Here’s a rare post minus any animals — once again, taken in Badlands National Park a few weeks ago. Those yellow flowers in the foreground were everywhere throughout the park, covering the ground and growing up the sides of the eroded buttes. To hold the detail in the foreground and the sky, I took five exposures and combined them in post as an HDR image. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/20 at 1/3, 1/13, 1/6, .6, and 1.3 seconds
Very nice Sean. The advantage of being able to merge images makes a huge image, doesn’t it. I see they’re raving about the new D810. Your D800 serves you well, you would hardly need to upgrade, would you. Mind you its specs are mind blowing. Another great shot from the master! Out of curiosity, do you let the camera select the first exposure reading, then go under exposure twice by say 1/2 a stop, then do the same the other way over exposing by 1/2 stop twice. Best regards Lawrie
Hey Lawrie, I’ve seen some advance specs on the D810. I still use a D700 as my backup or second camera and suppose I still will for a while but eventually I’ll have to upgrade that camera. I always wanted the D400 which as of yet has not materialized — a great crop sensor camera in the 24 mega pixel range. The crop factor will give extra reach for birds and other far off/small subjects.
As for HDR technique, I use the bracketing function on my camera to take five exposures in succession — the proper exposure, 1 stop under, 2 stops under, 1 stop over and 2 stops over. I then import the five files into Photomatix Pro. I usually go with the default result from Photomatix but sometimes I tweak the settings. This produces a very HDR looking file, very flat with little contrast. I then add contrast back in in Photoshop, correct for over saturation that often results from HDR and make other color/exposure adjustments as needed. Sounds like a lot but the workflow is pretty quick.
The plants look like yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinale) , which is an introduced species from Eurasia. It’s been a good year for this plant in Colorado, I see it everywhere. Bees love it.
Thanks Van, always good to know the species of both fauna and flora. As an introduced species, it certainly has taken control as the dominant ground cover.
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Sooooo beautiful!
Brilliance!! Thank YOU- Sean Crane!!
Very nice Sean. The advantage of being able to merge images makes a huge image, doesn’t it. I see they’re raving about the new D810. Your D800 serves you well, you would hardly need to upgrade, would you. Mind you its specs are mind blowing. Another great shot from the master! Out of curiosity, do you let the camera select the first exposure reading, then go under exposure twice by say 1/2 a stop, then do the same the other way over exposing by 1/2 stop twice. Best regards Lawrie
Hey Lawrie, I’ve seen some advance specs on the D810. I still use a D700 as my backup or second camera and suppose I still will for a while but eventually I’ll have to upgrade that camera. I always wanted the D400 which as of yet has not materialized — a great crop sensor camera in the 24 mega pixel range. The crop factor will give extra reach for birds and other far off/small subjects.
As for HDR technique, I use the bracketing function on my camera to take five exposures in succession — the proper exposure, 1 stop under, 2 stops under, 1 stop over and 2 stops over. I then import the five files into Photomatix Pro. I usually go with the default result from Photomatix but sometimes I tweak the settings. This produces a very HDR looking file, very flat with little contrast. I then add contrast back in in Photoshop, correct for over saturation that often results from HDR and make other color/exposure adjustments as needed. Sounds like a lot but the workflow is pretty quick.
I actually meant makes a huge “difference”!
Absolutely breathtaking, Sean. You know how much I love your spectacular shots of flowers.
Beautiful landscape! It has everything – flowers, mountains and amazing sky!
gorgeous! I am also curious, like Lawrie, to know how you go about combining shots/exposures
Thanks Amanda. See above for explanation of HDR workflow.
Wow Crane! This is beautiful!!
Eternal optimist I—-Know in that glorious landscape—-There’s certainly a pony. Ozian wizardry! Thanks Sean.
Jealous of this one. Nice.
WOW!
great color, yellow.? looks good.
It is like a painting.
The plants look like yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinale) , which is an introduced species from Eurasia. It’s been a good year for this plant in Colorado, I see it everywhere. Bees love it.
Thanks Van, always good to know the species of both fauna and flora. As an introduced species, it certainly has taken control as the dominant ground cover.