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Thread: Misty Morning Stream (HDR)

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Misty Morning Stream (HDR)

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    This is another image in my pursuit of getting to know HDR.

    I created this close to my home. Our town is situated in the flattest, dullest region of South Africa, and even in places you can imagine a nice composition, there is always a power plant, pylon or smoke stack somewhere in your view. This stream was the most interesting composition I could find last Saturday on a cold and misty morning. I haven't experimented much with getting water flow smooth, so I decided to do an HDR here to try and cut through the fog.

    Techs:
    Canon 1000D with 18-55mm IS @ 25mm
    f25 @ ISO 100
    3 exposures: [0.25 ; 0.5 ; 1] seconds
    blended in Photomatix using both the Details-Enhancer and Tone-Compressor algorithms
    PP in Photoshop CS3: reverse s-curve ; selective colour ; local contrast enhancer (USM 25%,50px) ; desaturated yellows and reds and boosted cyans and greens ; sharpening after resizing

    Your earnest feedback will be much appreciated!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, I like it!

    Is that one of your described pylons/smoke stacks in the distance - probably would remove it. Might also consider a bit of a crop off of the bottom just above the stick jutting into the water.

    Looks like there might be some nice fishing in that stream.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    You getting close now well done sit

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks Kobus & Jay.

    @ Jay - that's actually a long thin blade of grass - no pylons in this direction as far as I could see - might remove it later on...and I wouldn't fish in this stream...lots of pollution in our area, as well as informal 'settlements' that dump their sanitary waste into any stream/pool they deem fit :( - although I know of people who've caught some nice bass lower down as the stream goes through town (but I'll bet it's on a catch-and-release basis ;))
    Morkel Erasmus

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  5. #5
    Julie Kenward
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    Morkel, I like this attempt at HDR but can't help but feel like I'd prefer a horizontal composition over a vertical one in this case. I feel like the shoreline on the right side is off in it's perspective when you get to the upper third of the image. I do like the overall feel of the water and think you are definitely on the right track here.

  6. #6
    Roman Kurywczak
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    Hi Morkel,
    agree with Jay on the bottom stick/grass.....too out of place. I also think Jules is on to something.....I think you can incorporate the rocks and rapids.....along with the leading line of the river.......to have more of an impact. It's not bad......I do think you can work this one compositionally a bit more. Too bad on all the pollution.....I guess people just don't realize how priceless water and streams really are.

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    Nice HDR. I agree about removing the lower and upper grass blades protruding into the scene.

  8. #8
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks for the feedback Roman, Ed & Julie.

    Julie - I can remember on the morning there was a specific reason for not doing a horizontal comp, something was bothering me on the left bank (can't put my finger on it now), but I'll maybe try this over the weekend again (not sure if it will be foggy).

    will do a recomp without the grass blades...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Took care of the thin blade of grass at the top and the one jutting into the stream at the bottom...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Hey Mate, I like it better; hope you do to!
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

  11. #11
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks Jay - yeah I think it's better, although that bottom grass wasn't that bothersome to my eye ;)
    Morkel Erasmus

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  12. #12
    Julie Kenward
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    That repost does really help Morkel. Keep after it!

  13. #13
    Fabs Forns
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    I like it Morkel, but I wish you had taken a much longer exposure to see if the blurred water showed some more.

  14. #14
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks Julie & Fabs.
    Fabs - as I said it was my first time experimenting with blurring water flow - will go for longer exposure next time :)
    Morkel Erasmus

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  15. #15
    Fabs Forns
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Fabs - as I said it was my first time experimenting with blurring water flow - will go for longer exposure next time :)
    You may need a neutral density filter to be able to pull it.

  16. #16
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    yeah filters are on my wish list.
    but not at the top :(

    1. 60D :) (for nature/avian - framerate of the 1000D is getting to me big time)
    2. speedlite flash (pop-up flash not cutting it anymore)
    3. 5Dmk2 (for landscapes)
    4. polariser and neutral grad filter

    don't see myself filling this list very soon :)
    Morkel Erasmus

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  17. #17
    Fabs Forns
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    ND filter should not break your piggy bank :)

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