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I am not a very good photographer, but I have noticed something quite interesting and amusing. If I put up an average photo that has had High Dynamic Range processing, it gets a much higher rating than the actual native image. In fact, a rather average composition with HDR often gets a higher rating than a really creative photo that does not have HDR. HDR images can look very unusual and eye catching, but that is different from a really well taken creative natural photograph. Really good HDR photographs taken by people who are expert in its use seem to heighten reality, rather than looking fake, in my opinion.

Now, we have someone who has taken a fantastic photo, making superb use of natural light, and it is so good some people assume it must be fake.

Kind of funny, I think.

Some have also commented that a photo like this is boring - after all, the idea of taking a photo of a mountain reflected in a lake is hardly new - but, there are many genres that one could attempt to excel in. It is not easy to walk miles and miles into obscure places and get really good work. I really enjoy this photo, personally.

phto 3

John Mathieson, what is High Dynamic Range processing, where can I get it, and does it come in lotion?

I have answered my own question:

http://www.naturescapes.net/072006/rh0706_1.htm#overview

 

Sadly, it is not available as a lotion.

Well, it looks like I have egg on my face.

 

At least we got a meaningful discussion going. You can imagine how I feel about all those Flaming Pear plug-in shots right about now.

 

. . . and I have taken water reflection shots early in the morning before the wind picks up. The wind wasn't the issue. It's about a straight shore line, and having a shooting line that's perpendicular to the horizon and some distance away from the scene. If we have a place like that anywhere near where I live, I haven't seen it.

That's just too good to be true - a photo of the photographer taking the photo that was accused of being fraudulent. Oh, and I guess the real reason you won't find Saul's tripod holes at this scene is because the camera was hand held. Hahahaha! The image looks like it was taken both with a circ polarizer and gradient ND filter, making the sky darker than typical in these sorts of photos. I find the pair of photos under Doug's comment - the same scene in two different lighting situations - to be interesting. What a difference lighting makes.

It is just incredible, the place, the image..., and the disproportionated attitude and reaction of some (I will call them policely) members, demonstrating some clear evidence of loosing "the ability to read a photograph and distinguish a true capture of a natural scene from a fake flipped reflection", attitude associated with the so frecuent nowadays "software plug-in" paranoia... "because it is a fake" or because "...a place like that anywhere near where I live, I haven't seen it." or (this is mine) because maybe "I just cant get a shot like that"...8^) 8^)

 

Saul mentioned in a retranslated version "Before talking and accusing about fakery of an image and its reflections, you must know about the theme a little bit more and do not talk in an ignorant way, envy or whatever... "I will second his response and the images presented he inteligently took of himself that day, just in case of flies, and to shut up the wide stablished ignorancy...

 

Talking about the image, I think is magnificent, the continuity (horizontal or vertical) of the symetrical shapes, the rythm of the different color layers and textures, the overall contrast, even the slight burn on snow on summits is not bothering me at all, the reflection looks at least half of stop underexposed, kind of the natural way.

Would like to see the fullres without the slight crop, the image works fantastic as a hole, but also in multiples and different isolated crops which demonstrates for me, the mentionated great continuity and rythm.

 

I dont know this place, and I really would like to, because this location is REAL, and lots of other beautifull, dreamy and REAL landscapes that we can find in Patagonia and all around the globe nowadays, and hopefully in an inmediate future.

Can we not understand this objetive basic thing?, colors come from nature!!, I mean the natural light... on the natural enviroment, nowhere else!!... yes, that is why, along with other obvious reasons, we should encourage people in the pursuit of keeping all this real places protected, conserved and healthy, not just digging holes with their fancy tripods to get the audiences shot.

 

Congratulations for the mention Saul !, your work deserves it

The second and the third image is great! I like technique using velvia and polarizer. I'm an old fashioned.

I have never get the feeling of artificial and fake images.

HDR technique is giving a rather scientifical quality of the image, and in my opinion, that's why the images looks to you unreal.

 

Thanks Doug for finding about HDR!

This does not quite follow the rule of thirds (not that this has to be a prerequisite for good composition). I feel the extra space in the foreground draws you into the picture, but I would also be interested to experiment with a slight crop on the bottom. I think it might emphasize the photograph?s symmetry. Landscapes are not traditionally what peeks my attention, but you have many excellent shots here (the photo Miles has embedded being a good example). Thank you for sharing work.

 

Charlie

Sometimes the subject itself elevates a shot out of the ordinary. This is a remote corner of the world, difficult and risky to access at a very brutal time of the year, and I am glad to see it, even if only vicariously through the medium of someone else's eyes and camera lens. This, after all, is a recording of one wilderness experience that I shall never be able to have for myself. I am in awe of it, and I am grateful for it.

 

Perhaps this photo is best evaluated as a photo in the context of all of the other shots from the same region. This shot at the very least allows us to understand the fuller context of the other angles that Saul managed to get of the towers.

 

Look at the folder, folks, and evaluate it in context, not out of context. It is hardly the best in terms of originality from the folder, but it provides the overall perspective and context for evaluating an entire body of work. I still say that it is magnificent, even if there are greater works of the same subject in the same folder--not to mention other subjects. Indeed, I am incapable of evaluating it apart from that larger context. This is the one that catches the eye first, even if some of the others bear up better under sustained scrutiny and analysis.

 

This is not the first, nor will it be the last, Photo of the Week whose greater value lies in what it directs us to see: an entire body of work by an accomplished photographer and wilderness adventurer.

 

Patagonia en invierno. Ay. . . . valia la pena si fuera posible para mi, pero no lo es. Gracias otra vez, Saul, no solamente para esta foto, sino para la totalidad y la originalidad de su vision.

 

Patagonia in winter. It would be worth the trouble if it were possible for me to go and see this remarkable part of the world, but it is not. Thank you again, Saul, not only for this photo, but for the totality and originality of your vision.

 

--Lannie

Sorry to go against the grain, but these colours are just too un-natural for me. This may well have been the photographer's intension, but bold colours do not make up for dull composition. The reflection is the same brightness as the sky, it should be at least a little bit darker, even when using grads, or blending in ps, but I guess if you're going for imagined colours, imagined reality is ok too. Where is the foreground interest? Nothing leads me into the image, the foreground is nothing but empty space. Sorry, but this is a very average image.

The reflection should be darker than the real image. I'm a stickler for this normally although I find having the two images the same level acceptable. This rule only works when the water is totally still. Moving water during a long exposure causes the reflection to be lighter and this is something that has to be accepted to make exposure.

Sencillamente sensacional.Enhorabuena. Is an incredible light, frame, reflection sky. Is also a place where people wants to be, think, reflect,Is cool and warm at the same time. I think the elves choose right.

I first thought this was a fake as well, but it's not. To me this is an average photo, nothing that extraordinarily aesthetic about it. The composition is unoriginal, the subject matter beautiful, but the photo as posted on POW is rather small and strays too far from rule of thirds to be distracting from that "rule."

 

I would *love* to be there and photographing this scene. Wow.

 

I'd also love to see it at least 1100 px wide. My opinion would likely change for the better.

Larger at

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6281983&size=lg

 

 

But no title? Picky picky!

I thought reflections were generally 2 stops down--this doesn't appear to be the case here-at least to me--and therefore comes out balanced, static, and without tension. Otherwise it is beautiful.

Saul,

 

In your response to the previous query regarding digital manipulation of this image, what does your comment 'adjust RAW to reality' mean?

 

There appears to be no disclosure regarding equipment used. What format was used?

For the main picture, three colors were on the highlight and these are Blue, white and orange. How I wish I also have a camera so I could also contribute interesting pictures and yes, worthy of discussion too =)

Superb! I wish the weather had been so nice when I was there... and that I didn't get all my photo equipment stolen as well...

Staring at images such as these should be prescribed to those given Xanax instead. ^^ Sorry to hear about your gear... impressivearts.com

breathtaking... 7/7

Well done Saul for the photos and for the rest. I mean the incredulous ones. Once more you are the master of the mountains photography, from the Teide to the Torres

this is absolutely stunning! fantastic!

La imagen de Saul Santos que se discute en este foro es una imagen muy equilibrada. Existen numerosas imágenes de este mismo escenario, en algunas cambia el color, ligeramente el encuadre, las nubes fieles compañeras y quizás el ángulo. Pero sinceramenteo creo que Saul ha sabido captar la esencia del lugar haciendo de una imagen típica una única y diferente. Por lo tanto creo que hay que atribuirle un merecido comentario positivo.

Saludos a todos

Juan Manuel Segura

 

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The image of Saul Santos which is discussed in this forum is a very balanced picture. There are numerous images of this same scenario, some changes in color, slightly frame, clouds faithful companions and perhaps the angle. But sinceramenteo I think Saul has managed to capture the essence of the place making a typical one and different. We therefore believe that we must assign him a deserved positive feedback.

Greetings to all

Juan Manuel Segura

La imagen de Saul Santos que se discute en este foro es una imagen muy equilibrada. Existen numerosas

imágenes de este mismo escenario, en algunas cambia el color, ligeramente el encuadre, las nubes fieles

compañeras y quizás el ángulo. Pero sinceramenteo creo que Saul ha sabido captar la esencia del lugar haciendo

de una imagen típica una única y diferente. Por lo tanto creo que hay que atribuirle un merecido comentario positivo.

Saludos a todos

Juan Manuel Segura

 

--------

The image of Saul Santos which is discussed in this forum is a very balanced picture. There are numerous images of

this same scenario, some changes in color, slightly frame, clouds faithful companions and perhaps the angle. But

sinceramenteo I think Saul has managed to capture the essence of the place making a typical one and different. We

therefore believe that we must assign him a deserved positive feedback.

Greetings to all

Juan Manuel Segura