I took these shots in Owens Valley this summer. Take a look and let me know what you think. Which one do you prefer and why?





Thanks!
Misha

I like the 2nd one best. Both shots have TONS of potential. Tought part is the limited dynamic range of the camera. Framing is very good....you have a nice forground subject and good use of the space within the frame. Lighting is the hardest part to deal with....the top one has the forground exposed enough to make it interesting...the mountains are almost black...and that wonderful sky is just amazing. Personally I would have bracketed it or pushed the highlights about 1/4 stop over the edge in a RAW shot and made two exposures from it and blended them together.

Bottom one if RAW is absolultly a master piece waiting to happen....you caught all the information....it just needs some tweaking.(to me ..this is smart shooting)I dont try to shoot to see if I can get it out of the camera without editing...I seek to capture the most information I can...so when editing...I have the most options to maximize the shot. Seeing shots like this excites me....as if I can experience the beauty of a place and almost smell it.

Would love to take a crack at editing the bottom one.

Both are very awesome shots....and very clearly state what you saw...and what drew you to take your camera out of the bag for....to me....thats what communication with this medium is all about.

Roman

"I seek to capture the most information I can...so when editing...I have the most options to maximize the shot. Seeing shots like this excites me....as if I can experience the beauty of a place and almost smell it."

I agree about the processing comment. I try as hard as possible to shoot for the maximum dynamic range of an image. I think with a couple of layers, that this image (which is already very good) and come even further.

-JM

I am back at my home (read that calibrated) environment...the second one is looking better.....probably should leave the cretiques for home.....the first one is closer to what I said....I still stand by the potential for these shots...their wonderful!!! Just some judicious editing can make them amazing...

And again....these are awesome shots...very well done.

Roman

Misha,

I really like the second image. It might be curious to see what could happen if you could kick up the highlights a bit and darken the shadow tones to make a bit more contrast...to give it a bit more 'pop.'

-JM