The Lone Tree

I'm always on the lookout for lone trees, they can create stunning images. But it's a real challenge, as usually there is something wrong with the landscape. I found a good one in New Zealand, but this is the first one in Australia that I'm happy with. Post on this one was simple compared to my previous. I broke this image down to 3 parts and worked on each separately, the sky, the grass and the tree.

Overcast

Shooting in overcast conditions is a real challenge. You need to imagine what an image could be and not what it looks like on the back of the camera. The original image was nothing but grey. But I split this into 3 images. Changed the white balance, exposure and contrast for each and then blended in Photoshop. There are 11 other Photoshop layers in this one, it took me most of the day to process. It really proves the point that photographers are artists.

I am almost happy with the outcome. There are a few things that annoy me, but I am interested in what others think.

The Calmness of Twilight

This shot was taken at Wilsons Promontory. It’s a magical place down there, everything just looks so good. This one I had the shutter open for 30 seconds as it was getting dark. It’s also a stitch, so overall the image took over 5 mins to take.

Processing was very simple. Just the standard, white balance, curves and levels. And a bit of dodge and burning.

The Calmness of Twilight

Old Settlers Cottage

Here is another one that I processed over the weekend. It was taken last month with Tony Middleton (see my blog list for his version). It’s an old Settlers Cottage not far from the highway.

It was quite a dull and dusty day. The sky was plain and hazy. We shot with the sun to capture the light hitting the cottage.
When I shot it I deliberately exposed to the right, almost blowing out the sky as I knew I would change it in post-processing. This would give me maximum data to work with in the shadows.


This one had some interesting processing done to it:
Panoramic Stitch.
Darkened and added a strong blue cast to the sky.
Curves and Levels adjustment.
Increased contrast to the hills in the background.
De-saturated yellow, green and red channels.
Dodge and Burn for added texture to foreground.
And Final Curves and Levels adjustment.

Some quality time with Photoshop

It been a while since I processed a photo. I have been out shooting so much, I just haven’t had the time. This has caused a bit of a problem as I have forgotten a few techniques. But I'm sure I will remember one day. This weekend I was able to spend some time on the computer. Here is one of the shots form a couple of months ago. More to come during the week.


Taken at Shack Bay, Inverloch

The Frustrations of a Photographer...

Sunrises and Sunsets is the best time of the day to take photo’s. But for a good one the atmospheric conditions need to be just right. There needs to be the right type of clouds in the right spot but also no clouds in the wrong spot. This doesn’t happen very often, well not on the weekends and way, usually when I’m driving to work it all looks good but I don’t have my camera or the time to capture it.

Last weekend I was out of bed before and after the sun. Out talking photos, unlucky for me it was just boring overcast weather. But I did find some nice spots that I will return to when the weather is more to my favour.  This morning before work I decided to head down to the coast and try my luck. I was low on time and it didn’t look like it was going to fire. There was some dense cloud on the horizon which usually blocks the sun. It was getting late, the clock told me that the sun had risen so I decided to head to work. Just as I started driving, I checked my re-view mirror and like a script the sky lit up, The dense cloud on the horizon must of had a little break and the whole thing was now glowing red. It didn't last very long so by the time I found a place to do a U-Turn it was already over. So I continued on my way to work, but just to rub salt into the wound, closer to work there was some low fog, and now that the sun was out of the clouds it painted it a beautiful orange. Everything just looked amazing.

I’m getting a little sick of very thing looking good, when I cannot capture it, but when I can capture it, nothing looks good.

Thanks for reading.

Ben