GS IV: Red Maple Moon

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 23, 2011120 views4 comments

Gentle Spectacle IV: Red Maple Moon
Another in a series of low-contrast, soft-color images that I enjoy in Nature, but don't make spectacular photographs. I still wonder how many other people appreciate such scenes, and whether my photographs do them justice, but I am still trying.

After Sunset at my Bog River Campsite, the fading deep red sky glow on the scarlet red maple leaves created an amazing color against the moonlit sky, but I thought it might be impossible to capture. Are the reds bright enough to show up in the night?

Canon 50D
Sigma 17-70:
Three exposures @ f/8 (2.0, 0.4, and 1/30sec; ISO 200
Tripod and 2-sec. timer
HDR in CS5, plus some curves adjustments;
then overlaid shorter moon exposure on blown-out moon.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 24, 2011 at 12:34 AM

I think this is an awesome shot, Wayne--i really appreciate it. The reds are plenty bright enough for me. My only nit is the moon looks a bit odd--oh i just saw your comment on the overlay, that's why--it looks like theres an outline issue around it--there are ways to overcome this but its hard to lay out without actually going through the steps, I would recommend doing all your work in 'moon replacement' at 100% view though, and make sure none of the sky from the shorter exposure is still hanging on to your new moon--thats where the outline is probably coming from.

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on October 24, 2011 at 3:21 AM

A very creative shot and an excellent presentation of the foliage under these specific circumstances in my opinion, Wayne. What I especially like is that you did not show full moon, so you add a kind of tension that really works for me.

I am shure the technical aspect will be fixed easily. Thanks for sharing an image like this.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 24, 2011 at 8:17 PM

I am very much enjoying this series of yours. Your images bring a sense of peace and quiet joy rather than a 'wow' factor. They are refreshing and beautiful. I find myself coming back to them just for another look. The colors in this one are outstanding and the moon adds a sense of sweet mystery.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 24, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Really conveys the twilight of this evening, Wayne, as the trees look quite natural, especially against that deep blue. While the moon could be worked on a bit as mentioned, everything else is really nice.

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