It is art... As the artist, that is your call!Natalie Ann - 11-25-2016 at 10:18 PM
This is an interesting photograph. I have come back to it several times before deciding that I do in fact like it. In b&w seems perhaps the
portal to an ancient and magical land watched over by the cardon father diva seen on the right edge. I love all the shapes and textures eveywhere.
Well done!
Is it too dark? Although I would like to make out more detail in some areas, I do not see how you can lighten it without blowing out other areas on
the lower cardon itself. What do you think?
NenaSkipjack Joe - 11-25-2016 at 11:19 PM
I think it may be better if it were a tad lighter. It is a fairly somber image but may be more than it has to be. I'm going to repost a different,
lighter version. The whites should be fine without any loss in detail.
Incidentally, if you click on this image you get another copy in a different tab. That image is noticeably sharper than this one. It looks like
Bajanomads compresses your image before uploading it to the forum and some detail is lost.
Oh, right. It shrank the uploaded image for the forum but you can see the original by clicking on the image. There is even the option of enlarging the
original image.
[Edited on 11-26-2016 by Skipjack Joe]DENNIS - 11-26-2016 at 09:46 AM
Not too dark. "Too dark" is losing detail in shadows....turning areas into negative space. It sometimes worked for A. Adams, but only on huge
landforms where the large black shapes had a life of their own...a gestalt so to speak.
Digital to B/W conversions are difficult in this respect. It's not so easy to control contrast as can be done with film in a darkroom.
Nice shot, Igor. BigBearRider - 11-26-2016 at 09:56 AM
Not too dark. Just right. Skipjack Joe - 11-26-2016 at 11:27 AM
Take 2:
They come out darker after the upload, I think. Let me know what you think. Be sure you click on the image to get the real version. I think an
argument could be made for either one, depending on the mood you're trying to convey. If spooky, then dark. If glowing then lighter.
[Edited on 11-26-2016 by Skipjack Joe]David K - 11-26-2016 at 11:35 AM
That is nice, too... Do you have a color version, to compare, also? Was the photo shot on a cloudy or dark time?Skipjack Joe - 11-26-2016 at 12:30 PM
Yes, there is a color version as well and it's not that bad as I recall.
This was shot after sunset. The wood has a natural glow to it so the flat light worked well for it. You need a tripod for these light conditions cause
it takes a long exposure due to a lack of light. The image was converted to b&w using Nik software which is free. It's a plugin for photoshop
which is not free. DENNIS - 11-26-2016 at 01:13 PM
Hey, Igor...did you use any type of enhancement on this shot, or is that just the effect from your flash? Seems to have a somewhat vibrant patina.
Mellow HDR, maybe? BajaBlanca - 11-26-2016 at 04:48 PM
both shots are really beautiful!Skipjack Joe - 11-26-2016 at 05:09 PM
Hey, Igor...did you use any type of enhancement on this shot, or is that just the effect from your flash? Seems to have a somewhat vibrant patina.
Mellow HDR, maybe?
No enhancements. No flash, no HDR. I am attaching how it looked straight out of the camera. When you have a good subject and recognize it, then not
much else is needed.
Record says 1.6 second exposure. I shot it at daylight temperature. Thats why it looks bluish.
[Edited on 11-27-2016 by Skipjack Joe]Meany - 11-27-2016 at 08:28 AM
Very nice.David K - 11-27-2016 at 08:39 AM
Agree!DENNIS - 11-27-2016 at 08:50 AM
Igor....what mode do you shoot in normally?Skipjack Joe - 11-27-2016 at 10:10 AM
F8.0 -
because my lens is at its sharpest at that aperture
ISO 100 -
the camera sensor shows the greatest detail at this setting
Tripod -
because I may need slow shutter speed at the above settings
Mirror Lockup -
so there is no camera shake by mirror during shot
Delayed timer -
so there is no shake from finger pushing release button
Image stabilizer -
turn off because it can get faked out by moving water and reduce sharpness
Manual Focus -
i get sharper images by focusing by blowing them up in preview
Histogram set to On -
to prevent clipping at either end of light spectrum
White Balance -
I don't follow the rules and will experiment with settings on same image
Circular Polarizing Filter -
Not to remove the reflections from water but to make colors a bit more vivid.
That's it. I can't think anything else off the top of my head. I don't shoot HDR with the camera but I will bracket shots and manually blend in the
sky. I'm not fond of auto HDR blending. Geo_Skip - 11-27-2016 at 10:24 AM
Thank you Skipjack. I enjoyed your color version best, but the exercise in B&W and your background were valuable.
Baja is beautiful either way, to an appreciating eye.
Keep up the excellent work.DENNIS - 11-27-2016 at 10:28 AM
Manual mode. Best way. You probably have room to crank up the ISO a bit without noise, but do what you do.
I recently got a EOS M3 mirrorless. The list would be short of things it can't do. It's a compact beast. Once you use one, you'll never go back.
HDR has been ruined by overuse and trying to create a new realism.....trying to pass off obvious manipulation as the world they see. Too bad. It was
fun when it came out. Natalie Ann - 11-27-2016 at 10:45 AM
Each of the 3 images creates a very different feeling. Now I keep coming back to that 3rd one, the original as shot. The light on that cardon is
spectacular, while the darker background shows enough texture to really compliment the cardon. Today it is my favorite.Skipjack Joe - 11-27-2016 at 11:04 AM
Manual mode. Best way. You probably have room to crank up the ISO a bit without noise, but do what you do.
.
Yep. The lenses for digital cameras are now really expensive and it's primarily for the electronics for autofocusing, something I find no use for. I'm
not a fan of the Baja racing. It's frustrating to pay for something i don't need. DENNIS - 11-27-2016 at 11:35 AM
There are adaptors for almost everything including using my older FD lenses on the EOS system. Not only that, I can use my Hassy Zeiss lenses as
well. Hate to see all that quality glass gathering dustSkipjack Joe - 11-27-2016 at 11:46 AM
Each of the 3 images creates a very different feeling. Now I keep coming back to that 3rd one, the original as shot. The light on that cardon is
spectacular, while the darker background shows enough texture to really compliment the cardon. Today it is my favorite.
Glad you liked the color version. This image was really an accident, an unplanned shot. The entire late afternoon was spent composing a shot of 'Big
Red' and waiting until the light was just right. After it was over and everything was in shade I saw the cardon as I was putting the gear away. It
took several double takes before deciding that this was worth setting up once again.
