"Jaknikker" #2

Clouds were visiting Bakersfield, California yesterday. Before then, no clouds for nearly

3 weeks. This time of year they only stop by once in a while, so I was a gracious host

and asked them if I could take their picture. Luckily, they came dressed to kill! Thanks

in advance for your visit as well!!! Please click image for the Larger view.

Great.

Thanks Ramon, pardon me but I do not know how to place the tilde over the o in your name. I blended two wide ranged exposures. I don't consider this HDR, but more like extended dynamic range. True HDR would not show any deep blacks or contrast. I have found this method works better than using grads for scenes like this, a grad filter would darken the Pump Jack above the horizon and would be obvious.

Yowsa! You had a lovely visit from the big puffy fellas overhead. Really an otherworldly shot with the starburst sun and the pumpjack creature. Might be a touch of a dip down of the horizon on the right side; but it ain't a show-stopper in any sense. Very cool post-pro, Amigo! A big 7/7 from me. Cheers! Chris

Hello Mark . Intriguing image . Well made. best regards

Beautiful photo. Great control of lights. Excellent colors, details and composition. I like this very much. Thanks for sharing. Best regards.

Excellent image, with a seductive light. Best regards. Eugenio.

Thanks Chris, Joao, Huy and Eugenio! Everything seemed to be working for this, the starburst from the small aperture below the horizon, the godbeams above the horizon, making a full star pattern to fill the left side. The challenge was to blend the two exposures without the obvious side effects and present it with a natural look. The title "Jaknikker" was provided for me by my esteemed (notorious and infamous as well) P.N. colleague Ton Mestrom. This would be the Dutch word for "Pump Jack" and essentially means "nodding yes". Thanks Ton!

Read your comments on Chris's shot at sunset the other night, that you were heading out too. You nailed this on the head with a sledgehammer. Awesome! Beautiful light and your shadow detail, wow. I can just see you setting up and patiently waiting, almost time to hit that old shutter, couple of more seconds. Now! Its in my favorite section now and a 7/7 for a beautiful capture...RAY

nice color and composition,light...perfect !