"Another Turn"

Thank you Xavi and Jim! Wow, Jim, that is a very kind complement! I get confused by folks that spend a great deal of time and energy to produce an image, only to name it "sunset" or "lake" or "beach". It's like all the creativity was exhausted on making the image. And the postpro efforts I often see do no justice to what appears to be a decent image that could be transformed into something special. I like sharing my short stories and relating my love for nature and nature photography. I like sharing the whole experience. It is more than just taking a picture, it is a visual and emotional journey. I hear of many that hate sitting at a computer or that this image is pretty much straight out of the camera. They eschew Photoshop, saying it is artificial. I feel Photoshop is the best tool to convey the scene as it was experienced. No, not with over zealous slides of the contrast of saturation tool, but with a slow, gentle massage of the Raw image file. Certainly not interested in cranking out halo riddled images in an effort to make the sky 6 stops darker than the rest of the scene. I merely want to communicate a visual record of what I witnessed. In most cases it was memorable enough to communicate the experience verbally as well. No, not the usual "the most awesome sunset I ever seen" verbal bore, but something a little more introspective. Well, I guess I should conclude this diatribe-like response, else I get accused of being a "verbal bore" myself.  

Really excellent work Mark! You've captured the essence of California in one shot. Superb!

All the best,
Neil

Mark, I really appreciate your term, BEF, rather then HDR. This image is an excellent example of how to do landscapes in a way that honors the land rather then revels in the technology. The best to you as always. 

Simply superb!  I can add nothing to what has been previously noted, but that I love it!  Gorgeous photograph, my friend!  Cheers!  Chris

Thanks Neil, Craig and Chris! Craig, BEF is sort of a take off on Kevin McNeal's EF (exposure fusion), so I won't accept credit. I appreciate your reference to honoring the land rather than reveling in the technology. I love the technology because it betters my ability to honor the land. Years ago, I spent some time working in the analog darkroom. At that time I used 35mm slides. The technology was archaic compared to now. I never printed an image of mine that matched my slide, so I became indifferent to photography. When ND Grads came around, I jumped back in. After scanning my first slides and making my own first inkjet prints, I felt re-born. For the first time, I could make a print that looked as good as the slide. The technology saved my soul, but I didn't sell my soul to it. Thanks again guys!

What I truly appreciate the most about my friendship with you is your unfailing interest in teaching.  I have learned so much from you and Leo; it really is quite astounding when I look back on it.  I now work very hard at composition and then processing.  All of my blending, whether EDR or BEF, is all due to your patient coaching and tutelage, and I am personally very grateful.  Look at my photography and you can see your influence.  Thank you, Amigo, I am a much better for it.  Cheers!  Chris

P.S.  It helps that you're only 70 miles away too! ;-)

Thanks Chris! The best teacher is repetition of skills (meaning get out more often), even if you have to squeeze some time, it does wonders. From what I can tell, reading has a stronger influence on you, so if you are not shooting, you have something that requires less time, less gas money and less time again. You can grab a good book anytime, but it is hard to grab a quick shot that is meaningful. Meanwhile, your photography has become one of your creative outlets, something you can call your own. Your creativity in that pass-time has grown immensely from when we first started trading comments. I am happy to know that I have been a part of that progress. Leo's style shows up in your work as well. Maybe we can get together before too long and add to our portfolios in each other's company. Portuguese pass this October is the place!

Dear Mark,

you've got a very, very beatiful portfolio! Stunning pictures.

Warm regards, Ruben Molenaar

As soon as I saw the thumbnail I guessed it was one of yours.  Just  simply another beautiful moment in your treasury of wonders that you have provision us wit over the years.  Thanks so much for being there   with the talents you have, have a Merry Christmas Mark, highest regards, rek.

Wow, what's a beautifull place.
That's a landscape, where you can forget all your worries and just enjoy that beautiness of the world.

Wonderfull shot!