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Morkel Erasmus
08-01-2009, 09:52 AM
This is another take on my previous silhouetted image of the quiver trees at the Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa (see thread http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=39309).

This time I created a 3-exposure HDR image with Photomatix, to see what the effect would be on the foreground. The sun was just about to rise behind the horizon.

Your feedback will be much appreciated!

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 18-55mm IS @ 20mm
f8.0 @ 1/400 SS @ ISO 400 (exp bias -1)
HANDHELD

Dave Mills
08-01-2009, 01:17 PM
Morkel, Very pretty image! Good eye and interesting comp. I like the way the leaning tree seems to pointing in the direction of the rear tree. The rising sun is not overbearing and is creating neat hues of color. Not sure exactly how I feel about the glow around the foreground tree. Strong image!

Morkel Erasmus
08-01-2009, 01:29 PM
thanks Dave. I tried to process so the glow around the front tree is minimized - it came out that way with Photomatix. I'll see what I can churn up using manual blending but I quite like the textures achieved here.

Rene Quenneville
08-01-2009, 09:05 PM
Nice comp.
The HDR is pushed a little too much to my taste, making the image unreal. This is only my personnal opinion.

Morkel Erasmus
08-02-2009, 05:15 AM
thanks Renee. I know some people won't like this. but I want to get the feedback anyways :)
my idea with this rework is to create a sort of dreamy, fantasy comp.

Roman Kurywczak
08-02-2009, 12:19 PM
Hi Morkel,
I do agree with Rene that the tonemapping was pushed but as a dreamlike presentation......I do find it appealing. I generally prefer the natural looking ones.....but in this versions the colors and textures seem to work together. even the glow, which I normally dislike, adds to the dreamlike quality. It will be interesting to compare to the manual blend.

Arthur Morris
08-02-2009, 04:43 PM
Unreal but I love it. The colors and the glow are the bomb, and so is the COMP. I like a man who gets out early! Way to go Mork-o-rama!

Morkel Erasmus
08-02-2009, 05:06 PM
thanks Roman & Artie! :)

will work on a natural blend sometime this week...

Jack Graham
08-02-2009, 05:12 PM
Morkel,
Very surreal.... but I like it for what it is.JG

JB Ellis
08-02-2009, 09:22 PM
It looks more like a painting than a photograph, but that doesn't make me like it any less. I like abstract photography a lot and I wish it were mine.

Morkel Erasmus
08-03-2009, 12:50 AM
thanks for the comments Jack & JB :)

Billy Steenkamp
08-05-2009, 05:13 AM
The comp and colours enhances this image for me with the detail in the quivers just adding to the overall picture..with Dave on the glow, know the place well ...so 10/10 for something different.

Morkel Erasmus
08-05-2009, 07:19 AM
thank you Billy...