Lighthouse and Dead Tree

[Mike Buckley]

The Assateague Lighthouse located in Assateague Island, Virginia, seen from a viewing platform I used to take photos of the Chincoteague Ponies displayed here

[bnnrcn]

I like the composition Mike. The tree and the lighthouse create a leading line nicely. Also I like the light on the tree. The image seems a bit noisy, may be a bit of noise reduction ?

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Binnur!

I don't see any noise when viewed at this size. In fact, I saw noise only when viewing the full-size file at 100%. Just for fun, I eliminated the noise in that file. I then viewed that file at the same size as this file. I also created a file the same size as this file using the exact same automated process used to create this file. When comparing this file to those two new versions, I still see no noise in this file.

[Shadowman]

Nice effort.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike I think it is 'color noise' which comes from lifting the shadows. I can see blue noisy parts especially in the dark parts of the trees on the left. When I reduced the 'color noise' in ACR they became invisible.

Thanks, Binnur!

I don't see any noise when viewed at this size. In fact, I saw noise only when viewing the full-size file at 100%. Just for fun, I eliminated the noise in that file. I then viewed that file at the same size as this file. I also created a file the same size as this file using the exact same automated process used to create this file. When comparing this file to those two new versions, I still see no noise in this file.

[Mike Buckley]

I think it is 'color noise' which comes from lifting the shadows. I can see blue noisy parts especially in the dark parts of the trees on the left. When I reduced the 'color noise' in ACR they became invisible.

I also eliminated the blue tones you mentioned by applying noise reduction to the full-size file at 100%. I still don't see them in this image at this small size, so your eyes are surely better than mine.

However, no part of my post-processing lifted the shadows. Just the opposite, my very slight adjustment to the tone curve darkened them slightly. So, those blue tones were recorded by the sensor. Not a surprise considering that my ISO was 6400 on a camera that was discontinued years ago.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to John, whose post I accidentally overlooked.

[Wavelength]

I strongly feel this would work more in a vertical frame, giving more strength to the tree and light house

[Jim A]

To me the tree is the prime subject of interest here, Mike, with the lighthouse a supporting actor. Not sure, either way, about Nandakumar's suggestion of a crop, because of the interesting light, some of which you might lose, but if it was me I would give it a go and see how it turns out. The one thing I would certainly do is to clone out the birds. Whilst in many cases they would add, here they are so indistinct that they are a distraction. A very interesting image and one well worth persevering with.

[bnnrcn]

Ah, now I understand I can see the similar grainy effect (not the blues) in your pony shots too and I didn't know you used an old camera with ISO 6400.

I also eliminated the blue tones you mentioned by applying noise reduction to the full-size file at 100%. I still don't see them in this image at this small size, so your eyes are surely better than mine.

However, no part of my post-processing lifted the shadows. Just the opposite, my very slight adjustment to the tone curve darkened them slightly. So, those blue tones were recorded by the sensor. Not a surprise considering that my ISO was 6400 on a camera that was discontinued years ago.