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Lake Fog at Sunrise
1st PlaceLake Fog at Sunrise
hahn23


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: HDR II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Date: Sep 13, 2009
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/8s
Galleries: Landscape, High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Date Uploaded: Sep 13, 2009

Bear Lake. Early morning fog on the mirror, as very cold air entered the region.

3 exposures (1/4s, 1/8s, 1/2s) Images captured in RAW format. Processing in Apple's Aperture. PhotoMatix plug in.

Detail Enhancer:
Strength 50
Color Saturation 74
Luminosity +8
Light Smoothing High
Microcontrast +3
White Point 0.559
Black Point 0.006
Gamma 1.00
Temp. 0
Sat. Highlights +2
Sat. Shadows +2
MicroSmooth 3
Highlights Smoothing 0
Shadows Smoothing 0
Shadows Clipping 0

Fine tuning in PSE 6.0. Resized. Conversion to sRGB.

[Sep. 16th, 2009 01:50:20 PM]

Soft grad ND filters, 0.6 & 0.9, helped on this image, in conjunction with the HDR PhotoMatix processing.

[Sep. 17th, 2009 12:55:37 PM]

Several days into the voting. My score above 8 is a mystery and a complete surprise. I'll have to try to figure this out. Very grateful for all the nice comments. I've not commented in the forums, as Bear Lake is highly associated with my home town. Silence is a good policy when I'm in this rarified air. I don't take for granted an 8+ score. It will be a personal best.

[Sep. 18th, 2009 04:37:51 AM]

As of this day, score still above 8 average. This image has the potential to beat my previous PB by 1 full point. Comments continue to cascade in. I'm very grateful for the unselfish feedback.

I should mention the importance of the ISO 100. The lack of noise in the foundation images is crucial. I also captured images at ISO 400 on this morning. HDR processing of the higher ISO was much more troublesome with regards to noise in the shadows, which is not a big surprise.

[Sep. 19th, 2009 10:28:06 AM]

Saturday. One more day of voting. The votes have slowed. My score has leveled out at 8.0650, which is very high and much appreciated. Comments continue to roll in. Thanks to everyone!

I did use the AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) feature on my camera... set to -1,0,+1 camera stops. The camera was tripod mounted, of course. Shutter release cable used. Double bubble level on the camera's hot shoe. Focus on the approximate hyperfocal distance.

[Sep. 20th, 2009 11:44:53 AM]

Last hours of voting. To my amazement, score still above 8. I'm thinking the scrub may take the 8+ away, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

My final note about this HDR image is related to the PhotoMatix upgrade which was issued during the summer of 2009. It was that upgrade which provided the tools to create a blended image with a natural look. In my opinion, this was an important leap forward.

Post voting: Thanks everyone for the amazing votes and wonderful comments. I am honored and humbled by the generous recognition.

Validation message!
from DPChallenge
to hahn23
date Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 6:07 AM
subject DPChallenge Validation

We are happy to inform you that your submission to the HDR II challenge ("Lake Fog at Sunrise") has been validated.

Your entry has been reviewed by the Site Council and/or Administrators, who have confirmed your submission.

Thank you for your continued participation in DPChallenge!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 155
Avg (all users): 8.0743
Avg (commenters): 8.7143
Avg (participants): 7.8851
Avg (non-participants): 8.2174
Views since voting: 18082
Views during voting: 639
Votes: 202
Comments: 106
Favorites: 103 (view)


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AuthorThread
05/17/2013 10:17:38 PM
Great piece of work here

cool of you to share the details
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/19/2012 12:11:09 AM
I never noticed the score. Wow. Mother Nature is impressive, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2011 12:06:53 PM
Beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/25/2009 12:17:51 PM
great work, congratz on the win ... it really reminds me on my "fantastic" :-) photo \0/
09/24/2009 07:42:57 AM
Congratulations on your blue, this image is simply stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2009 05:40:01 PM
stunningly BEAUTIFUL~~
well deserved BR for sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2009 05:23:12 PM
Beautiful shot congrats on your blue ribbon a great score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2009 04:00:22 AM
This is a very striking shot. I think you've really improved it to with the HDR too. Congrats on the awesome score, well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2009 05:56:48 PM
Excellent. Congratulations on you well deserved Blue. I love Long's Peak in the fall. Van
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2009 05:21:55 PM
How wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 10:03:57 PM
Congrats on your blue. Very nice indeed!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 07:42:41 PM
you got in the 8 club, say hi to gary & librodo for me
Many congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 07:41:43 PM
Bear_Music, the foreground luminosity is less than the sky. And, I did work to accomplish the principle, of which you speak.
09/21/2009 06:35:00 PM
Comment removed

Message edited by author 2009-09-21 23:51:36.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 05:16:19 PM
Congrats on this beautiful work. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 04:26:22 PM
Amazing work,it reminds me of the kids movie series Land before Time. Congrats on the blue, well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 03:08:57 PM
Just magnificent. In the 80's my old man bought a few oils from an Aussy outback painter named Jack Absalom whilst visiting his studio in Broken Hill (I bought a few prints). Your feather light use of HDR reminded me of some of his work. Brilliance but not overdone. WD and well deserved, despite stiff competition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 02:46:10 PM
Awesome shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:56:23 PM
They just don't get any better than this. Beautiful image, congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:26:00 PM
Congrats on the blue, the PB AND the 8! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:06:05 PM
Awesome!!! Congrats on the blue, PB and the high score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:23:19 PM
Beautiful shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:08:25 PM
Congrats. You taken some wonderful images but I think this may be your best.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 11:55:51 AM
Way to go we do live in a great state.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 11:55:41 AM
Gorgeous image Richard. I had to throw on a jacket just to look at it. I think the thing which impresses me most is how you managed to manipulate the image just enough to make it life like. Yes, thats exactly it ..... LIFE LIKE. I've been to many lakes just like this and feel the chill, smell the trees and fear the damn cold water!! ;-) Congrats on an epic win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 11:49:36 AM
HOLY COW....an 8 plus score. A HUGE congrats to you. It was my favorite image and is just stunning!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 10:30:35 AM
Beautiful image Richard!! Glad to see that a wonderful image can still get high scores!! Congrats on your stunning Win!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 10:18:34 AM
Very well deserved of this high score, you have shown the world that HDR is not what most people think and that it can be smooth and pleasing to the eye. Very well done indeed Sir
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 09:41:29 AM
Congrats! ... Amazing score! Amazing Picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 09:23:00 AM
Yayyy! No surprise here! But what an added accomplishment to get one of the very few ever 8+ scores on this site. Even the trolls didn't dare give you below a 4.

Be sure to let everyone know on the RMforums about their favorite lake getting such a prestigious award :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 08:52:26 AM
Beautifully done. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 08:51:06 AM
Congratulations, what an amazing score and photo!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 06:53:20 AM
Congratulations! Never a doubt in my mind that this would capture the blue. The 8+ doesn't surprise me, either. A superb and beautiful image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 05:33:29 AM
just beautiful congrats on the blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 05:31:51 AM
>>>
My score above 8 is a mystery and a complete surprise
<<<

What ??????? This is a wonderfully classic HDR shot of a magnificent location and executed with some considerable skill ....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 04:34:10 AM
Awesome shot. Congrats on the ribbon, well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 04:28:14 AM
Richard, this is pure magic! I'm sad now, because on our honeymoon trip to Estes Park, we missed Bear Lake. We set out to see it, but turned back after a good distance when bad weather started to set in. Thank you for filling in the blanks! ;)

Congrats on this most deserved blue and an incredible score!

Message edited by author 2009-09-21 04:28:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 03:47:18 AM
Congrats on a beautiful shot and ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 03:25:12 AM
The image is level. The left shoreline curves away to the far end of the lake and then begins to curve back very slightly.
09/21/2009 03:08:15 AM
During the voting, my daughter saw me at the computer and asked me how my picture was doing. 'Pretty good', I said, 'But there are some strong contenders out there, look at this one for example.' I showed her yours.
'Hmm,' she said.
'I think it might be ever so slightly tilted.' I said.
'No. that's an optical illusion' she replied.
'Oh' I said.
-----------------------
Congrats on the blue, an 8 and a new PB - not a bad tally.
(Also, thanks for the heads-up on the photomatix upgrade)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 03:05:50 AM
Stunning. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 02:45:31 AM
Congratulations, Richard! An absolutely stunning image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 02:40:33 AM
Congrats and beautiful image, well deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 02:23:45 AM
Stunning image. Big congratulations on the super score and the well deserved blue rbbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 02:07:22 AM
Congrats! This image is wonderful! Could you please share the low res originals? I'd like to see from where the result came.... Thanks in advance!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:53:09 AM
Breathtaking image and a fantastic score. Huge congratulations, Richard.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:35:47 AM
Way to go...that is a very nice photo. I am not surprised that you won!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 01:01:01 AM
Very nice indeed, makes me want to head up to RMNP. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:59:31 AM
Congrats for the blue. Beautiful image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:41:12 AM
Beautiful shot, congratulations (and wow, what a score!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:35:40 AM
Wow, a new personal best, and an 8+ to boot! Congratulations. I think this goes to show that many voters (including me) still prefer HDR to be understated!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:34:28 AM
This is an incredible shot. I don't give too many 10s, but I didn't even have to think about this one--it was a 10 as soon as it hit the screen (I guess 41 other people thought the same way!) Absolutely spectacular, and it's fun seeing someone get an 8+ score!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:33:51 AM
Spectacular. Congrats on the 8!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:28:16 AM
Glad to see this finished in first. Well deserved placing! Congrats on 8+!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:18:15 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved blue, and PB too!

Message edited by author 2009-09-21 00:19:31.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:15:26 AM
Big congrats for a well deserving blue and an 8+ score :)

Raj
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:14:17 AM
My fave of the challenge. Glad to see you won the blue ribbon. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:09:45 AM
Huge congrats for the well deserved blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:07:35 AM
Outstanding job! Congrats on a most deserving blue ribbon! Beautiful image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:06:45 AM
Hands down the Blue is yours Richy :)
Very well deserved Blue and 8 as well, will getchya next time :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:04:52 AM
Super Richard. Very well deserved with a super score. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:02:57 AM
So beautiful! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2009 12:02:19 AM
Incredible image, and well deserving of the blue, and a 8+ score. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/20/2009 11:58:34 PM
sweet
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/20/2009 08:50:22 PM
wonderful job....love how the light just touches the trees
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/20/2009 08:37:16 AM
Love it. How many exposures?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/20/2009 05:20:21 AM
THIS PHOTO GIVES ME A PEACEFUL FEELING..9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2009 05:15:12 PM
Beautiful shot. I gave it an 8. I would have given it a 9, but the Horizon seems tilted to me. Could be just the way the mist hangs over the water, but it's distracting to me. Nice work none the less.

Cheers,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2009 04:32:48 PM
Excellent use of the technique, perfect subject for it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2009 11:55:15 AM
very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2009 08:34:29 AM
Not voting, just stopping by to give props...WOW. I'm a sucker for snow-capped peaks, mountain lakes, and misty mornings. This is a trifecta of perfection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2009 02:42:39 AM
Lovely!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/18/2009 04:06:58 PM
oh wow, what a perfect time of day. excellent shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/18/2009 01:47:03 AM
Very nicely done. The HDR processing has given it an ethereal look without making it so garish as many of the other photos in this challenge. Incredible!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 11:13:02 PM
If the reflection wasn't enough, it's a very nice touch that of an already beautiful scenary. This would work great as "deep dof" too. Thanks for sharing... (upgrading)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 05:30:43 PM
10. Good atmosphere and love the fog on the water. This is a great example of HDR to me because it doesn't seem over the top HDR/Tonemapped. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 04:14:42 PM
Nice reflections and colors - I like how the colors are kind of muted - not too harsh. The colors on the rocks are cool too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 03:25:11 PM
I expect to see this one toward the top. The fog rising off the lake adds that extra kick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 06:08:36 AM
Beautiful shot. One of the best in this challenge -10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 12:36:11 AM
This is my pick for the red. Good Luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2009 12:23:05 AM
My favorite so far. Stunning image. 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 10:37:56 PM
Fantastic textures on mountains! real treat this photo is. The mist makes it come off like a painting. 7/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 05:18:43 PM
Incredible view. Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 02:03:57 PM
Great composition and apt timing. Fog adds great value to the image.

Raj
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 10:37:41 AM
Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 05:36:32 AM
very nice. love the dreamlike quality of this one 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2009 12:15:01 AM
This has BLUE Ribbon written all over it. If this doesn't win I'll... I'll... I'll do something crazy... but I'm not going to put too much effort into thinking what because it'll be a waste of time because this is a certainty for the blue. I can't fault it at all... it's sharp, it's interesting, the colours are beautiful, the composition is brilliant... I'm running out of superlatives... so, I guess I should bump the 9 I gave it during my voting phase to a 10! I never give 10s... well almost never, and I'm giving this a 10... and I guess it'd make sense to favourite this too. OUTSTANDING!! LOVE IT!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 09:17:09 PM
I can just feel the crispness in the air. Lovely and natural looking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 08:09:09 PM
Very picturesque! I would prefer to see a little more blacks in the hills in the distance. Without the blacks it just seems too flat and grey to me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 07:55:14 PM
A gorgeous image....10 all the way. I wish I could give you a 15....this is so lovely!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 07:35:17 PM
Amazing and beautiful image... 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 04:46:15 PM
Beautiful picture, good use of HDR, not overdone,
one of my favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 03:44:32 PM
Best I've seen so far. Outstanding!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 02:09:24 PM
I shall be rating this challenge by the following criteria:

1 - Not HDR in my opinion

3 - HDR is way over-done, in my opinion

5 - A reasonable use of HDR, but not a very engaging photo, in my opinion

7 - A reasonable use of HDR, and an engaging photo, in my opinion

10 - A fantastic use of HDR, and an out of this world photo, in my opinion

Your photo receives:

7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 07:01:31 AM
lovely ethereal image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 06:32:19 AM
This is conceivably the best example of HDR I've ever seen. Exquisite....10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 04:48:17 AM
This should Rib, I'd say Top 3 '' if you survived me :P '' Just kidding, it is amazing and can't think of anything that would improve it, top of the line photography, the one that you'd love to hand on your wall, even then, it would still look too good to be true, very well done, 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 02:35:48 AM
This is stunning. Clearly a top 5 image. Somewhat restrained use of HDR which I like. To nit pick the processing, I wonder what could be done with the trees top left that are back lit. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2009 12:40:05 AM
This is a nice picture. Just the right amount of processing. Great work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 07:44:28 PM
wow... amazing.... not sure I love the rock in the immediate foreground but that would depend on who you ask I think... and it also can add to it if you do like it or maybe was impossible to get shot without it from where you were - anyway, think you may win this thing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 02:22:55 PM
Richard, I saw this on the forums, so I won't be voting on it, but I have to say, from what I've seen, if this doesn't win a ribbon, you will have been totally robbed! I don't think that lake has ever looked more breathtaking! Bravo!!! . . . .

. . . . I'm back after just having finished voting. Yep! This one most DEFINITELY deserves blue! I love how it is so elegantly NOT overdone, yet each tone and color is exquisitely separate and beautiful! This needs to be the HDR poster photo! Maybe you can teach some of the others how to do it :)

Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 09:44:56 AM
Ten- magnificent !!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 07:56:34 AM
Very well done. Good HDR subject and not overly processed. Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 06:46:12 AM
great image (looks slightly tilted)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 01:01:24 AM
Stunning. We should all be so lucky to see such beauty.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2009 12:37:20 AM
very nice!8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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