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Bleak November
Bleak November
Bear_Music


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: HDR (Advanced Editing V*)
Collection: Challenges
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Location: Harwich Port, MA, USA
Date: Nov 12, 2006
Aperture: f/11
ISO: 200
Shutter: N/A
Galleries: Landscape, High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Date Uploaded: Nov 12, 2006

 HDRI in Photomatix Pro from 4 exposures, merged and tone mapped, exported to PS7 as a 16-bit TIFF

"correct" sky exposure loaded up, copied, pasted as an overlay in "lighten" mode to cut down on sky density, faded to suit.

Empty overlay mask layer created, black gradient laid down and faded in foreground to burn foreground, local dodging and burning on leaves lower right and log.

Hue/Sat and Color balance used to bring up the blue, red, and yellow and balance them, subtle differences.

All layers merged, Gothic Glow version created, overlaid on merged composite and faded to 40%.

All layers merged again, copy BG layer, USM on the copy to crisp up the glow.

Resize, USM to finalize sharpness, border, save for web. WAY too much detail in this for 150 Kb, had to save at quality 60 :-(

Entire process took about 15 minutes. We have a heavily overcast day, threatening rain, and it's not the ideal time for HDRI work, so I sought out a location that was backlit and had lots of foreground dynamics. We'll see how it goes :-)

Statistics
Place: 20 out of 84
Avg (all users): 6.5387
Avg (commenters): 8.0625
Avg (participants): 6.2955
Avg (non-participants): 6.5810
Views since voting: 2773
Views during voting: 691
Votes: 297
Comments: 27
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/08/2009 04:16:50 PM
I was looking through the first HDR challenge, and came across this beauty. You are still the master. I think this was the best in the challenge. I found it quite interesting to read how you had taken the proper sky exposure and applied it manually. Thanks for sharing your steps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2007 04:31:13 AM
beautiful, beautiful...so autumn, I can smell the leaves & hear the snap of foliage underfoot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/30/2007 02:18:49 PM
Wow, such gorgeous colours :)
I knew your name would have to be in the top 20 for this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 09:46:33 AM
I really do like this photo, congrats on your high finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 01:03:28 AM
Robert, your ability with PP is as impressive as your ability with the camera itself.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 05:48:43 AM
Wow! The perfect study in HDR! And thank you so much for sharing exactly how you did it! I'm so inspired to practice this technique and see if I could ever in a million years achieve photos with this depth of colors and light!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 05:25:43 AM
Great finish, Robert! Lovely image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 03:01:29 AM
Wo! Love the details of the leaves through the water in front. Good one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 09:18:50 PM
Nice job, bear! Congrats on a great image, score and finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 08:17:34 PM
Lovely study Robert that remains in the real world without excessive sharpenning and ultra color shits. i love it. Congratulations on your top 20 finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 07:46:24 PM
Wonderful fall colors. Man, too bad you didn't have some light rain to add to the bleakness.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/19/2006 11:45:20 AM
great shot; use of color excellent
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2006 11:56:36 AM
love the colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2006 01:37:31 PM
Great Color
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2006 12:05:48 PM
I like the composition and crop of this shot It has vivid true colour and great DOF. The sky is very dramatic. great photo 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2006 06:50:26 AM
good shot but not an interesting enough subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 09:19:21 PM
Bleak, yet you managed to capture both bleak and vibrant beauty. A photo that does this well, as yours does, is truly an amazing image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 05:14:27 PM
Definate Ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 04:01:16 PM
Nice contrast with the gloomy skies and the colorful leaves. Interesting composition and crop.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 11:42:05 AM
great image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 09:48:41 AM
Use of Light:1
Focus:2
Composition:2
Creativity:1
Achieves Challenge:2

Nice effort on this HDR challenge. I love the oak leaves in the foreground. I can see the whole image - darker areas are well illuminated and the sky (although not a beautiful one!) shows off well without being blown out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 09:23:18 AM
10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 08:29:15 AM
I scored this a 7. I love the colors, the detail. HOwever wider shot to include more of the tree and the foreground would have scored this higher from me. I am left wondering what is up at the top of that tree. A little more detail in the shadows would be nice if possible. Overall well shot and meets the challenge well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 03:07:00 AM
nice colors and subject
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 02:37:10 AM
I like the foreground leaves and their splash of color contrasted with the grey tones. The tree seems too centered and the bush breaks up the leading line of the fallen tree. It would have been nice to see on past the midground elements to the water and beyond. Just my .02. Good job with the HDR.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2006 02:06:12 AM
perfect for HDR
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/12/2006 07:18:08 PM
the foreground is stunning...well done 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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