I've passed by this lake many times, but never stopped to take a picture of it. Despite my sense of self-preservation, I skirted a chainlink fence designed to keep klutzy people like me from tumbling down a mountainside to their imminent death. (But the fence was in the way of the shot!) Almost one year later I came back and took the exact same shot. The red tree in the corner was grey and dead, and I have to say, the photo just didn't have the same impact.
Hi Becky - I'll confess that I don't know how it is supposed to be done. Before I tell you how I edited this, let me point you to a couple pages that have various approaches, some requiring shooting two images and putting them in register before you proceed. Usefilm won't allow posting some links but google for "nd filter photoshop" and you'll get a number of good hits.
My approach was to add a layer and add a gradient fill in photoshop (PSP has this too if that is your software), then blend the two with "soft light". It may be that it enhances the saturation as well as the intensity...
Another version would be make a copy of the image, adjust the levels (or use a registered image exposed for the sky), add an alpha mask and then blend those images.
Hi Becky - I'll confess that I don't know how it is supposed to be done. Before I tell you how I edited this, let me point you to a couple pages that have various approaches, some requiring shooting two images and putting them in register before you proceed: http://www.jessespeer.com/making_the_image/2004_0712_chasm/ http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital_split.shtml http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Bx72 http://www.schneider-kreuznach.com/filter_e/software_filter.htm
Thanks for all your helpful comments, everyone - as always, they are very appreciated! And yes, I'm quite in love with the scenery of my awesome province. :)
I was curious as to what people would think about the colour/brightness of the water. It actually is that dark & inky (especially with the help of a polarizer), and the fact that I took this photo at around 6 pm made the colour even darkblue-ier. I kinda like it, but I concede that I may be able to extract a little more detail out of those waters for a more interesting picture.
Stephan - you really have to tell me how to create a ND effect in PhotoShop, especially since I've never owned a gradiated ND filter and it will probably be awhile before I do! I like how it darkens the sky, although I feel the saturation of blue may be too strong. I think a 40-60 combination of the original to the ND'ed version may be a little more up my alley.
Dirck - I do like your tweaked version. It effectively gets rid of the mud remnants of the original. I have no idea why, but every photo I've ever inputted into my computer, whether a slide, print or even d/l'ed right from my camera, is various degress of muddy. It's not my monitor (because all the photos here seem fine) . . . it's a curious quandary indeed.
What a breathtaking scene, Becky! I wonder if those two trees on the right were hit by lightning? The colors in the trees seem a little flat to me - hope you don't mind my trying a 'tweaked' version? A little levels adjustment and just a soupçon of saturation. :)
Gorgeous place - the red tree is probably already dead here but it does lend a good splash of color. For drama, add an ND filter... Composition is very well balanced.
nice work...i like the red pine tree in the corner. i like the contrast between the blues (sky v water), but would be interested in seeing a shade brighter in the water...maybe better, maybe not. i'm envious of the beauty in "your backyard".
Becky, arn't you so lucky to live in such a beautiful country, especially BC. This scene is the stuff postcards are made of. I like the angle you took with the island just off center. I'm sure in slide form the contrast between the light and shade give plenty of depth. Here, I think the lake needs a touch of lightening. I bet the turquoise water around the island will really pop then. Your poor red tree :( may be dead, but here, adds that drop of red for interest :)
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{K:2743} 9/19/2005