Winter sunrise #399

Probably best (for me) of the "frost on trees" series. Are you using any filters (e.g. gradient neutrals) for scenes like this, or do you rely on post processing ?

I used a Lee Filter graduated ND filter over a Lee Little Stopper for a longer exposure to blur the water. I use LR/PS and have the NIK plug in. I bring the photos into LR where I straighten the horizon and maybe use the dehaze feature. I export to PS where I crop, get rid of dust spots etc. I then use the NIK plug in often using the ND graduated filter, glamour glow to changed the white balance, polarizing filter if required, silver effex to convert to BW and then vivenza to add or subtract contrast/brightness, saturation. It sounds like work but I usually spend about ten minutes max on an image. I will go back to an image weeks or months later if I discover some way to improve an image. It is extremely fun and therapeutic to mess around with an image I like. Of course, it works much better if the original image is properly exposed and bathed in good light.

Thank you for (almost exhausting) information about proto processing. I use similar method (HiTech filters and processing in specialized RAW developer, often using film simulation - my choose of tools is a bit limited, because I use Linux as a working environment). I'm not a professional - it's just a hobby and "excuse" for time spent on location during vacation (Scotland usually in my case) and many hours spent in front of computer processing images (often several years after return).

As I know from long time this kind of your subject in an excellent winter scene is more than delightful,shapes,colors,light all look so good,compliments.

Very good depth! Masterful lighting in the field and on the computer. I wonder how it would change if the center depth subject, wasn't so centered?