Cradle Mountain Sunrise HDR attempt

[whitey]

Went to tassy, rained all week so lots of crap photos. Last morning the rain lifted but there was no sunrise to speak of. Processed this through Photomatix. I am reasonably happy (its the best I have to remember tassy by) and am interested in feedback on how to improve it.

[Murray Foote]

As it stands, I think the tonally dominant part of the image is the bright orange-red plants at the bottom but there's not enough of them to make sense, so I think you need to desaturate them or otherwise reduce their impact.

Actually I think the best thing is to go back there and try again in the late afternoon or early morning light, trying different angles, camera elevations and compositions. I suspect this image would have worked a lot better if you had got down lower and more to the right, got the rocks coming in more from the left corner, included more of the orange plants and probably cropped in on the sky.

Nice enough HDR but perhaps a touch flat. I might have tried brightening up the rocks and the hills to the right a touch and maybe try for a hint of the glint of sunlight on the water. Nothing too obvious, necessarily, though.

Rain shouldn't prevent good photos, sometimes it can even help. You need to look at what's there and make use of shelter - cave, overhang, verandah, umbrella, maybe even car window or station wagon rear door (if it lifts up). An umbrella can be a useful bushwalking photographic accessory.

Regards,
Murray

[whitey]

As it stands, I think the tonally dominant part of the image is the bright orange-red plants at the bottom but there's not enough of them to make sense, so I think you need to desaturate them or otherwise reduce their impact.

Agreed, was going to crop out may just desaturate I think.

Actually I think the best thing is to go back there

Thats the plan but it will take a while, hope to get back to hike the overland track next year maybe.

trying different angles, camera elevations and compositions. I suspect this image would have worked a lot better if you had got down lower and more to the right, got the rocks coming in more from the left corner, included more of the orange plants and probably cropped in on the sky.

As I read those suggestions I wonder why I didnt try more angles, composition lets me down a bit. Each shoot is a learning experience though.

Nice enough HDR but perhaps a touch flat. I might have tried brightening up the rocks and the hills to the right a touch and maybe try for a hint of the glint of sunlight on the water.

Will have a play around along those lines, thanks for the feedback

Rain shouldn't prevent good photos, sometimes it can even help. You need to look at what's there and make use of shelter - cave, overhang, verandah, umbrella, maybe even car window or station wagon rear door (if it lifts up). An umbrella can be a useful bushwalking photographic accessory.

I have lots of shots, its just that most of them are crap. I have a D80 and really struggled with blown highlights with the clouds.

Over the next few weeks I will process some more and post them up.
Thanks for your feedback, very much appreciated.

[biggerry]

but there was no sunrise to speak of

yeah, I found the same thing, I think it is this time of the year, the sun comes up over the mountains (stating the obvious ) but does not illuminate the dove lake side of the mountains.

struggled with blown highlights with the clouds.

I found the same issue, I shot 95% manual and worked on making sure there was no blown highlights with the intention of recovering darkened areas in PP, this worked in some and not others. But i agree lots of white cloud makes photography a little tricky sometimes.

overland track next year maybe

yep, that is our next plan also, after a little training


If you had some more on the bottom of the picture it would be good (as mentioned) but also consider a crop of some of the sky, this will bring the rocks in the foreground right into play and maybe with some extra light on the hills it could really work.

These rocks actually look pretty familiar...i have just about the exactly same picture

I assume you used ur 10-20 siggy?

[whitey]

These rocks actually look pretty familiar...i have just about the exactly same picture

Wonder where I got the idea from

I assume you used ur 10-20 siggy?

Nah, sold it a while ago as I never used it. This was with the nikkor 18-70 dx. Would have been good to have the siggy though, the only time I ever needed it.

Regarding the blown highlights it was really annoying me. I did the same as you and underexposed a lot but processing is a pain. My dad had a panasonic lumix something or other and he had no problems. Had read about the D80 blown highlights problem but never really experienced it until now.

[blacknstormy]

Whitey - I ran the shot through 'redynamix', and this is the result ....



I'll remove if it offends, but may have lifted the image a little ?? Not a fantastic result, but I just used your posted image as the base ..

[whitey]

I'll remove if it offends, but may have lifted the image a little ?? Not a fantastic result, but I just used your posted image as the base ..

No worries, all feedback welcome. Having the plants toned down definately makes a difference.

[NeoTiger]

Very nice, the HDR comes out very natural... personally I might've preferred a bit more contrast overall, maybe some black clipping.