These are some shots from this past weekend. I was at a place in Northern Minnesota called "Covenant Pines" for a Men's Retreat.
I was telling Barbarian in another thread that I was experimenting with ND Graduated filters and Photomatix. I am not altogether pleased, but as a first shot at this type of photography I'm okay with it. I learned some things I will do different next time. The tonal range from the sun to the foreground is HUGE. I think our eyes can process around 24 stops (levels) of light, while a decent camera only records 10-14, thus the need for special processing if you want to record more tones.
Here's the seven images I used, I used two ND Graduated filters, then Photomatix:
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv6%2Fp686818094-0.jpg&hash=db4621df49bd451b6c5c5ef29f2fced62081bd5d)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv2%2Fp884546499-0.jpg&hash=6eb569cde36b3cf14df4f44c3f923acb51010c2d)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv9%2Fp651889573-0.jpg&hash=7d6d6bb4153bad8d0366841af70a8e4a0f5465d9)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv6%2Fp918973214-0.jpg&hash=f5332f40bcc18e3e7061dd1c1620894128f0ef8b)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv2%2Fp833500457-0.jpg&hash=81c46ad7172a2a0bf738c50c9bb1f418eb953880)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv8%2Fp680424751-0.jpg&hash=e59c79fe48eb3d3fdc782ee0480aa5a4d72e0703)(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv7%2Fp926704618-0.jpg&hash=5755b08b1d77c40bfdabd61f3ccb386b2facb45b)
The processed image:
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv5%2Fp591326453-3.jpg&hash=acb66b03df88a4755c4ae0ab585ea2035441470c)
After all the processing, I think I prefer something along the lines of the 5th image over the higher dynamic range image:
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv2%2Fp833500457-3.jpg&hash=f8174aa9ac58298bc59e4758490d4273be247169)
A couple more shots from the weekend. It's a beautiful camp (even more so in the fall).
I wasn't sure how many I should post (a few more are here in my gallery:
http://myfotoguy.zenfolio.com/p953955167/e28eb4162 (http://myfotoguy.zenfolio.com/p953955167/e28eb4162) )
We had a wonderful weekend praying and sharing together.
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv10%2Fp1008868712-4.jpg&hash=36fd9be1dda10e2b55a4e22cc4bb73226a15d472)
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv4%2Fp892195751-3.jpg&hash=b15f6465e3ea26ec299d76f9f1866bc52027e2e3)
(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyfotoguy.zenfolio.com%2Fimg%2Fv7%2Fp952937323-3.jpg&hash=ff5eba90d3761e8d1befd9a4f9bf90cdb10e7f83)
What a great selection of photos! Thank you for posting them. We'll be looking for more, now. And more. And more! :D
That chipmunk must have been really hungry to start eating his own tail! :lol:
Jeanne you took the words out of my mouth.
Beautiful pictures, well done. And Jeanne is right we want more, and more , and more!!!
Judy, we often seem to think alike! ;D
Quote from: Jeanne Lee on March 25, 2010, 10:04:41 AM
That chipmunk must have been really hungry to start eating his own tail! :lol:
That's funny!
Jeanne Yes we do!
In that second last one....The life saving ring, looks ready to use. We have one ready for us too!
Quote from: JudyB on March 25, 2010, 11:15:58 PM
The life saving ring, looks ready to use. We have one ready for us too!
I should have posted that one in the "What Easter Means to Me" challenge. ;)
I like your work. I haven't tried an HDR sunset yet. Sounds like an interesting challenge.
Thanks Barbarian. I am somewhat anxious to try it again (without the filters). Probably once all the ice is gone.
You could still do that with the Easter contest!
Beautiful, memorable shots-I especially like the chipmunk! :)
Quote from: juanital on April 06, 2010, 10:30:34 AM
Beautiful, memorable shots-I especially like the chipmunk! :)
Thanks. That chipmunk shot was rewarding. There were a couple scurring around and I wasn't able to get a good shot earlier. But I went back and slowly approached and was able to get this just before he jumped and ran.
I've been toying with the idea of downloading Photomatix, and I think you've convinced me to do it. That's a great composition, given what you had to work with in terms of available light in your 7 images. I would have thought you used a star filter as well...did Photomatix create the star pattern, or was that native in the images? Nice job!
Quote from: BigSkyKen on April 08, 2010, 12:55:39 AM
I've been toying with the idea of downloading Photomatix, and I think you've convinced me to do it. That's a great composition, given what you had to work with in terms of available light in your 7 images. I would have thought you used a star filter as well...did Photomatix create the star pattern, or was that native in the images? Nice job!
Thanks Ken. The star pattern is native, due to the small aperture. I think you often don't see it unless the area around the light source is somewhat "dark". I have noticed this in some night shots I have taken too, where the street lights do the same thing.