Mountain Panos without filters

[aim54x]

Stupid me forgot to pack the Grad ND filters, mainly shot with the Micro NIkkor 60mm f/2.8, stitched in AutoPano Pro.

After seeing Gerry's latest pano I am almost embarrassed to post these...but I guess I need the critque.

This one was shot with my Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL II

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[CraigVTR]

I think you have done well with these both with the exposure and stitching. The drawback is the harsh midday light which holds back what could really be great shots.

[surenj]

Stupid me forgot to pack the Grad ND filters

No fear. I reckon you camera has more dynamic range than these photos. You can pull and push quite a bit if you wanted to.

These have been stitched pretty well! Did you have to manually do anything?

I think the main issue I see is the overdominance of the blue (Which is mainly deadspace). I would tone it down and make the green come out a little.
Essentially these dark blues and musty greens don't really harmonise in my mind.

#3 has a few warm tones. I think you need to bring these out to balance the blues.

[aim54x]

I think you have done well with these both with the exposure and stitching. The drawback is the harsh midday light which holds back what could really be great shots.

Thanks Craig, I did cheat and put in a simulated grad ND filter using Color Efex Pro in all but the last pano here.

Stupid me forgot to pack the Grad ND filters

No fear. I reckon you camera has more dynamic range than these photos. You can pull and push quite a bit if you wanted to.

These have been stitched pretty well! Did you have to manually do anything?

I think the main issue I see is the overdominance of the blue (Which is mainly deadspace). I would tone it down and make the green come out a little.
Essentially these dark blues and musty greens don't really harmonise in my mind.

#3 has a few warm tones. I think you need to bring these out to balance the blues.

There is a bit of room to push and pull these in post, but I havent figured a good way to do this....it doesnt work to do it before i stitch (then you get strange exposure differences between frames) and after stitching you end up with a large TIFF that doesnt push and pull as easily.....esp since it doesnt go into Capture NX2 anymore and I prefer to work from there.

I know what you mean by the dead space and the greens/blues...hence I need puffy white clouds, and maybe the S5 Pro.

I have been using AutoPano Pro for all my stitching needs and it has always worked a treat...just remember to shoot at a reasonable focal length (I try to use more than 24mm) and give it a large overlap (30-50% for me).

[surenj]

What if you exported to a PSD file?

[aim54x]

 PSD wont let me get it into Capture NX2, but it may give me a bit more to work with in PhotoChop...I will have a play if I get a chance

[surenj]

Worth a try I guess. I find that no single tool does everything each time.

[surenj]

This took a few steps in PS.

[aim54x]

I have to admit that, your redo does not represent what the scene looked like....and those greens look a bit toxic to me. Thanks for having a go Surenj....I just give PhotoChop more credit

[surenj]

I just give PhotoChop more credit

NX2 is not the only program that can edit photos.

[aim54x]

I just give PhotoChop more credit

NX2 is not the only program that can edit photos.

But I really hate PhotoChop!

[digitor]

.... you end up with a large TIFF that doesnt push and pull as easily.....esp since it doesnt go into Capture NX2 anymore and I prefer to work from there.

Is this because of the size? NX2 edits tiffs, (no camera settings section of course though) but everything else is still available.

Cheers

[photomarcs]

Hahaha shots look good without filters dude... wall worthy

but... I wouldn't give hate on photoshop... lol it's a tool that gives a completely whole new perspective on things. Bear in mind, yes... hate the use of photoshop incorrectly.. but there's always that learning curve. Without photoshop of therelikes (capture NX, Lightroom, CaptureOne etc..editing software in total), we would not be able to change the exposure in post, color, adjust contrasts to our liking, lens correction and all. I can understand what it's like to want an image to look smash hot out of the camera. Any adjustment in post to me is considered a post production, photoshop is simply a tool to adjust.

[aim54x]

.... you end up with a large TIFF that doesnt push and pull as easily.....esp since it doesnt go into Capture NX2 anymore and I prefer to work from there.

Is this because of the size? NX2 edits tiffs, (no camera settings section of course though) but everything else is still available.

Yep...Capture NX2 cant handle the resolution of these things...

Hahaha shots look good without filters dude... wall worthy

but... I wouldn't give hate on photoshop... lol it's a tool that gives a completely whole new perspective on things. Bear in mind, yes... hate the use of photoshop incorrectly.. but there's always that learning curve. Without photoshop of therelikes (capture NX, Lightroom, CaptureOne etc..editing software in total), we would not be able to change the exposure in post, color, adjust contrasts to our liking, lens correction and all. I can understand what it's like to want an image to look smash hot out of the camera. Any adjustment in post to me is considered a post production, photoshop is simply a tool to adjust.

I didnt mean hating PhotoChop in an EnergyPolice way....but more so because after all this time it is still foreign and clumsy to me. PhotoChop is not part of my normal workflow so it is always a pain to use for me, I guess I just dont know all the tricks to make it do what i can make Capture NX2 do

[photomarcs]

Hahaha shots look good without filters dude... wall worthy

but... I wouldn't give hate on photoshop... lol it's a tool that gives a completely whole new perspective on things. Bear in mind, yes... hate the use of photoshop incorrectly.. but there's always that learning curve. Without photoshop of therelikes (capture NX, Lightroom, CaptureOne etc..editing software in total), we would not be able to change the exposure in post, color, adjust contrasts to our liking, lens correction and all. I can understand what it's like to want an image to look smash hot out of the camera. Any adjustment in post to me is considered a post production, photoshop is simply a tool to adjust.

I didnt mean hating PhotoChop in an EnergyPolice way....but more so because after all this time it is still foreign and clumsy to me. PhotoChop is not part of my normal workflow so it is always a pain to use for me, I guess I just dont know all the tricks to make it do what i can make Capture NX2 do

haha EnergyPolice? Don't worry dude.. I feel the same way about Nikon again I'd like to distress... Wall Worthy.

[Matt. K]

Cameron
You have some nice gear and you know how to use it. The problem I see with your panos is that there is nothing of interest to look at. A pano for panos sake is not going to work unless all of the other vital elements of photography are considered. There has to be a main point of interest. A hook that grabs the eye. A foreground, a middle ground and a background....each complimenting the other. Also....panoramic photographs don't translate well on a computer screen. They need to be shown in large format before they come to life....so whilst your images would be far more dramatic on a wall at 5 metres x 3 metres....they don't work on the monitor. So...how much do you want for that 20mm lens?

[aim54x]

Cameron
You have some nice gear and you know how to use it. The problem I see with your panos is that there is nothing of interest to look at. A pano for panos sake is not going to work unless all of the other vital elements of photography are considered. There has to be a main point of interest. A hook that grabs the eye. A foreground, a middle ground and a background....each complimenting the other. Also....panoramic photographs don't translate well on a computer screen. They need to be shown in large format before they come to life....so whilst your images would be far more dramatic on a wall at 5 metres x 3 metres....they don't work on the monitor. So...how much do you want for that 20mm lens?

Thanks Matt, I will hang onto the 20mm for now...but if I do ever feel the need to get rid of it I will let you know.

I know what you mean by the lack of a main focus......when I was up there I was in awe of what lay in front of me...I guess I have to head back that way to reshoot...