Golden Gate Vista

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 27, 201169 views9 comments

I am posting this one from the road as we are on an extended road-trip through Southern Africa, culminating in a safari in Botswana next week.

This was captured in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa. I went to this spot at sunset and managed to get the light turning dramatic shortly before the sun sank behind some clouds. This area is earmarked by large sandstone cliffs and wonderful mountain scenery.

All critique welcome!

Techs:
Canon 7D with 10-22mm USM @ 10mm
f16 @ ISO-100
Blend of 3 images
Kenko Pro CPL used

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on April 27, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Like the way that small peak lights up all by itself!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on April 27, 2011 at 4:22 PM

Hi Morkel,

Fine processing and natural colors. No evidence of the wide angle barrel distortion. On the flip, the foreground is not visually stimulating. Maybe you can open up the shadows a bit more and try adding more contrast too. The back peaks on the right look blurry as well. If it were mine, I'd probably try to dodge the right hand part of the sky and even things out a little up there too. Solid work on the blend...maybe just a little more tweaking and a re-post.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 27, 2011 at 5:58 PM

thanks for the kind and honest feedback Steve and Michael

Michael - I was timid of boosting contrast and lifting the shadows too much in this one as I wanted to represent how I saw it. I also chose this foreground as I wanted the background mountains to be the star of the show here (I do have other variations with stronger foreground anchors).

Here is a repost with your suggestions implemented - would love to know what you think?

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 27, 2011 at 10:27 PM

I really like the scene with the textured shadows and the contrasting highlights. Could see maybe pulling a little more light out of the shadows, but this works quite well.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on April 27, 2011 at 10:45 PM

I like the natural looking contrast in this scene. The blend looks very good. You've arranged all of the elements nicely in the scene. The shapes and patterns in the clouds nicely compliment the buttes in the landscape.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on April 28, 2011 at 1:07 AM

The re-post looks much better IMO. Excellent work Morkel!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on April 28, 2011 at 9:50 AM

Hi Morkel,
I like it, specially the repost, the little flowers in the foreground hold their ground and the background is great with the light hiting exactly in the right spots.

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 28, 2011 at 12:54 PM

thanks again for the constructive feedback, guys!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on April 28, 2011 at 7:15 PM

wonderful light

love the scene

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments