Bright Ideas (Larger View Available)

When I took this photo I remember thinking to myself " I am going to

have problems with the bright sunlight" I tried a few different settings

and was about to give up, and I thought "to hell with it I like the light

as it is" When I came to processing the image, I wasn't keen on the

colour version and I couldn't get a B & W version looking anywhere

near right. However my wonderful wife just bought me Nik Silver

Efex Pro 2 and after playing around with it, this is the result. I would

appreciate any comments particuarly regarding the light and

processing. Thank You.

Alf,  It must have been a very still day to have so clear a reflection.  I like the composition with the clear water and rocks in the foreground.  I can see where the brightness was difficult to  deal with, but you have a good range of bright flowing to dark and it pleases my eye.

Alf, amazing landscape, nice view and sharp scene, love the reflection of the mountains there, i am always willing to wait for better condition when strong light is present or i play with grad filters trying to darken the area i want to... i was in this kind of situations my self, it is pain, when image is not right cus of bright areas, well grad filters or post processing can help but not always... all the best!

A superb B&W Alf! Love the fine detail you captured, and the excellent range of tones. The reflection is outstanding. There's a few hot areas in the left upper quadrant, but nothing outrageous. You're really going to enjoy Silver Efex! Excellent work guy!

All the best,
Neil

You always have something different.  Nice scene in B/W.  Nice contract and DOF.  Sharp.  Best Regards,

Hmmm, an interesting compositional challenge you have here.  The bright corner is totally natural and is something we would expect to see if there, so I don't have any issues with it as is.  What does cause my eye to wander a tad is the progression from bright frame left to the darker center and then the few bright objects on the right.  I can't decide what to look at, it's almost like two different pictures - mentally divide the frame in the center and you'll have two great shots; or how about a slightly tighter crop (example attached since I'm better with visual examples).

 

Regardless of crop and/or composition this is really excellent work and I look forward to more of your superb detail mixed with the Silver Efex conversion....  Mike

Worth your efforts - excellent conversion and composition, well defined details, very moody.

see it shine.

 

pretty cool.  perhaps a little darker?  best, j

You owe your wife a print -- silver efex is great, IMO.

 

I think Mike has made an excellent point and offered a good solution.  I, too, don't like to be high-centered between two light portions, and a one-way gradation from light to dark seems to work a lot better.  I like the wildness in the clouds about the peaks -- it's a great scene.

A really beautiful result with impressive lighting, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful b/w scene with excellent composition & reflection.  Take care, Patsy

Excellent processing but the photo lacks dynamic and lines that guide the eye. The left half of the photo has potential to get an outstanding picture. Karl

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated!

There wasn't a breadth of wind that particular morning and the sun climbed quickly in the sky burning off the last of the mist as it did. Whilst the bright area was going to cause problems, I also knew it was going to provide interest in the lines and reflections.

Cheers Dominick!

 

Alf

 

SLAVOMIR

I know what you mean about the ND grads and normally I would try and use one myself, but the 14 - 24mm doesn't readily accept filters, and I did quite like the bright aspect. I used to be of the opinion that any blown highlights were unacceptable, but I have come to accept that an element of brightness, looks ok, and in some cases more than ok, it actually adds to the drama of a scene, which is what I was hoping for here : - )

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Slavomir.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

NEIL

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated!

This Silver Efex is really something! I love what it can do.  I've started thinking in B & W now!

The hotspots are something I knew woud be a consequence of taking the shot, but I thought it worth the trade off.

Cheers Neil

 

Alf

 

WANGHAN

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.

Its difficult to come up with something "different" in a world where nearly everything has already been photographed numerous times, but sometimes the time of day or night can make that difference.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful consideration and feedback, much appreciated!

I can see what you mean about the Light / Dark / Light gradation, and how that kind of pulls the eyes side to side, and I do like your crop too, and the way you have kept the shape by cropping a bit of sky and foreground.  You have used 2/3 approx of the horizontal width, and I have noted with interest that Karl has used about a third in his very good crop, I suppose there is only one more possibility and thats a square crop, or as you suggested a 50 / 50 split down the middle, but the feedback is great, it opens up idea's and possibilities.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

VLAD

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, much appreciated!  The Silver Efex software was very useful for revealing details and adding depth to the image.

Best Regards

 

Alf.

 

JAMIE

 

"Glisten" is a great adjective to describe that heat shimmer.  I may have made it a little lighter than originally intended, but I have found that angle of view can make a huge difference, particularly on lap tops where it is infinitily variable due to the lid being the screen.

Many Thanks Jamie, always good to get your imput!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

STEPHEN

 

I think I might owe her a bit more than that Stephen but I'm hesitant to put anything in writing that she can use in evidence : - )

But, yes Silver Efex is a complete revelation to me, it brings some incredibly useful tools to the B & W processing table.

I agree with mike and yourself about that light portion to the right, it doesn't make for smooth viewing, and Mikes alternative suggestion is a good one.  But I have to say that Karls is too, and maybe a 50% crop is another possibility.

Sincere thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Stephen, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Many Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. It was the lighting that made this one stand out I think.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Thank you for your interest and kind words, much appreciated.

I was fortunate to find this place so calm, it is high up amongst the peaks and consequently is nearly always windy.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

KARL

I recognised the potential of the image with the bright aspect and the reflected bright areas, but I sought to balance it with the darker area to the right. After viewing your crop, I think I would have been better with a portrait orientation, I have to say  it does look good!

Many Thanks for taking the time to provide me with the excellent feedback.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely image, Alf. It has something of the quality of prints you see in older books with rich dark grays.

Regards, Tibi

Alf: Great scene and a very good capture. I decided not to read the comments before coming to a conclusion. And to be honest, the upper left was a bit too hot for me but overall this is a very fine image. I might have bracketed down  so I would have options back at the computer. I have my D300 picture control set at "Neutral' and that seems to give me a slight edge with dynamic range in RAW. Perhaps the same will be true with your D700.

 

I read all of the comments and mods and that is always an enjoyable and enlightening experience. In summary, I would have liked to have seen that upper left area just a tad darker but I am glad you shared the image 'as is'.

Good luck with your new software.

 

Hi Alf,

Believe me, you are going to enjoy very much Silver Efex Pro as soon as you get familiar with it.

As other said as well the upper left could be a bit darker.  Id doesn't bother since you may want to go from upper left-light to dark down-right, pointing out the direction of the light and dramatize your icon a bit further.

What I would like to see is a version with less contrast (I think), so the line of the real thing and reflection is more clear to my eye.  As I see it is a bit unclear to me.  As for the inclusion of the stones, it'as a matter of personal taste.  Doesn't excite me but doesn't bother me as well.

Great effort overall!  Cheers!

I too like the tonality but the reflection and the composition impacts me more. Great impact b&w landscape, Alf. Well done.

the b&w is very nice...it has a good tonal range...the overall picture has a nice mood to it...regards....David

I know just what you mean about greys of the old book illustrations, it wasn't something I was consciously aiming for, but your words brought a smile of pleasure when I read them.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

TONY

Sincere Thanks for taking time out to ponder this one, much appreciated!

I have to be honest also Tony, for some time I too would have considered a scene like this "too hot" and maybe on balance it is. But I have read a little bit about B & W photography and the way the human eye reacts to an image without any colour.  The next thing that attracts the human eye after colour is light, and the brighter the light the stronger the attraction. Now I might have read a lot of old codswallop, but it seemed to make some kind of sense, and thats why I chose this image to post, and see the reactions. A bit mixed so far but nonetheless interesting and mostly positive.

 

I also have the D700 set to "neutral" and I would strongly agree with your findings relating to the dynamic range.

I know you were considering the D800 at one stage and wonder if that is something you are still considering? as I now am thinking about upgrading too.

The Silver Efex software made a huge difference to this image, by adding a great deal of depth and detail. I think it was worth every penny that my wife paid for it : - )

Cheers Tony!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PANAYOTIS

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments!

I am enjoying experimenting with the Silver Efex software it does seem to offer some excellent effects and solutions to the B & W photographer.

I'm not sure if more or less contrast would result in a more defined water line division between actual and reflection.  But it seems fairly clear in the larger view. Maybe it would be more distinguishable with a darker shading of the reflection.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

LESTER

Sincere Thanks for your interest and posiitve feedback.

The place isn't known for having calm waters so I was fortunate in catching it in this state. I went back there recently and it was almost impossible to get a shot with decent reflections.

Cheers Lester!

 

Alf

 

DAVID

 

Many thanks for your interest and kind words.

I am glad the tonal range appeals to you, it is early days with my new software, so the feedback is most helpful.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great reflections. The bright spot is not a problem - as you say totally natural! Love the different textures. The silver efex pro worked really well. I have it also, but I forget about it - must try to use it more often. Pat.

Hi Alf- That is a pretty wide tonal range you are working with but you have to be pleased with the shaded side of the image. Your new software certainly provides great sharpness & detail, the detail in the tiny pebbles is great.,The landscape in the foreground ? Is it salt , surely it is not ice. Cripes, see you have uncovered another old face, you should start a collection, probably have to reinforce your walls, but think what a great conversation piece they would provide. Best Regards-Ross

I took another look at this with the larger view...it really comes to life that large...regards....David

I'm really pleased with results of Siver Efex. I really struggled to process this image in colour, and couldn't get any sense of depth at all. The same job with silver efex took seconds to achieve. You really need to have a play with it Pat, it adds another option to your processing that can make all the difference.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

ROSS

 

It was a challenge to even get a shot that was acceptable on that particular morning shooting straight towards the sun, but I loved the illuminated patterns and reflections, and consequently made the shot knowing there was some hot spots. After an initial attempt at processing in colour, the images were laid to rest on my hard drive, until the arrival of Silver Efex.......well the rest is history but suffice to say I'm very pleased with the software.

The foreground rocks are limestone illuminated by the sun on the left, and the submerged gravel and fine sand is the results of the movement of the glacier that once resided here.

I guess there are hundreds of old faces that can be seen amongst the rocky features of this ancient place, but its strange that they only become apparent in a photograph.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful comments and positive feedback Ross

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVID

 

Many Thanks for taking a second look! 

Like most of my images, it was processed and optimised for the larger format.  So its gratifying to know you enjoyed seeing it like that.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

Although I confess I haven't read all of the comments, I do think the crops by both Mike and Karl are valid ones.  They definitely work.  But at the same time I really don't mind the bright places on the right of the image.  I think they serve to balance out the image, particularly against the bright light in the upper left.  There is a lot to digest in this image, but I think it's a wonderful depiction of Mother Nature, and for me the more I can see of this image, the better.  Just my 2 cents.  Considering the lighting conditions and your description of your unsuccessful efforts to make this a decent B&W with the other software, I'd say the Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 program was a great purchase (or gift).  I'm going to look into it myself.  Do you know if it's compatible with Elements 10? 

Many Thanks for your "2 cents" I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.

I think this image can work on lots of different levels depending on taste, but I do like Karls version because it was a brave crop, something I wouldn't have done, and something I wouldn't have thought would work, yet it does surprisingly well! I like Mikes also, but that was more predictable and in line with what I thought myself.

Silver Efex certainly opens up new possibiltities with B & W processing, and adds depth and definttion to images that I had otherwise wrote off.

I know its compatible with Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 - CS5 but its not listed as being compatible with Elements.

Best Regards

 

Alf