Chasing light on Prince William Sound

[NorthernFocus]

Just a few from the weekend. Pretty much SOOC with only minor tweaks in ViewNX2. Recommend looking in the lightbox.

Just after sunrise on our way out to try for salmon. Layers without Photoshop!



Sun getting low the same evening. We were sitting in the cockpit having supper. Background mountainside is in shadow, low sun hitting the point.



A little while later the shadow covered the background of the point on the opposite side of the lagoon entrance. This is an area we used to visit frequently but hadn't been there for about five years or so. This shot was actually a rare opportunity for a re-shoot of similar lighting of a shot taken years ago with a PS camera. I took the time to throw the CPL on for this one.

[Shadowman]

Nice, I'm always attracted to those light formations.

[IzzieK]

I like #2 very much, Dan...and then #3...lighting is spectacular...it is nice to be able to go boating and go places...

[Stagecoach]

Beautifully captured Dan. The layers of the mountains are quite spectacular in that light.

[Mike Buckley]

I've always wanted to come upon a mountain scene with layers as in your first one. Great job!

To change the subject a bit, have you used Capture NX-D yet, the replacement of View NX2?

[Donald]

Masterful photography. We know that photography comes from the Greek - To paint with light. Three wonderful examples as to why we call what we do 'photography'.

[DanK]

Beautiful images. I really like the layering of the mountains in the first. Would a slight vertical crop, removing a bit of the clouds, improve this? Most of the interesting material is in the bottom.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. I really should have titled the thread differently as I really didn't "chase" anything. I'm a shamefully lazy opportunist for anything other than wildlife shooting.

I will play with PP on the first shot a bit more when I get a chance. I was up and out for well over an hour before the sun cracked the horizon that morning and it never really did produce much color. Though the layered mountains were a nice consolation prize.

Mike, I haven't yet downloaded NX-D yet. I pretty well converted to LR so haven't kept up with Nikon lately. I still use ViewNX on my laptops as a tool to view and cull when travelling. I'm a bit confused whether NX-D is intended to replace ViewNX or Capture NX. Maybe both?

[tbob]

Numbers 1 and 3 are my favourites. I love the layered mountains and then the isolating light.

Was there something on the left of the trees in number three you wanted to avoid including? Seems abruptly cut off in the composition.

[wtlwdwgn]

Very nice captures of the light. I especially like #1.

[truonda]

#3 is my favourite. Is that natural lighting or did you darken the background in PP?

[ied]

Truly spectacular. # 1,3 are my favs. The lighting in #3 is stunning with the reflection in the water.
Irene

[Mike Buckley]

I'm a bit confused whether NX-D is intended to replace ViewNX or Capture NX.

That's understandable because Nikon's official stance is a lie. Nikon explains that NX-D replaces Capture NX. The truth is that NX-D replaces View NX, as the replacement software is free and adjustments can be made only to the entire image. Both were characteristics of View NX and neither were characteristics of Capture NX, which explains why I believe Nikon is lying to us.

[Brownbear]

All are incredibly beautiful!

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks all for the comments. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

...Was there something on the left of the trees in number three you wanted to avoid including? Seems abruptly cut off in the composition.

Hi, Trevor. It is somewhat arbitrarily clipped. There wasn't really anything to exclude but I wanted to try a tight shot so kept the most interesting two trees and the point. I took another shot at a wider focal length. I was shooting a 70-200 on FF. When doing so I often shoot multiple compositions to see which will appeal most when viewed on the computer back at home. The wider version looks OK cropped in pano format otherwise there is too much water and blank space BG. I'd post an example but am traveling this week with no access to my files.

[NorthernFocus]

#3 is my favourite. Is that natural lighting or did you darken the background in PP?

The only PP is WB(camera overcompensated for all the green) and increased contrast. Note no.2 was taken about half an hour earlier and the BG is much more visible due to the overall level of ambient light. There was more natural contrast in the third shot. All that said, this type of shot is more difficult with modern high DR sensors.

[NorthernFocus]

...I believe Nikon is lying to us.

They would have to have a strategy in order to lie to us. I think they are just floundering about with no idea where they are headed with software.

[dje]

Very nice indeed Dan. Wonderful mood in all images.

Dave

[terrib]

All very nice. I love the layers and the unusual, but beautiful, colors in the first one. #3 is also my favorite just because the light so perfectly lights up the area. The contrast against the darkness and the reflections really add to it, I think.

[Manfred M]

I think the others have beaten me to it, but definitely some beautifully executed landscapes. The composition and the lighting are downright magical; these are great images!