Mono Lake (View Larger)

Nice conversion Leo. As always your tonal ranges are right on. I wasn't sure what we would end up wtih that afternoon. I really like the tones in the lake and the clouds are perfect going from dark to light across the shot. Kudos...Lefty

I have been to Mono Lake six times and I have yet to come away with an

image that I have been happy with. It is not the easy place to

photograph and the images that I have seen which "knock my socks off"

have been blessed with something unusual, like snow or a dynamite sky.

I journeyed there in July of 2008 with my good friends Chris Harris

and Ray Banfield.We decided on an afternoon shoot hoping for a good

sunset but we were greeted with heavy outcast and light rain. We all

walked away hoping maybe we had something but we were pretty sure we

didn't. When I first reviewed my images from Mono Lake my fears were

confirmed; I didn't get anything worth while. This morning I began a

search for something to process and when I opened the Mono lake

folder, this image caught my eye. Mind you the RAW file, which I will

include, was quite flat but the sky and water showed promise. I

started with an overall curves layer to set the feel of the image

which I envisioned darker dusk type. I next made a another curves

layer for the sky, which I adjust to get the most separation of the

sky and give the feeling of the approaching storm. Because the sky

still wasn't where I wanted it to go I duplicated that sky curves

layer and changed the blending mode to Multiply. Multiply will really

bring out the dark values while leaving the high values alone. The

effect was way too much but I merely reduced the opacity of the layer

and achieved a sky that I was happy with. I made similar curve layers

for the water, tufu island and the shoreline. With each section having

it's own curve layer I was able to tweak them without affecting any

other part of the image. A final overall curves layer allows you to

blend the separate layers together. I then merged all visible layers

so that I could use the new CS4 Burn and Dodge tools. Before CS4 these

tools were of little use but not so anymore. I lighten some areas of

the sky while darken some others. I also lighten the water reflections

to draw more attention to them. I also lightened a little of the

shoreline to make it glow just a bit. The final step was to add

Ektalure Cream toning. I also made a separate image with selenium as I

was unsure as to which would best serve this image. I will attached

the selenium toned for your review. I would be curious to see which

you find more effective.

Original Raw

This is the selenium toned version. Which do you prefer?

The Ektalure cream toned version by far! Super work all the way around. The composition and layers is the kicker for me! Cheers! Chris

Thanks for the heads up on E-mail so I came back to read and look again. What I wouldn't give to come out and spend just a week with you learning some of the cool stuff you know. Sure you don't want to leave Florida? Just kiddin. Anyhow I agree with Chris on the Ektalure cream. You very detailed explanation is pure Leo! Which is why your such an asset to Photo.net. LION, YOU ROCK!!

Is color okay? One never knows these days.

 

 

Thanks Amigos, without my two buddies there would be no comments at all. I'll be sending your $ 20 in the mail today!

I just meant don't give up on Mono Lake. It can be magical...right time of day and some luck, you know.

Your images aren't exactly anything to sneeze at and not that I'm 'the judge'. Also loved your Joshua Tree portfolio.

The color comment was just my defense mechanism built up over years of encountering every sort of art/photography snob there is; some still don't approve of PS, others filters, digital cameras or even color.

I'm headed for Death Valley Monday for my first visit and your images are most inspiring.

 

All the best!

Your images of Mono Lake are very good but I don't think that using my image as a jump to your work was a very tasteful move. Would you appreciate me during that to you?

Magnificent image , you are a perfectionist man Leo .

Regards Sadegh

Hi Leo. Very nice b&w. I do prefer the Ektalure cream also. I don't know if my eyes or my monitor are going bad , you intended this, or is is simply my imagination but there is a hint of color in the distant mountains that I like very much. Cheers, J

What an amazing conversion job you've done here! You've have got so much out of this image: I am stunned.

Now, if only I could do this!

 

Great work, and a lovely image!

 

Cheers

 

Rob

 

Very good conversion. Congrats.

Like the lighting, contrast, tones, dramatic sky... Very Well Composed... Beautiful B&W Landscape!!! Well Done!

Every once in a while, when I have some spare time, I log onto photo.net just to gaze at your wonderful photographs. One of the things I most admire is your exceptional monochrome processing of your digital images. I so appreciate your detailed info on your technique but am confused about one thing. You mention "Ektalure cream" toning. I would dearly love to learn how you achieve this tone outside of a darkroom. Would you be willing to share this technique?

 

Thanks, Suzanne

 

sleec@earthlink.net

 

http://sleecphotos.aminus3.com/

Thanks for your encouraging words. I have e mailed you the formula but for anyone else that is interested:

 

Shadows Levels 2,0,-4

Midtone Levels 2,0,-4

Highlight Levels 5,0,-8

With Preserve Luminosity checked

 

Adjusting the opacity of this layer allows you to customize the results.