Couple of Snowscapes

[shakey]

Thought I'd try out the Sigma 10 - 20 mm at the snow. Here's a couple from the top of Zalis (Blue Cow)



1/30, f18, ISO 200 at 11.5 mm

and



1/60, f18, ISO 200 at 11.5 mm. Lotsa lens artifacts from shooting into the sun, but maybe they don't detract from the shot? Interested in opinions

[jethro]

Great images in a somewhat overexposed enviroment. Did you use an ND filter?
Jethro

[admajic]

I love these shots! Well done. Sad no one commented on these.

[Ronza]

Frick, they're awesome images. The blue and the white work well together...

[Colcam]

I can't decide which one I like best. Both are impressive with great colour and you seem to have exposed well in difficult conditions. I like the inclusion of the sun in the 2nd one. I would probably clone/heal out some of the artifacts, but not all. Show us some more from there please?
Col

[DJXtreme]

number 2 works best for me, the inclusion of the sun is a nice touch. the blue and white colours in both pictures work well though, you've done a great job in such a difficult environment. well done.

[shakey]

Thanks for the comments from all, much appreciated. To address a couple of points. Jethro, ND filter not used. Colcam.. I'll be heading up to Guthega a few more times this season. Hopefully I can get some more photos. With the scarcity of snow at present, things are a bit grim.

[owen]

The first image is terrific. My wife says that you should have the sun in it as in the second image, but I like it how it is. Makes me want to get down there and get some shots.

[obzelite]

I like both the shots, but I have a real feeling that I want to see the bits that are half in frame.
Don't quite know how to put it into words, but with the rock cut in half and branches hanging into the frame I fell like I’m being led to the edge of the picture and i want to see more.

At 11.5mm my only suggestion would be to take some steps back and not make the trees a dominate part of the picture.
Colours great, subjects great and the lens flare works for me, I just don’t feel drawn in if I've made myself clear.

[Killakoala]

Great images. I like them both but as Simon says, there is a bit more PP begging to be done. Perhaps you could crop the tree branch on the right in the first image as the more i look at the image the more noticable it becomes and the rock in the second could do with being removed too, or recrop the image.

A Graduated ND filter would have evened out your exposure much more and would have got you a more agreeable image, even though it is good already. A polariser would really make the blue and white stand out even more than it does. The 10-20 seems to be quite a good lens, as you have shown here.

Remember that the CCD is less forgiving than film where over-exposure is concerned so you have to compensate more for it.

Great work. I look forward to seeing your further work when you get back up there.

(BTW, there's a couple of dust bunnies on the second image, RHS )

[Colcam]

Thought I'd try out the Sigma 10 - 20 mm at the snow. Here's a couple from the top of Zalis (Blue Cow)

I just gave it a quick touch in PS with Shadow/Highlight (highlights only) & some selective levels show what the graduated ND filter may have seen if attached. The peak highs were blown too far to get detail out of here, but with the filter, it would have been good.
Col

[shakey]

obzelite..

I did want to keep more of the rock on the LHS in the frame, but everytime I tried this chap..or one of his kids..kept popping up like some jack in a box.


(this is a low res highly cropped image)

killa...

yeah got lazy about cloning out the dust bunny on the second shot..didn't think anyone would notice. I appreciate the other comments. Definitely need a CPL filter ( and maybe a grad ND)

colcam...

Thanks for taking the time to do a bit of PS. You've certainly improved the shot. I did a bit in ACR (Exposure and Shadows) and some sharpening in PS but I don't really know a lot about levels and curves.

[Yi-P]

Very great captures, its good to see its not snowing that much there as I went over 2 weeks ago, it was heavy snow/rain/ice all the way, just afraid to pull my cam out of the bag, makes me want a D200 even more... lol

[Dug]

Love photo #2 great stuff

Way to cold for me though !!!!!

How did the lens handle the cold? no problems?

[sheepie]

#2 for me also - the inclusion of the sun adds to the extreme nature of the location. Screaming for a bit more PP though, and would like to see the remnants of the rock on the left either cropped or cloned out

[Digidegs]

I really like them! Having the sun there somehow makes it for me.
Like nature telling us that even the snow needs the sun?

[Colcam]

obzelite..

I did want to keep more of the rock on the LHS in the frame, but everytime I tried this chap..or one of his kids..kept popping up like some jack in a box.

Shoot the shot anyway and clone the buggars out later. The old film limitations take some getting past sometimes. I do the same and have to give myself a nudge now & then.
For education on Levels & curves, try some of the many excellent websites out there like:
http://www.retouchpro.com/
http://www.grafx-design.com/phototut.html
http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option ... e&Itemid=1
There are many others. Search for Photoshop+tutorials in Google. Don't forget the Adobe site too.
Levels is my first up tool for photo's. I select portions of the image and then apply levels or curves, etc. Maybe we should boost the tutorials section of this forum. I should put my money where my mouth is I guess.
PM me if you have specific questions
Col