Kagbeni on the distance Photo

Photographer’s Note

Please look at WS #3 before you write your critique, because only after I uploaded the main post I noticed that the sharpness could be improved.

Another one from my 1994 trip to Nepal. This is again the Kali Gandaki Valley, a couple of hours walking upwards from the place of my last post of the area. After 4 km (3 miles) or more of totally barren landscape except for an area where there was a reflorestation plan going on, the area around Kagbeni [te] appears as a mountain oasis.

Following the Kali Gandaki upwards (North) leads to the interior of the fabled Kingdom of Mustang [te, wikipedia] and its capital Lo Manthang. Turning right (East), following the deep valley of a small tributary of the Kali Gandaki leads to the village of Muktinath [te, wikipedia], a sacred place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and Hindus. Further up on that direction lies Thorong La, the highest point (5416 meters / 17769 feet) on the Annapurna Circuit, a popular trek of 300 km around the Annapurna Massif.

WS's:

• #1 - another POV, shot further up the trek from a higher point. I am not sure which one I prefer, I would like to know your opinion.

• #2 - the original image produced by the scanner. I don't consider myself much skilled in PP, so I was quite surprised with the results I achieved, as I would never tell that the original has so much info. I am reasonably satisfied with the colours, but not at all with the sharpness. After posting I noticed that I could have done better, but I am still surprised by the bytes needed to achieve a level of sharpness that isn't so great (the file is very near the 200 Kb limit of TE). That is a phenomenon that I have been noticing in many of my last PP's of scans.

• #3 - a sharper version.

Link to all my posts of this area: *.

Location (latitude, longitude): 28.8267,83.778

Note on the location in TE: according to Wikipedia, all this region, from Jomsom to Lo Manthang and Muktinath is part of Dhawalagiri district [te]. I put my posts in the Gandaki district following the others, as almost no one posts their photos of the region in the supposedly right place.

japiey, lucasgalodoido, cfreire, jwmunro, Docarmo, shevchenko, paura, danos, feather, ElAprendiz, zeynepe, saylan-cb, sagar, xuaxo, riclopes, ruisc_pt, JCG, Didi, denisn72, robertosalguero, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

phototurk (482) 2008-03-31 14:38

It's a good composition and strong colours

lucasgalodoido (16603) 2008-03-31 14:40

Olá José,
um local muito bonito esse, com cores magníficas, nunca consigo um resultao desse em imagens escaneadas, sempre fica com as cores meio "lavadas", você digitaliza direto do negativo em equipamentos profissionais ou em um scanner doméstico mesmo?
Parabéns e Abraço!

cfreire (11647) 2008-03-31 15:14

Olá, José,
Que paisagem impressionante! As texturas das montanhas e da superfície estão magnificas. Os tons siena queimados, que com o sol, ficam meio dourados, contrastando com o belo céu azul. Está um show. Grande foto. Um abraço, Consuelo

jwmunro (6577) 2008-03-31 16:42

Hello Jose -

It is a nice image, but IMO the impact is lost because of the lack of sharpness. Sorry.

Thank you for sharing.

John

ribeiroantonio (21917) 2008-03-31 16:42

O teu link #2 leva-nos a uma foto da India chamada Coronation Bridge e publicada por "marodia". Penso ter havido um erro qualquer no link.
Quanto à foto, está bastante boa apesar de ser antiga. Quanto a mim, não será necessário tornar a publicar só por causa da nitidez.
António

capthaddock (28640) 2008-03-31 18:36

Oooh a vintage beauty, the quality is not optimal, but for an old scan it's just fine, a very interesting wild landscape removed from modern. The WS versions are also useful, I have the same problem, you did a good job of processing the original, compositionally I have a preference for WS #1, maybe because I like the heights, and there is less empty sky.

Docarmo (8834) 2008-03-31 20:04

Olá José,
Este trabalho está estupendo! Incrível a transformação desta foto! Você fez milagre! Nem se pode dizer que não é uma foto originalmente digital. As cores estão ótimas e a sensação de volume está bem presente.
PARABÉNS!
MCV

shevchenko (9922) 2008-03-31 22:07

Hi Jose,
Good pov to show the giant landscape, interesting to see foreground streams against the background dry land, good contrast and nice color, good sharpness of a scan image, thanks for sharing your old photos.
Ally

paura (38410) 2008-04-01 3:50

J.Pires,
A fotografia está muito boa e interessante. Parece que a qualquer momento essa superfície vai ficar repleta de água. Curioso a pouca vegetação circundante. Parece não ter havido maior prejuízo na corversão para digital.

Abraço

Paulo

japiey (9493) 2008-04-01 4:21

Hi Jose,

Well composed image, and a great note.
Excellent tones, lights..
I like this natural designs seen in frame from the place..
A real natural beauty.
All the best, dear friend.

jp

danos (32468) 2008-04-01 5:00

Ola Jose,
nice the shot of Nepal 15 years before.I imagine that so long trips these years must was an adventure.I like this 'spider's web' that created from the large number of the brooks.The sharpness and the clarity of the shot is not the better one.Informative your note too.

Regards,Danos

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-01 7:42

Jose,
a qualidade realmente e tipica de um scan barato, mas a composicao com o rio dividio em uma multidade de bracos contrastando com as montanhas carecas ficou excelente. Gosto de ver a sua dedicacao em mostrar nos aos poucos a sua aventura nepalense. Recordo me muito bem que foi exatamente uma das suas primeiras fotos do Nepal que me atraiu para a sua galeria.
Peter

feather (49860) 2008-04-01 8:05

I gave up scanning slides 3 years ago, as I wasn't satisfied with the end results. When I compare this with the original scan, you have done a good job already, but I agree that it does need more sharpness. Many scans I notice look over-sharpened, so I don't think it can be easy to get it right. It's difficult to answer your question about preference between this and the other WS, as the WS is sharper and therefore more appealing. It does however have a feeling of being tilted. I can't tell you why as any reference seems OK; it's just a feeling. What I like about this one is the meandering streams of water leading the eye easily into the frame. Interesting presentation as always
Kath

UnTrained (0) 2008-04-01 12:23

Olá José,
I think you found a good POV for this great graphical impression or the POV is just the one creating this impression. I like the view into valley but the curves of the water are eye catching each time I am looking at this.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

crckt (7074) 2008-04-01 12:58

Hi Jose,
Amazing scenery this! Even for a scanned shot it has good quality. The blue sky gives a nice contrast to the the reddish mountains.
Well done,
Shaeri

Jardim (3197) 2008-04-01 13:07

Olá José,

Gosto da textura desta foto criada pela formas naturais assim como do enquadramento.

Júlio Jardim

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-04-01 14:57

Hola mi amigo.

Quizas hay zonas donde hace falta algo de definición, pero debo decir que es una toma espectacular, con gran profundidad de campo y una adecuada iluminación, donde se destacan unas tonalidades bien contrastantes.

Los riachuelos formados en el primer plano, refuerzan la composición y dinamizan todo el escenario.

John

zeynepe (9342) 2008-04-01 22:13

Olá José,
First of all, I want to thank you because your workshops are so helpful for me as a new photographer:)
An impressive landscape, nice colors I like WS3 :)
Have a nice day,
Zeynep

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-04-02 2:13

Hi Jose,
This is a great colours and beautiful light,POV are excellent.
TFS/Regards

sagar (2307) 2008-04-02 4:07

Hi Jose,
A real treat to the eye. Looking into your WS, there is no way I can comment on the sharpness, However , this too , is not very disturbing.Lovely view of the barren landsscape, almost looking like a shot from the Tibetian plains.
Good colors,,challenging place huh?.....
Regards,
Sagarneel.

jaywalker (12190) 2008-04-02 9:24

Hi Jose, I agree with the sharpness & the W/S you show is superb, however that is not a big problem, the overall composition of the photo is excellent & you have the light perfect, the weaving streams are brilliantly portrayed in this shot, it's a great landscape picture, with plenty of interest for the eye to view over, kind regards Wilson.

cobbydale (1924) 2008-04-02 14:58

Hi José,
yes, the sharpness in WS3 makes all the difference and we can see just what a superb shot this is! Well done
cheers
Leon

xuaxo (5727) 2008-04-03 10:12

Olá José
Gosto mais do #1. Quanto ao #2, é realmente impressionante o que os programas de processamento conseguem ajudar a fazer.
Entre esta principal e o #3, se calhar prefiro esta; não sei bem porquê até acho piada a este aspecto de postal ilustrado antigo. Também me faz lembrar alguma coisa de banda desenhada.
Um abraço,
F

vincz (19043) 2008-04-04 0:30

Toute une atmosphere! J'aime beaucoup les dessins formes par la riviere qui serpent dans le sable avec de multiples ramifications. Belle lumiere.

riclopes (33001) 2008-04-04 2:12

Bom dia José, comparando os nossos ritmos, acho que me vou ficar sempre só pelas tuas do Nepal, especialmente se forem de montanhas. Estas duas ainda me fascinam mais do que a anterior, talvez devido às cores e a este efeito de riachos no 1º plano. Gosto muito das duas e não sei qual escolheria para principal. Esta pelo 1º plano e a outra pela sequência de montanhas na vista. De qualquer das manaeiras, depois da aplicação de 'sharpness' o WS3 parece melhor que o WS1. Impressionante as diferenças relativamente ao original WS2. Acho que tenho de te dar os meus scans antigos para poder postá-los também...
Um abraço,
ricardo

ruisc_pt (6206) 2008-04-04 4:09

O contraste destas imagens digitalizadas é um problema e sempre um desafio.
O WS está efectivamente muito melhor.
O local é maravihoso e merece todo o esforço de optimização.
Um abraço
Rui

Bluejeans (32293) 2008-04-05 2:01

Oi amigo ,
Sem duvida o W3 ficou muito melhor , mas a paisagem é fantástica o vale é muito interessante pela cor da terra , muito bonito este primeiro plano rasgado pelas aguas do rio , bonito azul do céu , bom trabalho de scan, parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

JCG (25331) 2008-04-07 9:15

Hi José,

This area of Nepal is impressive of beauty, I like much this wild nature. The graphics given by these species of channels is interesting. On the level of the quality of the image after treatment of the scan, I prefer the WS 3 where clearness brings more beautiful definition to the image in particular in the light. The point of view of the complementary photograph in WS 1 is also interesting, the harmony of the colors is very pleasant. Good job José and thank you for your note.

With all my friendships and a good evening,

Jean-Charles

Didi (36090) 2008-04-07 10:10

Bonsoir José
Une très belle vue dominante avec un avant-plan original.
Pour la netteté je penserai plutôt à une perte de définition causée par la compression JPEG et l'agrandissement d'une diapositive en scan contribue à cette perte.
Je connais car j'ai quelques scans de diapositive sur TE à mes débuts.
Obrigado.

Greg1949 (8507) 2008-04-12 14:48

Compliments to the chef for cooking up WS 3 Jose, it really is a better shot and the initial post is realy good on it's own. Looks like an awesome place.

Greg

denisn72 (6979) 2008-04-13 12:50

Hello Jose
That landscape is stunning with all those shapes, textures ans colours. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards
Denis!

robertosalguero (110) 2008-04-13 21:57

Olá José,

I don't mind the sharpness so much in this image. I am more amazed at the rugged scenery of this place. It does look remote, away from the problems of modern life. Nice perspective with the river creating an interesting pattern on the foreground. Thanks.

Roberto

noborders (14199) 2008-04-18 23:53

Hi José,
I love those immense, vast sceneries specially if there is a building like here or a person that give the scale to the scape : very impressive but I too would have sharpened it a bit... Nonetheless an excellent photo for TE,
Compliments, best regards,
Cath.

jmdias (19267) 2008-04-19 17:35

josé

realmente se perde algo nos scanners mas mesmo assim o essencial da imageme stá aqui. Gostei do pov e da luz, as cores me pareceram um pouco fortes demais mas nada de ruím

abraços

jorge

kiks (6073) 2008-05-20 8:21

Helo Jose,my first reaction was indeed: what a pitty that this lovely composition is not sharp but fortunaly at the WS3 i get the good one! Impressive landschape with good contrasting colors and you made good use of the river lines to lead the eyes into the bg and create more depth. LOvely
Best regards
KIKs