Milky Mono

I really like this one a lot better than your original. The stars look more natural and I think the tufas look much better as in the original they look a bit blurry. Great image!

Cool photo Ted! Looks like the galactic core is blasting out of the formation on the left.

I have never been to Mono Lake, but does the galactic core really look that monochromatic down there? Seems like the natural colors have been super heavily processed away. Also, is there some sort of post production star effect applied to the sky? Seems a little more on the digital art side of things, if that is what you were going for, then cool.

Great image overall though, and thanks for posting!

I didn't remember seeing the twinkling stars before, but I think this could do without them. Now that I have seen them here my eyes keep getting drawn up to them. It also looks like there may be a slight dark halo around the right tufa formation. Other than that, I like everything about this image.

I personally digs the reprocessing. On the contrary, a less colorful sky is more natural if we're judging what one can see by their own sight. I only wish for a little room to the right.

I do take a lot of the color out of stars usually, except for the other end of the milky way which has so much color in it. The north end of the milky way is pretty lacking of color. Much different then the other end, which is what most people photograph typically because it is a lot more exciting to look at. I don't really like the look of different color stars, as it just comes off as color noise to me, and when I look at a night sky, for the most part I perceive the stars as white. Personal preference really.

The star effect were added with an action I have. Some respond positively some don't. I could live without it really so I might just ditch it.

The had to do some cloning of the sky around some of the tufas to correct for the focus stack... which is probably where the sense of a halo is coming from. I should work on that a bit more. I wasn't seeing it anymore because I'm a bit desensitized.

Navin, I know what you mean about the right. I chose to crop it out because there was this bulge on the tufa that was pretty distracting I thought... you can see the very left edge of it here. I guess I could try dodging it back into shadow to get a bit more room to the right. I think I'll try that and see if it helps.

Thanks for your thoughts guys!

Gorgeous image Ted. Great composition and just enough shadow detail. Stars look wonderful to me. Maybe a bit bright behind tufas on left. But great just the way it is.

Excellent image, Ted. I like the overall alien landscape look, so good job combining the tufas with the starry sky. I do think it would look more natural/real (less computer created) without the exaggerated star effect.

To be honest Ted, I think the surreal quality works really really well here. As for sharpening, I usually leave smooth areas like the sky as is without any sharpening, and for edges and other textured areas I use TK's web sharpening.

Beautiful Image. I prefer the more realistic stars myself, but go with what YOU like.

I'm definitely biased as I don't care for any Mono Lake shots. They have been done to death, and the subject doesn't do a thing for me. I think you have a fine comp and Iike this version better than the other post. The color choice is a personal statement and within the realm of believabitlity. The star effect will probably make it a big seller.

Ya know, Morris, I bet if you took the time to visit Mono and look around you'd see some of the most unique and amazing things you've ever seen in nature. The Sand Tufas (not these) are definitely near the top of my list for overall uniqueness, and they have rarely been photographed well. Some of my own most unique shots come from this place.

That aside, I recall this photo from your earlier processing and from what I could tell the other had a stronger color gradient in the stacks but I'm indifferent between the two. The stars are a little over-the-top for me but what the heck, there's a guy out there in the Eastern Sierra who's been making a killing doing star-filtered star shots on postcards for decades now, and 'twinkle' isn't a bad thing. Not bad overall but not one of your stronger images either, IMO. You live close by, so you've got lots more to experiment with at all times of the year. Should be tons of new opportunities this year.

The photograph is extremely surreal but it really works for me. Great capture of the Milky Way.

Technical critique aside, for pure impact, this is great Ted. Looks like a photo from another world!

A major improvement imo. The overall look is a bit too purplish for me, but I realize that's very subjective anyway.

Looks pretty epic, and funny my initial thought was that it looked like a MA shot. How many photos for the blend? Crazy star detail.

aF

Thanks for all the comments, everyone! I will make some adjustments to this and then move on.

Aaron, what is MA?

This is 5 shots total. 4 for the focus stack, and 1 for the sky. Sky was shot at iso 5000, f2.8, 20 seconds on a d600.

A very unique and otherworldly image, Ted. I love the sky with the exception of those twinkling stars. I am sure lots of people will love them so do what sells.

Ed

Here's an update on the processing of this. I removed the 'twinkle' effect, and also reduced the number of stars. Felt like there were too many in the original. Also adjusted the color. Happy to know what you think of the changes. Thanks!

Ted, A down right amazing scene. Your last version looks great and certainly my favorite. Really does look like another world. Cool stuff and nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Excellent bro

huge improvement on the repost

I think the processing is fine. The comp sort of bothers me, though. I wish that tufa on the right wasn't mashed up against the side of the frame.