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Mother of Dreams


Mother of Dreams
Photo Information
Copyright: Alvin Brown (Cormac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3198 W: 55 N: 5876] (24523)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-12
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D200, 12-24mm F4 ED AF-S Zoom Nikkor, Singh-Ray 2-stop soft edge ND
Exposure: f/11, 1/13 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Final Version, Original Version
Theme(s): Member's Favourites, Mountains of N. America [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-03 9:58
Viewed: 1414
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 100
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a repost of one of my photos from this past summer. While the idea of the shot was very good, I started to try some different things in processing to see if I could improve it. I was quite surprised that the re-worked version was so much better than the original. The orignal shot has a somewhat flat lighting on the mountains, and a blue cast to it. The first thing I did was increase the contrast, by using an S shape curve in "Curves" (that is, raising the upper tones and lowering the bottom tones). You can see this by how the bright areas of the sky are much brighter than the original, as well as the clouds and the snow. Then I went and did some dodging and burning (selectively lighting and darkening areas with a brush) as the lightest areas were too light and the darkest areas too dark. The result of all this was a photo with more definition and detail, especially in the mountains and the in the foreground rocks.

Then I adjusted the colour, which was quite blue in the original. I applied a warming filter, and then a slight magenta filter. Not satisfied with that, I then made some adjustments to the Colour Balance. I almost never do this because it seems to be difficult to adjust colour balance without resulting in strange colours, but in this case it seemed to work. I increased the red, green, and yellow.

I think the resulting shot has much better and more natural colour, as well as more detail visible in the mid tone areas of the mountains and foreground. I can't believe that I ever liked the original!
leo61, IgorDeleze, pat0500, robiuk, Floydian, Yffic, ahaberal, capthaddock, maximage, veve, chpp, danielswalsh, Dyerco, Matthew-Watt, jjcordier, John_F_Kennedy, delkoo, PixelTerror, ChrisJ, Jeppo, pierrefonds, Giorgos_P, scobert, AiresSantos, frostymon, plimrn, jhm, codiac, josepmarin, stego has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Alvin,
Woaw..! Lovely great picture here...I like it..! Place of dreams indeed...!
Good framing, good light and colours, perfect sharpness and wonderful reflection on water..!
Good shot..!
Best regards,
Patrick

  • Great 
  • robiuk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1962 W: 172 N: 2214] (9509)
  • [2008-02-03 10:37]

Another good one from your archive, Alvin!
Good remastered version and indeed one can see an
improvement in the contrast department - seems like
colours are better, too - somehow more vivid.
Loike that thouch (the rock) in the FG, too.
Well done,
Robi

Hi Alvin
This landscape is very nice. The vertical cropping is excellent, but the best is the nice reflection you get in the so pure water.
Very nice
Bertrand

  • Great 
  • Fis2 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2352 W: 137 N: 1355] (31033)
  • [2008-02-03 11:07]

Witaj ALvin!
Excellent shot! Wonderful frame and super reflection in water. Beautiful colors. Fantastic place.
Regards
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • Yffic Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 17 N: 1157] (5736)
  • [2008-02-03 11:28]

Hi Alvin

A splendid picture !!!
The clarity of the water is unbelievable.
The light is very clear, very bright.

Regards.

Yves

  • Great 
  • danyy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 7173 W: 436 N: 9762] (49816)
  • [2008-02-03 11:35]

Bonjour Alvin,
je vois tellement de photos de cet endroit que je ne sais plus lesquelles j'ai cririquées. Les vues étant toutes aux plus belles, et bien je m'y arrête.
Paysage sauvage, grandiose et majestueux.
POV avantageux de bas, qui nous fait profiter d'un avant plan qui aide à donner de la profondeur.
Regards.
Daniel.

Hello Alvin,
amazing photo you are sharing with us, and very useful notes also! Anyway, if the composition and colours and the reflex weren't present in the original, even Photoshop woudn't help:)
Best,
Mateja

hi alin
Nice composition with a great reflection , compliments. Amazing color, great capture..., very well executed
asim

Absolutely delightful, one of the best Moraine shots I've seen. But... for some reason the top above the horizon appealed to me more in the original version. The reflections and the submerged stone however, are much better in this version.

Hi Alvin,
I agree, your re-worked version is much better, not to suggest for a moment tht the original wasn't good. The contrasts and clarity are improved as are the colors. Good workflow ideas coming from this proje.ct Great work and TFS. Gerald

Hi Alvin,
Wonderfull scene, very well captured.Perfect pov and great compo. Wonderfull reflections.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Bonjour Alvin,
Une vision de rêve!! C'est super beau et techniquement super bien réalisé.
Amitiés.
max

  • Great 
  • veve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 13 N: 587] (4221)
  • [2008-02-03 13:08]

Hello Alvin,
Amazing landscape!
Great framing,excellent pov and wonderful reflection!
Best regards,
Veronica

Hi Alvin, another pearl of that place, this is like having my coffee at mornings, i love to feel the fresh alvin' air of alerta here on TE :)
Traditional POV and great use of foreground to emphazise the background, majesty of mother nature
Excellent

  • Great 
  • chpp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 532 W: 51 N: 562] (2735)
  • [2008-02-03 13:42]

Hi Alvin
I like this POV, mixing reality with reflection.
Very nice colours and beautiful reflections as well. Good sharpness in the BG mountains
cheers
chris

Hey Alvin;

You're right. There's a lot more punch to this version then the previous, which makes for alot more eye-catching & powerful shot. The horizon is level (I'm judging by the vertical of that golden rock in the middle with it's reflection. However I think you might be suffering from a bit of lens distortion as there is much more to be seen of the mountain peak on the left in the reflection then the actual peak. A very small point, but somehting that might be worthwhile having a play with for future shots.

All the best Alvin!
- Dan

P.S.- Have you heard anything from John C. recently?

  • Great 
  • Dyerco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1167 W: 10 N: 1148] (4981)
  • [2008-02-03 17:52]

Hi Alvin
Your PP really did make this image pop. Although the original looked pretty good at the time. PS is such a powerful program and using layers, masks and curves we can select certain areas to alter without affecting the whole image. Great shot. The composition is superb.
Phil

Hello Alvin,

Another brilliant update in your gallery. Terrific use of lighting; this was certainly a good time to shoot where the mountains are lit up effectively. I like that the peaks are sharply defined against the sky. The reflections are sensational and are a highlight of many of your images. The solitary wisp of cloud is attractive and helps to break up the uniform sky. Great job, I am very impressed with this one.

Matt

  • Great 
  • Csilla Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 268 W: 0 N: 180] (1525)
  • [2008-02-03 20:12]

Hi Alvin!
This is a very nice photo of the untouched nature with the big mountains, the beautiful reflection and the clarity of the water.
Thanks for sharing!
Regards, Csilla

Magnifique,Alvin! La clarté de l'eau et les reflets sont absolument superbes et ces rochers donnent une incroyable profondeur de champ à l'image.
Amicalement
JJ

  • Great 
  • Ann75 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1100 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-03 22:36]

Hi Alvin,

Another amazing shot from my favorite place! The original shot was amazing as it was, but I do have to admit that I like the more dramatic colors and contrast in this one very much. Great POV with excellent light and amazing colors. Thanks for sharing what you did in the post processing, that's very helpful! Great work, Alvin!

Greetings,
Ann

What a lovely scene with the some rocks in the forground. Excellent colours and the reflections of the mountains are great. Excellent work.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Alvin,
For me there was not much wrong with the original, i like that one a lot. But this one has more the light that i put in my own images. Here it's that warm touch and feel on the slopes and in the reflection. The mountains are maybe a bit to red comparing to the original but they fit perfectly here. The sky is also softer but warmer, also that one goes well with the rest of the image.
Really wonder what i can make of it, must have to get all the luck in the world to get close to these kind of shots.
Regards, Henk

  • Great 
  • delkoo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3689 W: 235 N: 4736] (23383)
  • [2008-02-04 1:35]

hi alvin,
nice result, you improved it really well, i am struck by the clarity of the water and the high quality of the reflections.

best regards
didier

Hi Alvin,
Of course comparing both versions tells it all, it now got a lot more punchier with those increased midtones contrasts, possibly even a little bit too much, but a photo that doesn't have contrasts wouldn't catch the eye !
Have a nice day JY

  • Great 
  • ChrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 8647 W: 911 N: 11403] (55282)
  • [2008-02-04 2:19]

Hi Alvin

Fantastic reflections, in the mirror like surface of this attractive alpine lake, with good colour & sharpness. Tfs!

  • Great 
  • Jeppo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 593 W: 2 N: 502] (4515)
  • [2008-02-04 3:05]

A magnificent landscape, impressive with a superbe reflection.

thank you for this pic and for the exhaustive technical note!

ciao
Silvio

hello Alvin,
the colors are indeed nicer since more saturated in this version.
I would be happy to have at lest once like your original (and being one day at this place ;o))
didier

Hi Alvin,

A nice scenery of the famous lake, of the Ten Peaks and of the reflections in the water which are an asset to the photo. The point of view is giving depth to the photo. It is clear and precise. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Exellent photograph Alvin!
Beautiful colors and reflections.
TFS
George

Hi Alvin
I still remember when an uncle showed us his photos of this place - lucky him, he had to go for work...
It's on my list for must-see places. The mirror effect of the mountains is superb and of course I like your dynamic rocks in the transparent water which add dynamics.
Have you thought about adding a frame ? I didn't go for them at first but now I regret not having added one earlier.
Regards
Nikki

Its a stunning capture Alvin, the quility of light looks fantastic here and I really love the submerged stones which anchor the shot. You have worked the PP on this very well, everything is well balanced. Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3564 W: 316 N: 6990] (29758)
  • [2008-02-04 20:44]

HiAlvin!
Yes this one looks better.At your first version the foreground was a bit pale.
Excellent composition with these rocks in the water and fantastic light at the mountans.I like the dark triangle of forest and it`s reflection.
Regards,Leo

Hello Alvin,
I may have seen something similar but these incredible landscapes are always welcome.
Yesterday we toured the Grand Bazaar with Peter Boehringer who visits Istanbul with his daughter.
What about coming over one of these days ?
Friendly regards - Izzet

  •      
  • scobert Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1637 W: 16 N: 1866] (5321)
  • [2008-02-04 21:55]

Hello Alvin,
I remember this photo. Your re-work really did improve this image. It seems like you also reduced the noise on the surface of the water making the water appear more transparent. It also has a smoother rendition which makes it look more filmlike, which is a good thing in my opinion. This is a beautiful photograph and makes me realize that I need to get outdoors more and do more nature photography. That is how I started with film years ago. I love dance and event photography but nature is always such a great healer both for the body and for the soul. This marvelous photo is better than ever!
Stan :) tomorrow

Hi Alvin
Perfect sharpness in this wonderful composition.
I like so much how you framed it and the reflections
TFS and greetings
Aires

hi Alvin
your shots from there look all quite the same..
but i'd say that they are all really beautiful..

congrats

I think that was most useful note I've ever seen on TE. I completely agree with you about the difference between the original and the final versions. The final version here is just astounding. In the original, the eyes were drawn to the top of the frame because that's where the only vibrance was. Now in this version here, the eyes are kept more to the center because the water reflection is just as captivating as the mountains...now i am off to see your other postings... : )

La composition, le reflet, les couleurs (un petit peur irréelles), vraiment une très belle image qui fait rêver.

Anatolio

just great !my critique : nothing to improve
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3605 W: 226 N: 4778] (15209)
  • [2008-02-05 16:41]

Hi Alvin,
The original looks quite good until one sees the repost. I think it would be useful if we all gave more detail about the processing.

I do love curves once I figured out how to decrease the opacity. John Munro also suggested a WS that I posted on the river using Lighten shadow and layers to open up dark areas. I helped figure out how to use layer masks finally.
Thank you for sharing your technique, Pat

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12343 W: 246 N: 16228] (64868)
  • [2008-02-06 3:26]

Hello Alvin,

Very nice these three part picture, in foreground the big stones this us show the lovely reflection in the lake.
In background the lovely cockscomb of the mountains with the lovely brown colour on the slope.
Good framing, good light and colours.
Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

  • Great 
  • codiac Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 48 W: 2 N: 566] (3255)
  • [2008-02-07 16:11]

You have done a top job here Alvin, both in your composition and PP work. Breath taking scenery beautifully photographed. TFS

Gary

Hi Alvin,
You are a real specialist in this kind of photos, where you combine skilfully the beautiful landscapes, its reflections in the water and the transparencies in FG. This offers us a magnificent depth of field, from the place of your POV up to very far, in the magnificent mountains of background.
Excellent management of the exposure and great quality of image and of colors, it is a beautiful work.
Best regards,
Josep

  •      
  • stego Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3438 W: 584 N: 4487] (13694)
  • [2008-02-08 14:04]

Hi Alvin,
Wow! Truly dreamy! Perfect POV, perfect wide angle, perfect compo, perfect light, perfect everything, absolutely gorgeous.
My first thought when I compared it with the original was that you were overdoing the perfectionism, as it is already great, but then I have to agree that you achieved putting it even more gorgeous, at least in the water and the sunned areas. The mountains are also undoubtedly more eye catching, but I don't know if I don't like better the colours and even the haze of the original. Much the same goes to the sky.
Regards, José.

Bonjour Alvin,

Fabuleux, les couleurs sont très belles avec cette lumière.
J'adore le reflet et je trouve que les rochers donnent un bon premier plan.

Bravo

Bonne Journée

Didier

Hello Alvin,
Beautiful landscape with mountains. I checked the original version and agree that this one is looks better, it seems that it is more clear picture here with bright vivid colors. Very well done, Bravo!
With BEST Regards,
Arthur

Hello Alvin,
Fantastic reflexion!
The vertical framing fit very well to the picture.
I like the clarity in the foreground.
Greeitngs.
Igor

I really like the work that you did with this one, Alvin.. The curves really helped balance the tones and the composition is excellent once again! Regards, Doug

Alvin...
There are a lot of great mountain scenes posted on TE but, so far, none as good as this!! Great PP!!! Beautiful!!!!
Peter

  • Great 
  • fallan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 19 N: 302] (1512)
  • [2008-04-16 13:58]

One of your best. Great focus and composition. This version looks more like a sunset.

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