DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
This image is not a part of any challenge.
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Day 13: Sunset
Day 13: Sunset
cgino


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Nikon
Location: Lemitar, New Mexico
Date: Oct 13, 2007
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/250
Galleries: Sky, Landscape
Date Uploaded: Oct 14, 2007

Viewed: 518
Comments: 15
Favorites: 0

 This is the first time in weeks I've gone out to catch the sunset. It wasn't the best I've seen, but pretty nice. I go to this place because it is the closest place to my home (about 2 miles away) that has an unobstructed view of the western horizon. I know that empty fields are boring to most folks, but to me the focus is the sky anyway so I personally don't require buildings or people or that lone tree (in other words a subject) in my sunrise and sunset images. Actually, I'm doing pretty darn good to get a dirt road in as a subject :-)

PP:
Combine 3 images in Photomatix, save as 8 bit jpeg
- duplicate background layer, apply NeatImage
- use clone tool to clone out telephone pole and wires and to repair serious red fringe on horizon due to chromatic aberration
- duplicate this layer, apply LucisArts Whyeth at 15%; layer opacity set to 32%; mask out areas of sky without clouds (whyeth can make skies look pretty funky!)
- hue/sat layer to pump up cyan saturation
- hue/sat layer to pump up yellow/orange saturation
- levels layer to adjust contrast, slightly mask land
- color adjustment layer to add red and yellow for warmer tones, then mask out sky
- new layer at soft light blending mode to 'burn' sides of road and 'dodge' center of road using very low opacity (15% or so) soft brush in white (dodge) and black (burn)
- new layer in overlay blending mode, paint gold on road center and gold bushes, then some green on green bushes; set layer opacity to 32%
- this is where I save the file as a .psd
- resize
- flatten
- duplicate background layer, apply unsharp mask at radius .7, amount 78, then erase those portions I don't want so sharpened (like clear sky, horizon lines)
- save for web

And by the way, if I don't list a layer opacity for a layer that just means it is 100% :-)


Original 3 images and resulting HDR:

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 10/25/2007 01:21:07 PM
WoW! How pretty is that!?!? I could sit & enjoy that view for hours, absolutely beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 09:42:14 PM
OhMY!!!!! Wow! What else can I say. I wish I could give it a 10!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2007 12:32:33 PM
You are quite the master of HDR & sunsets! Thanks for sharing your workflow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:48:26 PM
Really lovely. I love those "buttermilk clouds."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:53:31 AM
Welcome back I was missing your cat shots ;) What a way to come back with a stunner like this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:53:47 AM
Colleen - absolutely stunning! I love how the golden light is on the road, and the clouds are breath taking. Thanks for listing your workflow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 08:54:47 PM
Great light everywhere here! I especially like the sky! You have done a nice job here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 05:47:47 PM
Colleen, this is beautiful! I just love all of your sky shots. I think it's a little unfair, though, because almost every day I've spent in New Mexico I've been treated to beautiful sunsets!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 05:25:50 PM
It's a really pretty sunset. It's worthwhile going out so far to take such a shot - and there are no power lines, too! ;-Þ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 04:45:15 PM
This is breath-taking - what a beautiful picture! Not much more to say than that! Great job with the post-processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 03:31:59 PM
What a gorgeous sky and photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 03:09:25 PM
Beautiful sunset! Wonderul work using HDR as it looks natural, unlike some I've seen. I'm gonna have to learn how to do this one day. :) The colors in this are amazing as is the lovely warm light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 02:10:39 PM
What, no kitties? ;) This is resplendent! Thanks for the very thoroughly detailed pp steps. This would definitely be a ribbon contender in the right challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 01:36:04 PM
I think the road serves this well as it echoes the lines in the sky (which are awesome). Thanks for including the processing steps! I'm assuming the new layer in overlay blending mode is handled the same a the soft light, using white and black brushes? I haven't tried that trick - good thing to know!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 01:32:30 PM
Great sky and nothing boring about it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/11/2025 11:23:28 AM EDT.