Approaching storm at sunset

[Jerry van Dijk]

From my recent trip to Danmark. We got some pretty nice cloud formations, which made for great sunset photos. I was hoping for a clean sunset to photograph, when a storm came rolling in from the east, giving some spectacular colors in the sky.

3 image HDR, with exposures 1 stop apart.
D7000, Nikkor 16-85 @ 16mm, handheld (high speed continuous + bracket mode), ISO-800, f/14, 1/13.
Photomatix Pro, ACR, CS5.

[Diane Miller]

Lovely subtlety, with the slightly menacing darker clouds on top contributing interest. You framed a very inviting path through the grasses to the beach.

I wonder what an alternative interpretation would be like with the darker tones lightened just a little, with some contrast added.

[dankearl]

Beautiful dramatic sky and a very nice HDR photo.
It does not have the "HDR" over processing look at all.
I also think the FG could go a bit lighter.

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks Diane and Dan! My original processing had a brighter FG but I didn't like the contrast it made with the ominous sky. I'll work on an "in between" version!

[Judy Howle]

Very nice scene, sky and processing. A bit lighter foreground would work for me too.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Jerry, I like the darkness this has. I think the darker foreground works well with the dark storm clouds. THe HDR is nicely done and not overly processed.

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks everyone! Here's a reworked version in which I slightly opened up the shadows in the FG. Brightening up further created an unnatural contrast between FG and the sky.

[Diane Miller]

A subtle change but just about right, for me. It lets me step into the FG more easily in this lovely and quietly moody image.