Beautiful Saturday Afternoon

[MonsieurB]

This was the perfect day to go out in the woods.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23973392@N03/2286568257/" title="Lac 1 HDR by MonsieurB44, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/2286568257_82828b0768.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Lac 1 HDR" /></a>

Exif info;

Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
DateTimeOriginal: Sat Feb 23 15:42:57
ISO: 100
FocalLength: 18.0 mm
Aperture: F10.0
LensSpec: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Hope you can feel the peace I felt in this little winter paradise...

MonsieurB

[peeperita]

lovely image....

since this is in the post processing section, would you mind sharing some of your workflow and thought process?....

thanks

peeper

[MonsieurB]

You are right... I did not give much info...
First of, I shot using a tripod and I used the Auto bracketing function of my camera, -2,0,+2
I shot RAW and processed the pictures in Photomatix.

I specifically waited to the end of the afternoon to go get my shots because I wanted to capture the long shadows of the trees. Once rendered in HDR and tone mapped in a "dark" way, I find that it looks like a painting.

[Murtasma]

I think a polarizer could have helped based on the direction of the shadows. Did you use a polarizer for this shot? Also if you wanted to focus on the shadows of the tree why not try getting lower to the shadows and pointing your camera towards the trees so the shadows lead into them?

[kimspics]

I do get a peaceful easy feeling when looking at your pic. I like it !!!

[jiminyClickit]

MonsieurB, Welcome

Generally the landscape is done as well as one would expect, but your sky, especially the clouds, are grayed unnaturally, too dark. The light above the trees is a dead giveaway that editting was overdone.

Without looking over your shoulder during your various steps, and because they aren't listed, I'd assume at one point you separated sky from land, and then blurred the sky too much on a layer.

[MonsieurB]

Murtasma, I did not use a polarizer... I should get one for my 18-55 lens as i love to shoot wide angle in nature.

Jiminy, I only used Photomatix to create the image so I don't have control on layers but I agree with you... I don't like the clouds either. With the controls available in Photomatix, if I try to brighten them, then I mess up the snow which I like the way it is. I will try to improve it like you said by separating the sky from land in photoshop and lighten it a bit.

It so nice to have you inputs... I'm new to this... got my Digital Rebel XTI late november and now I'm discovering many ways to improve my shooting and post processing.

Many thanks,

MonsieurB