Mountain Scenes - Take Two

[Brownbear]

Likely Take Eight, as I've photographed and shared this scene several times as I'm trying to learn to photograph mountains. I believe these show improvement, all due to the input and advice I've received from members of CnC.

These are views of Vancouver's Lions (two snowy peaks) as seen from Cleveland Dam. No foreground element because there is a chain link fence in front of the water. Well, I left a buoy in a couple of the images, and cloned it out in the others.

The primary improvement is minimal haze on the mountains because I photographed these at first frost. (rare cold morning) No ND filters or multiple exposures needed because of the soft cloud.

All photographed ISO 100 f/8 Focal length 60-160 mm (Nikkor 28-200 mm), SS of 60 to 160, except for the first image for which the shutter speed was 1/3 second.

#1 SS 1/3 second... flattest light



#2


#3


#4


As always, I'm most appreciative of feedback to help me improve, and this includes my post processing skills. I sharpened these more than usual, perhaps a tad too much, not sure.

Thank you.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

WOW what a difference ! It's 3, 4 and 2 in that order for me but they are all great examples how just with that one view the light and cloud has made each image so different. Composition wise, fine, we have layers, no overbearing areas of minimal interest, shapes and lighting variations.

As for PP I feel that perhaps just a tad of additional clarity will enhance that low cloud but I'm not suggesting to push things over the top.

Grahame

[Shadowman]

Nice series, I like #3.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Grahame. I appreciate knowing your preferences. It was good for me to finally get around to post processing these and to do them together, as I can see the difference in the light as the sun rises. Thanks for the tip on post processing, I will check out additional clarity on the low lying clouds later on after I've sat on these for a while.

[Brownbear]

Thank you John. Your sharing is always appreciated.

Nice series, I like #3.

[Nicks Pics]

You really got it this time I think! When I saw the first, I thought "Wow" but then I think I like the second or third even better. That scenery is really exceptionally beautiful, in #3 you have a great contrast between the vibrant green (warm) treetops, and the cold snowy (cool) treetops on the mountains, The cloud passing in front of the mountains is an added bonus along with the the mist rising up out of the trees (especially prominent in #2). There is a multitude of things to look at, yet the whole composition is very clean and organized. These are actually more inspiring than most of the mountain/scenery photography I've seen. I don't necessarily have an absolute favorite, because the various versions emphasize different strong points, but I've stated above the elements represented in the series that I think are most important.

BTW are these images from D7100?

[Rita]

Christina, I think you are getting it. In order I like #3 & #2. Lots of detail and you are showing the way this scene really looks. I say well done!

[dje]

Lovely shots Christina. It's interesting how different people have different preferences but the standout for me is #2. It's the wispy cloud, the light and the composition that does it for me with this one. I think the focal length and framing is just right.

As for pp, if you want a little more "pop", you could try the Detail Extractor filter in Color Efex Pro if you have it (with subtle settings), Also, in the PS Saturation adjustment, you could perhaps bump up the saturation of the greens a little, and enhance the sunlight on the mountains by warming the hue of the yellows and bumping up their saturation a little too.

Great work
Dave

[Barbara Ponder]

I love #2, very nice.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Nick, Rita, Barbara and Dave!

Nick...
Your analysis of what you see is very helpful to me to see what others see, so I may learn to look at my images more objectively. And encouraging as this particular scene has been very challenging for me to learn to photograph even though the scenery is so beautiful. Yes, photographed with my Nikon D7100, a camera that I love and my only wish for this camera is for better performance at higher iso's.

Look up Mountain Light by Galen Rowell for truly inspiring images of mountain scenery.

Dave...
Thank you for the post processing tips specific to portions of the image. I have Photoshop CC and Lightroom, and will give it a try. Truly appreciated.

[NorthernFocus]

Christina, this series is a good lesson in lighting for landscapes. The first shot really shows how flat lighting does not do landscapes justice when compared to the lighting in the other versions of the same scene. IMO no.2 has the most interesting clouds and some nice lighting on the peaks. No.3 has the best natural lighting overall. But being a sucker for fog/mist, I'd have to put my PP energy into no.2.

That is really a lovely scene.

[FrankMi]

Excellent Christina! Waiting for the light to be 'just right' is something that Ansel Adams would invest hours to capture where it was appropriate. I applauded your patience.

I was really impressed with #2 until I saw #3. The interplay of light and shadow really works well. If it were possible, the clouds in #2 against the mountain peaks combined with the sunlit/shadow from #3 but taken with the aspect ratio of #4 would be even better. In fact, combining #4 without quite as much sky to accentuate the scene's dramatic panorama would, for me, could be even better yet!

If the images were to be combined, it could be really tricky to get the lighting to match seamlessly.

[marlunn]

love the light on the mountain and mistiness of the lower valleys in #2 but the light in the foreground on the forest of #3 - umm heratical suggestion but merge them

[John 2]

2, 3, 1 then 4 for me for no better reason than personal preference. I found it difficult to comment on your first set because for me selective shots of part of a mountain seem somehow incomplete - perhaps a little detached. Apart from the excellence of the lighting, the fact that this set is linked to the landscape , makes them more satisfying to my eye. Nice work.

[KimC]

Just beautiful. My favorites are 3 and 2... Wonderful lighting and mood!

[terrib]

Christina, These are very nice. I think that #2 is the best one. The light on the mountain behind the clouds is really nice and also having the bits of peak peaking out on the right is interesting. I do like the wider aspect ratio of #4 better, though, so I'd want to play around with that wider ratio on #2. Cutting out some of the sky and/or the water, to me is acceptable, but you'd just have to play around with it to find what is best. The scene just really grabbed me as I was moving through the shots. I also like #3 but you lose some of the layers of mountains which for me loses impact.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Dan, Frank, Mark, John, Kim and Terry!

All of your comments, post processing suggestions and insights are very helpful. I'm going to sit on these for a few days/week and then I'll pick one to post in a new thread trying some of the processing suggestions. I think I cropped one of these a little off of the right but I can' recall which one. I will try a merge but post only if I can manage to do it well.

Dan... Because I processed these together it was an eye-opener for me to see the flat lighting in #1, such a pretty scene taken just prior to sunrise yet missing something. Hopefully I will be able to see this in future mountain scenes.

Frank... You've helped me with this particular scene in the past, and I recalled all your tips. Therefore I'm delighted that you can see progress!

Thank you to all! This is an example of a scene that I've had great difficulty capturing, and how the members of this forum make a difference - truly special!

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Shot 2 taken at the same FL as shot 3 would have been a killer shot. The clouds are most dramatic in shot 2 IMO.
Nice work all around, sure wish I had some scenery like that around here.

[Brownbear]

Hi Alan,

I'll look for one. I had some challenges with motion blur on a few shots (even though I used a tripod) which eliminated a few shots, just the same I''ll look and if not I will keep in mind for future.

Thank you.

Shot 2 taken at the same FL as shot 3 would have been a killer shot. The clouds are most dramatic in shot 2 IMO.
Nice work all around, sure wish I had some scenery like that around here.

[ied]

Beautiful Christina. I do prefer #2,3 for the clouds, mist, and especially that golden hint on the mountain top in # 2 and also the splash of gold tone on the lower left of # 3. The layering is most effective. Brings back vivid memories of back when.....
Irene