A Different Orton effect

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, folks. Here's another one of the images I've been playing around with using my modified Orton effect. This was the lightest frame from an in camera HDR image that I took at the Bosque del Apache in November. I took a duplicate copy and changed the clarity to -100 in LR then layered it onto the lightest image which I had done a Gaussian blur on and then I blended with Multiply. I removed a power pole that was in the middle of the image also.

[Dennis Bishop]

This is really special. You caught it at the right time with the light, and I think that contributes a lot to the great feeling of depth. The composition is right on. I like that the orange reaches from the foreground into the sky and ties the whole image together. I'm really intrigued by the sky. On its own, I wouldn't get excited by it, but it's wonderful as an element of the image. The glow at the horizon is beautiful, and the colors of the sky harmonize very well with the foreground.

Every once in a while, I've moved the Photoshop clarity slider all the way left. Although I've never left it there, I have an idea of the change it produces. Was the Gaussian blur you applied to the other layer fairly mild?

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Dennis I've been using about 44 for Gaussian blur on these ortons without clarity but on this one I think I used 22. Sometimes I lose track of what I've done because each one seems to need something a little different.

[Dennis Bishop]

Thanks, Dennis I've been using about 44 for Gaussian blur on these ortons without clarity but on this one I think I used 22. Sometimes I lose track of what I've done because each one seems to need something a little different.

Thanks, Cheryl. I kept reading what you did and looking at the image and wondered how you got such a nice amount of detail with the a de-claritied and a blurred layer. I'm going to give it a try to see what happens.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, you are right - I had two images that I had worked on - one with no gaussian blur on the overexposed image (which is the one I incorrectly attached) and one with about 20 GB (which I'll attach now since it is supposed to be the OP). Sorry, Brain Fog of the Gaussian type

[Judy Howle]

The colors are beautiful and the composition is perfect. I like both of them!

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Cheryl, as they say "ya gotta love Bosque". The repost is definitely the right stuff! I might crop from the bottom to lose the road. Love the sky and the light on the mountains, a magical time at the refuge.

[Paul Lagasi]

I am still trying to understand how you did it, lovely result though. Looks like sun is just setting. Very nice

[Anita Bower]

Love the feel of this image. The soft colors and light are perfect. The stronger light on the mountains move my eye into the image. I prefer the OP--lighter colors, more detail. I love it!

[Mitch Carucci]

Cheryl,

Very nice effect. When I get some time, I have to try this. If I can get it to work, I'll have to give you credit. Always nice to learn a new technique.

M.C.