Autumn at its Peak, Cloughlea

[Ndukes]

The plan was to try to judge the best time to visit my favourite location for Autumnal landscape at that critical point when the leaves were at their most colourful and just before a cruel wind swept them away. And all that on a nice sunny day. I think I got the timing just right this time.

This is Cloughlea, a north Wicklow mountain location where the Shankill river flows through a small woodland on a south facing hill to join the River Liffey close to its source.

In this woodland under the trees I got a great sense of being inside Autumn as distinct from observing it. Regardless of the quality of the photographs it was just great to be there.

(Best viewed in Lightroom.)



Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 35mm. 1/40 at f16 iso 500



Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 16mm. 1/15 at f16 iso 640



Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 16mm. 1/25 at f16 iso 100



Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 16mm. 1/15 at f11 iso 200, cropped (slightly)



Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 16mm. 1/15 at f11 iso 160



Nikon Df with Nikkor 24-120 f4 at 52mm. 1/30 at f16 iso 3200

[DanK]

Some very nice shots. I like 2 and 4 the best. We have spectacular autumns here, but despite the beautiful views, I rarely manage to get a shot worth keeping, so I appreciate yours.

The last one looks unrealistic in the lytebox. It looks almost like HDR grunge, but you didn't indicate that it is multiple exposures. Maybe oversharpening? There seems to be some oversharpening in #3 as well--there is what appears to be a sharpening halo along the sides of one of the trees. Maybe reduce the radius, but it may require reducing the amount too.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Wavelength]

An exquisite set of colorful images....

[Ndukes]

Some very nice shots. I like 2 and 4 the best. We have spectacular autumns here, but despite the beautiful views, I rarely manage to get a shot worth keeping, so I appreciate yours.

The last one looks unrealistic in the lytebox. It looks almost like HDR grunge, but you didn't indicate that it is multiple exposures. Maybe oversharpening? There seems to be some oversharpening in #3 as well--there is what appears to be a sharpening halo along the sides of one of the trees. Maybe reduce the radius, but it may require reducing the amount too.

Many thanks for that Dan. It's a wonderful place and has become popular with photographers.

As regards processing, I shoot in RAW all the time and all of this selection were single exposures. I had in fact shot three exposures for most images but always now prefer to push the highlight and shadow sliders on the 'middle' exposure. In all of these that was sufficient to capture the dynamic range and, thanks to Nikon's excellent full frame sensor nothing suffered in the process. So, no HDR in any of these.

I use a default sharpening in ACR of

Amount. 75
Radius. 0.8
Detail. 50
Masking. 10

If further overall sharpening is required after other processing is done I use USM at a default setting of

Amount. 150
Radius. 0.3
Threshold. 0

That does it for most well executed landscapes with occasional selective sharpening where depth of field needs a boost.

I see what you mean in number 3. In this case only the initial ACR sharpening was needed and what you are seeing is bright sunlight catching a thin margin along the tree trunk.

Monitors let us down sometimes and I find the ultimate test is an 18" x 12" print.

Many thanks once again for comments.

Many thanks also to John and Nandakumar.

[dje]

Lovely shots Neville. You're on a roll at the moment aren't you

This is magnificent scenery expertly captured. I keep coming back for another look!

Dave

[Ziggy]

Enjoyed viewing.

[DanK]

Thanks. I suspect the issue is this one:

Monitors let us down sometimes and I find the ultimate test is an 18" x 12" print.

Also, some sites (I have no idea about Tinypics) by default add additional sharpening. Smugmug does, if you don't change the default setting. One more reason why what you see on the web isn't what you see in a print.

Many thanks for that Dan. It's a wonderful place and has become popular with photographers.

As regards processing, I shoot in RAW all the time and all of this selection were single exposures. I had in fact shot three exposures for most images but always now prefer to push the highlight and shadow sliders on the 'middle' exposure. In all of these that was sufficient to capture the dynamic range and, thanks to Nikon's excellent full frame sensor nothing suffered in the process. So, no HDR in any of these.

I use a default sharpening in ACR of

Amount. 75
Radius. 0.8
Detail. 50
Masking. 10

If further overall sharpening is required after other processing is done I use USM at a default setting of

Amount. 150
Radius. 0.3
Threshold. 0

That does it for most well executed landscapes with occasional selective sharpening where depth of field needs a boost.

I see what you mean in number 3. In this case only the initial ACR sharpening was needed and what you are seeing is bright sunlight catching a thin margin along the tree trunk.

Monitors let us down sometimes and I find the ultimate test is an 18" x 12" print.

Many thanks once again for comments.

Many thanks also to John and Nandakumar.

[Ndukes]

Lovely shots Neville. You're on a roll at the moment aren't you

This is magnificent scenery expertly captured. I keep coming back for another look!

Dave

A bit of a roll perhaps. I sometimes have to force myself to get out of the house and go looking for the scenery. Too many other distractions. Thank you so much, Dave.

[Ndukes]

Enjoyed viewing.

Thanks Jim. Really enjoyed shooting them.

[kdoc856]

Beautiful shots, Neville. Nature can't take all the credit, here- these shots are reflective of some real landscape photographic skill.

This is very good use of an ultra-wide. It takes a bit of experience and practice (for me, at least) to get a feel for the perspective distortion attendant with focal lengths under about 20mm, and I think you have chosen well.

I also shoot regularly in woods with streams, and have found that scenes with small leaves and stones often look "crunchier" when I upload to CiC via Tinypics- to the point that I remove output sharpening when I post them here.

I understand what Dan means about the bridge shot: I'm wondering if it would a tad more natural if you darkened the INSIDE structure of the bridge, just shy of losing any (or much) detail.

Wonderful work.

[IzzieK]

Neville...it will be nice if next time you upload a bunch of images, please number them so it is easy to remember for old brains like me...thanks.

Moving on, my favourite is the second one because if I get lost I knew I can rely on the water to see me through. I can understand your feeling of being engulfed in the autumn feeling there. The whole area feels like a secret garden.

[Ndukes]

Neville...it will be nice if next time you upload a bunch of images, please number them so it is easy to remember for old brains like me...thanks.

Moving on, my favourite is the second one because if I get lost I knew I can rely on the water to see me through. I can understand your feeling of being engulfed in the autumn feeling there. The whole area feels like a secret garden.

Absolutely right, Izzie. Numbering is a good idea. Next time!

The location seemed to be exclusively mine some years ago. Then I discovered some on-line discussion in local camera clubs about the merits of this place arising from members who had seen it on my website. Now, especially in Autumn, you have to work at excluding the other photographers. Still, I don't own the real estate.

Having said that, when I get deeply involved here with camera I begin to feel that I do in fact own the place. I guess that's how we all feel when the magic starts.

[Ndukes]

Beautiful shots, Neville. Nature can't take all the credit, here- these shots are reflective of some real landscape photographic skill.

This is very good use of an ultra-wide. It takes a bit of experience and practice (for me, at least) to get a feel for the perspective distortion attendant with focal lengths under about 20mm, and I think you have chosen well.

I also shoot regularly in woods with streams, and have found that scenes with small leaves and stones often look "crunchier" when I upload to CiC via Tinypics- to the point that I remove output sharpening when I post them here.

I understand what Dan means about the bridge shot: I'm wondering if it would a tad more natural if you darkened the INSIDE structure of the bridge, just shy of losing any (or much) detail.

Wonderful work.

Thank you for feedback, Kevin. The ultra wide is great for putting a different perspective on landscapes and useful when all else fails. I just love using the excellent Nikon 16-35 with VR which extends its possibilities significantly in low light.

Interesting points on added sharpening on uploaded images. I think I will have to run some tests and make the necessary adjustments when uploading images.

Also, the shadow detail under the bridge. I'll check that out. I think I'm inclined to raise these dark areas too much because of my printing experiences where I find that detail is lost too easily in deep shadow.

Many thanks for your most helpful feedback.

[John 2]

That's a nice series Neville. Taken as a group they give us Autumn personified. If I have a preference, it is for the gentleness of no.1.

[Ndukes]

That's a nice series Neville. Taken as a group they give us Autumn personified. If I have a preference, it is for the gentleness of no.1.

Thank you for that John. My wife agrees with you. So you must be right!

[deetheturk]

Lovely set Neville, thanks for sharing!

[Ndukes]

Thanks David. It was one of those special afternoons.

Having taken great care to exclude other photographers from the shots I thought this one would work best with the human presence.


Nikon Df with Nikkor 16-35 f4 at 35mm. 1/40 at f16 iso 2200. Cropped

[John 2]

That is very nice as well. Good job he wasn't wearing a brightly coloured anorak though. As it is, he tones in nicely.

[bnnrcn]

Lovely set Neville, my fav is #1