Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Another World +Update
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

Another World +Update

by Alex Noriega

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 30, 2012313 views7 comments
This was my first attempt at a twilight/star blend, done June 2011, right after reading Floris Van Breugel's excellent tutorial on the subject here at NPN. At the time, I was living in Los Angeles, and this was the closest otherworldly location I knew of. I later found out that Floris had in fact done the same thing at this location (Vasquez Rocks, CA) - and I had come up with a similar composition to his, since this is really the best angle on the formations and the leading lines are obvious. I think he did it better, though.

Due to the unintended comp stomp, I don't like the image as much as I once did, but it's still one of my only twilight images. I feel the highlights and saturation in the landscape might be a bit much, although that's exacerbated a bit by the smaller web-sharpened version.

Nikon D200 + 20mm f/2.8D Nikkor
Landscape: f/11, 30 sec, ISO 100
Sky gradient: f/11, 10 sec, ISO 100
Stars: f/2.8, 30 sec, ISO 1600

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on May 30, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Very successful capture.
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Carey Closs on May 30, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Alex, I have thoroughly enjoyed your previous posts and this one is no exception. Saturation looks fine to my eye. Great image, looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Registered on April 15, 2012, 107 Posts, 326 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on May 30, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Wonderful capture Alex. In areas that are visited by many, it's difficult to come up with something unique. Best to find new areas others have not discovered. They are out there. Does not take away from the fact this is still pretty awesome.

Technically this is very nice. Great blend. The only portion that looks a bit soft is directly below the top peaks, on the right side. Fuzzy almost. Hard to tell at this size. It's so difficult to blend night scenes. Perhaps a bit less saturation and brightness on the foreground rocks as well. Unless there was a low light of some type coming from the rear top left and right. I understand why you did this though. It helps to accentuate the foreground. Would personally tone it down a little without losing shadow detail.
Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments
Comment posted by Alex Noriega on May 30, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Thanks for the feedback, Nicolaus! At the time I visited this location, I hadn't seen a single photograph of it that I liked, in my short research (although it's been well-done numerous times in movies and TV shows) - and I thought I could do better. That was before I saw Floris' shot.. he used the leading lines more effectively, and also captured more stars (I probably didn't wait long enough after sunset).

I think what's going on with the fuzzy edge is something with my original blend - the blown sky from the foreground exposure was bleeding into the landscape, and I had to re-paint the edge via a mask and the clone stamp - probably used too feathered of a mask or too soft of a brush in that area.

I agree on toning down the foreground - I hadn't really given the image a critical look in a long while, until I posted it here. What I was originally going for in the foreground was the bluish late-twilight, almost moonlit look in the highlights. It looks much less so in the full version, though - I think the web sharpening I used brightened up the detail too much.
Registered on May 19, 2012, 80 Posts, 195 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 30, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Beautiful job Alex. I like how the rock formation points you to the sky. Very good on the blend. Don't know for sure but you might take the brighter areas of the sky down a bit more. Nice work!
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on May 30, 2012 at 7:19 PM
Another great image Alex. I've been enjoying these twilight star shots, something I have been starting to work on as well. Looks like you have the process down quite well. I don't really have any nits or suggestions to make this any better. I actually like this the way it is.
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Alex Noriega on January 28, 2013 at 6:43 AM
Reprocessed this for fun recently.
Registered on May 19, 2012, 80 Posts, 195 Comments