Images of Utah, North of Moab

I have a very hard time scanning color print film. In photographs such

as this one, the sky inevitably becomes mottled with grain artifacts.

These are especially noticeable after uploading the image to this

site. Even when I use grain management processes the problem, though

considerably ameliorated, still crops up. With this photograph, I

resorted to selectively using some Gaussian blur on the sky. Comments

are invited.

wonderful image dude.

I'm saving my allowance to get a Pentax 6x7. :-)

Gaussian blur is a reasonable option. Nicely done.

 

Nice diffraction halo.

 

Doesn't this thing remind you of Easter Island statues?:->

Steve: That sounds like a good plan to me. I really enjoy my 6x7.

 

Nathan: It did not occur to me but your are right. This thing looks like Dr Heyerdahl should be climbing around on it.

 

Regards.

Walter, this is an awesome shot...even the clouds behaved for you [those are real clouds, aren't they?] The crispness, and colors make it so pleasing to look at, but I especially like the flare behind the rock which adds a touch of magic to the whole image. Excellent!

Oh yeh, the frame is nice, too;-)

damn good shot. i can feel the intensity of the sun.

Very good composition. That lighting is hard to get and keep the detail and you've done it!

This is gorgeous!! My favorite part, besides the red rock, the blue sky, the composition, the clouds, etc., etc., is the sun behind the tip of the topmost rock. Wonderful!!

those are indeed real clouds. It's your typical Utah sky; and for me, there is no other like it. By the way Linda, this is an example of what I meant about scanning color print film as a positive and then inverting in PS. It seems to work okay most of the time. Thank you Linda, Mohamed, Kim, and Lou Ann for the visit! Regards to all.

Do you mind if I ask how you got such a detailed image in the shady part, without washing out brighter area? I'm very curious.

By the way, it is a great picture!

Very nice shot, good timing, good composition.

 

Jiri

Spectacular.

that is mostly from the type of film that I used. Color print film usually has a lower contrast than reversal film. Downside is that it is harder for me to scan it. Regards.

Well done Walter. Your placement of the sun behind the rocks like this is what takes this out of the ordinary and into the very good in my opinion. I also like the vivid combinations of reds, blues and greens in here. Clouds do also give an added and needed element. Nice one again...no suggestions from me.

 

 

About the 6x7: I considered (agonizingly so at one point) getting into medium format. The problems that I could never fully overcome was the limited zooms that medium offer. The Pentax 645 has the best and widest available anywhere...but still not nearly comparable to 35 zooms, especially wide, which I tend to use most. I just feel that the ability to CREATE a variety of images, with the wide range of lightning fast 35mm zooms, outweighs the advantages of having the larger originals. Plus more film per roll, easier to edit mounted slides, different dimensions with 35mm etc. In addition, people tend to buy smaller prints in the thousands, and the larger ones are only a fraction when compared. And finally with the latest technology, Hi-res scanning makes even 24x36 (largest sizes we offer) very very sharp, clear and colorful close to 100 percent of the time. I am considering an X-Pan...but even that is 35mm. These were my reasons for choosing to stick with 35mm after much deliberation.

 

In your own situation, I would be curious to know why you prefer to use the larger format that you do, and any thoughts about my own situation and reasons above. And if you don't mind commenting on the mirror slap issue (if any) that you have had to work with. Of course whenever you have a few minutes. I am always open to moving up...just need to hear other points of view. Thanks again! Aloha.

 

 

for answering my question! I have a lot to learn. :)

Now this is a much more interesting and accomplished capture of an ephemeral location than others that have been doing the rounds lately.

 

Slightly oversaturated to my taste, but very effective.

Very fine image quality. Very fine composition. Just a slight cast of red (about 05 red) in the shadows.

Very beautiful scene. Good point to put the sun behind the rocks. Control of exposure is very good and very nice color saturation

Again, thank you all!

 

Vince, I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can here and maybe I can email you too. The primary reason that I use this 6x7 is that it was my Dad's camera. After he passed away I "picked up the gauntlet" so to say. Undoubtedly it is real beast to use, but this is not necessarily a detriment. It forces me to really think about the shot before closing the shutter. I think my Dad wanted me to do a lot of thinking :0)

 

The medium format itself is a source of continual amazement for me. The above photograph was scanned at 2400dpi, not the highest that I could have scanned it (4800dpi). And yet, the detail in the original scan is wonderful. I cropped a small area on the extreme right side of the above and posted it here as an example. Regards.

Thanks Walt for the thoughts and attachment. I always look at the new zooms for the 645 systems nowadays in the latest magazines...just to see. Mamiya is really awful, (their widest zoom is like 33mm). Contax is very slow (less than two frames per second) and widest zoom is 28mm. The Pentax is deftly closer in my opinion. Since I shoot landscapes I really do not need that much speed in terms of frames per second, and the zoom I think gets close to 24mm equivalent in 35mm. But still the differences between 17mm vs 24 is substantial in my book! If I ever found the right system, I would give it a look. I do like the extra detail as you tried to attached. J-pegs never really do any of that true justice. Anyway, thanks again for taking the time!!

 

PS-Nice to see your Dad is still with you...sure he would have appreciated that!

What a great shot. Very original, difficult, and very successful. I am just amazed by the exposure and shadow detail. Thanks for posting.

Beautiful composition and detail. Well done.

The Hasselblad 60-120 zoom is superb.