Lupine Magic

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted June 20, 2011908 views13 comments

The Sugar Hill Lupine festival draws photographers from all over New England to capture fields of flowers in a quaint, picturesque small town. I go every year, and have always like the challenge of finding unique takes on New Hampshire icons. St. Matthews Field is one such icon I've shot dozens of times...but always thought the scene held more potential.

I was in a different field altogether when this rainbow formed...and I raced back to St. Matthews to see if it would line up! It only lasted for an additional two minutes after I set up, and the filter choices I made were not ideal...and the raw file had some nasty grad lines...

So...does the processing look natural to you? Specifically on the top of the trees? Honest thoughts on processes appreciated...as I think this shot will do well for me!

Canon T1i w/Sigma 18-200mm @ 18mm
1.3 Seconds @ F14
ISO 100
3 Stop Hard Grad
Polarizer
Tripod

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on June 20, 2011 at 6:29 PM

Although I've seen the field have more lupins, I think the rainbow and lighting on the church enhance it and makes it special. I haven't been to Sugar Hill for a couple of years and you've inspired me to visit again next spring. Thanks for posting this.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on June 20, 2011 at 8:00 PM

I can't see your grad lines, so you're post-processing must have been successful. I love the church in the scene - for me, that, and the rainbow of course, makes the picture. The rainbow seems a little strong in the red.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 21, 2011 at 10:09 AM

That' a beautiful rainbow complementing a peaceful scene. It's hard to see in limited size post, but there may be some "graying" in the trees on the right from burning in a set of compressed darks.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on June 21, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Very nice scene, great sky and rainbow. I tend to agree there is something off witht the color of the trees on the monitor.

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 22, 2011 at 12:43 AM

This looks very natural to me Jim. I do not detect any sign of a grad. Gorgeous color and the rainbow is indeed extra special.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on June 22, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Hey Jim - Great job capturing this. The processing looks very good, though I'm not on the best monitor-I'll check when I get home. The right FG looks a bit bright compared to the left side, which should be receiving the same lighting. Either brighten the side trees or tone down the FG. I think toning down the FG would be much easier from a processing standpoint. This may be an instance where blending exposures would have been the way to go. Those grads can be pesky. Looks like you have done away with those electrical wires that contaminate the scene. They should just burry them and be done with it! This must have been toward sunrisse by the looks of the lighting on the church? What are the reddish/orange colors on the left eaves of the church? I made it up there this past weekend, thought I had missed most of the big blooms but the fields still looked pretty good - the winds were nasty though.

Spectacular shot!

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Jesse Estes on June 23, 2011 at 2:00 AM

Very nice Jim! I like the light on the church as a nice touch, and the rainbow really tops the scene off well. I may add a little contrast to the foreground, or possible just darken it a little bit...

Registered on April 13, 2011, 20 Posts, 174 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 28, 2011 at 9:38 AM

Beautiful scene Jim!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on June 28, 2011 at 7:31 PM

Oh wow - this is a beauty, Jim! Congratulations on a well-deserved weekly pick as well. Wonderful mood and tonality, excellent composition and great capture.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 30, 2011 at 2:44 AM

Beautiful light - especially on the church.
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on June 30, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Very nice scene. I think Harry has a point regarding the LRC compared to the left. It's not a deal breaker though IMO. If I had to guess I'd say the grad line is at or near the tops of the tress behind the church. Hardly noticeable though if that's even where it actually is. I think if you darkened and/or saturated the pinks a little in the right fg you'd have a definite 10+. Excellent as is though.