Quasi-HDR Grunge

[Arthur Morris]

While teaching on a snowy morning at the Tsurui Itoh Sanctuary, Hokkaido, Japan I knew that there must be a good image hiding in all those tree branches but I could not find it naked eye. So I tried an old trick, composing through the lens. I pointed the 800 at the snow covered trees and panned the lens slowly from left to right and a bit up and down. And then, it was simply there.

This Photomatix-processed HDR was created from a five-frame sequence made by the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. 5-frame HDR auto exposure bracketed 1 1/3 stops around +1 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/13. As the slowest shutter speed was 1/40 sec. I set the 1-sec. timer and used Live View for Mirror Lock.

I started with the Enhancer Grunge preset and backed off towards the Enhancer Painterly settings. I have several version that I like. Tonight this one is my fave.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Artie, I really love this. It has a wonderful painterly feel to it and the hints of color make it very appealing

[denise ippolito]

I love it. The enhanced details and the hints of color are appealing. I find my best shots of "nothing" by composing through the lens.

[Arthur Morris]

I love it. The enhanced details and the hints of color are appealing. I find my best shots of "nothing" by composing through the lens.

Thanks Cheryl and Denise. Great minds think alike :).

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Artie,

Greetings. Very cool. I particularly like the subtle colors and the mesmerizing pattern. HDR to good effect. Good show!

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Paul Lagasi]

I have also been experimenting more with HDR images, I like this composition and agree hints of color really improve the look....TFS

[Dave Woeller]

I agree, the subtle touches of color throughout really set this off well. The processing is wonderful and the balance of the composition is amazing. This is one of those images I could look at for hours and always find new patterns and details.

[Arthur Morris]

Michael, Paul, and Dave. Many thanks for your kind words. Glad that you liked.

[Jack Breakfast]

"Composing through the lens" was the term I've been looking for. It's my favorite way to find scenes but never knew how to describe it. When I first got a telephoto lens to me I would look through shrubs and trees and flowers, trying to find little scenes. I loved it, and felt like a scientist with a microscope. "Composing through the lens" is it! Poetically put, A.M., thank you for sharing that.

[Brendan Dozier]

This is beautiful, Artie! Well seen and like how you composed through the lens. Like the lines, subtle texture to snow on branches, and dabs of orange. Plenty for the eye to enjoy, and definitely has Japanese feel to it. Wanted to see how snow & image would look by reducing blue, cyan, and yellow. A different version, but what do you think? Like? Hate?

[Arthur Morris]

Without having one on the other they look very similar. Thanks for the repost.

[Kerry Perkins]

Yes! The Eye of Art made this image in the camera then the Hand of Art polished it in post. Really striking image and superbly done on all levels. Thanks for sharing Artie!

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Arthur, love the design of the image and the quasi-grunge. Love it!