to see an image from 14 years ago and it's STILL recognizable as a classic Lon Overacker photograph. You got style, dude!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 17, 2010 at 9:16 AM

I really like this, Lon. The comp is great and just an amazing amount of detail. I think this would be wonderful to see as a big print. We could really appreciate it then, not that I don't here. I like the repost even better. Nice work Lon.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 17, 2010 at 10:37 AM

Nice little intimate image, Lonster. The second post is an improvement to my eye. Love all the needles on the ground. Really sets the scene up.

I didn't know you ever shot Velvia 50. It must have been on sale somewhere.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 17, 2010 at 12:29 PM

Sure works for me Lon! The heavy compression is noticable, but does not take away the impact. Lack of detail is not a prob either for me. The composition is strong as usual - in your signature style. Lots of interesting things going on here. I also like how you incorporated a 1/3 - 2/3 separation with the forest floor and the rocks as background. The blue/cyan was maybe strong in the original and yes, they're reduced in the repost, but I did like the color cast.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 17, 2010 at 12:38 PM

The repost is more accurate color-wise. The boulders still have a hint of blue, but do appear more natural. I agree that if you pull too much blue, the image would be too warm. I really like all the detail in this. I'd like to see a print, sometime.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 17, 2010 at 12:55 PM

Thanks for the comments folks.

Blue, blue, blue... and coming from a guy who nitpicks about blue all the time.

I think Paul has got it partially right. Granite can and certainly does have a blue component to it, but more than that, it's also the light. As Youssef pointed out you have a high blue-sky day and this is indeed in the shadow just below the cliffs very near Bridal Veil falls. So we should expect there to be blue light, or an absence of yellow. Even in the repost if I use the color dropper and look at all the "gray" areas, they all have a stronger component of blue.

I guess in the end it's hard to strike a balance between real, actual and measured color, vs. what we perceive and wish for in our minds...

Lon

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on November 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM

WOW, to my total surprise a V-50 shot from you Lon. Well, being an oldie but goodie might have been the reason for that departure from the V-100F you usually shoot. Heck, was V-100 even out back then, maybe not.

I do prefer the second post. Too bad about compression issues, but that is normal as we know from these much finer detailed shots, especially trees. Although we all might agree on the blue casts in shade for the most part, unless it's pruned down it makes all the other colors lose their appeal & detail edges IMO. As you work mostly with the V-100F there is a tendency for it to lean towards magenta / reds. As I use the V-50 almost all the time, I find in the shade it's almost an automatic grab the Cyan / Blue sliders and crank them way down, again, from what I see from my own use of the V-50. The change you made is very noticeable to me in the back wall area. That to me looks much better in the second image.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on November 17, 2010 at 2:05 PM

That's always the problem with web and large format images, Lon. Ah well, such is life. This is really pretty. I like the gentle feeling color palette.

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 17, 2010 at 6:57 PM

I'll plumb for the more neutral feeling colours in the rework. Love the details in the leaves on the tree and fallen.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on November 17, 2010 at 8:55 PM

Well done, Lon. I have no nits regarding your post-processing.

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on November 18, 2010 at 6:40 AM

Wonderful, Lon. Simple and elegant. I'm also opting for the repost.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 18, 2010 at 7:47 PM

Well, this is a pretty good example of your talent being around for some time!

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!

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

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on November 19, 2010 at 10:13 AM

Nice quiet autumn scene Lon, the repost looks great. I like the mix of elements and colors here. You always seem to come away with soemthing from this area. Nice work.

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments