Calm Lake Erie Day

[Dennis Bishop]

This is a view from the south shore of Lake Erie in Lakeside, Ohio. The small vertical feature in the upper left is the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island.

9-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals
Nikon D3s, f/22, ISO 2500, zoom lens at 110 mm (no polarizer)

processing

• tone mapping in Photomatix for a good histogram
• The original sky was close to this in color but cloudless. It was ReMasked away and replaced with one consisting of three layers: the first filled with the color of the original sky, then a portion of Flypaper Texture's Sunflower Sky (stretched horizontally and compressed vertically) at Screen blend mode and reduced opacity, last a stamped copy of those two layers at Multiply blend mode and reduced opacity.
• Topaz Simplify -- a preset based on BuzSim but with less saturation (very similar to the new Watercolor II preset in Simplify 4, I think)
• a B&W Fractalius preset based on Sketch at Multiply Blend mode and reduced opacity
• a B&W Alien Skin Snap Art Stylize Line Art preset at Multiply Blend mode and reduced opacity
• Nik Color Efex -- Tonal Contrast and Darken/Lighten Center
• gradient vignette

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, this is such a pleasing image to look at. I particularly like the lighting/reflected light on the kayaks and the soft colors. Beautifully done

[Mitch Carucci]

You're complex processing really worked here. I don't know how to describe it, but there is a wonderful watery softness. Everything flows and works together. Result - A great image!

[denise ippolito]

Dennis, The soft color tones are lovely. The composition has a lot of interest and I love the light on the boats!

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Dennis, I really like the treatment and the comp as well.

[Paul Lagasi]

Very nice composition, thanks for the detail on processing...well done
My only nit would be it seems like it needs a wee bit of CCW rotation but maybe its just my warped vision...

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . My only nit would be it seems like it needs a wee bit of CCW rotation but maybe its just my warped vision...

You might be right about that, Paul. I almost always use a spirit level and probably did, here. However, the diameter of the bubble is smaller than the markings on the barrel, so it could've been off a bit. There's no assurance that the rack is level, but it would've been a good idea to make it look that way. Thanks.

[Maureen Allen]

Lovely dreamy soft feel to this. Quite a different perspective, which I really like. I think if it were mine, I might darken the water above the boats just a tiny bit and I agree about the rotation - both issues are minor. Overall, a very nicely presented and unique image Dennis!

[Nancy Bell]

This has a beautiful lazy hazy summer day quality! Beautiful colors on the kayaks. Very well put together.

[Judy Howle]

You did a great job with the sky and filters. I love the soft colors and sketch effect from Fractalius and the play of light on the kayaks.