A Diamond View

[Octane]

An accompanying image to Golden Tufts of Wanaka (http://users.tpg.com.au/octane2/gtow.html).

Another rewarding view on a walk along the Diamond Lake track on a chilly autumn morning.

The image shows Lake Wanaka and environs as heavy clouds lap upon the peaks.

Double processed single RAW for clouds in top left, and image proper.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/80s f/11.0 at 17.0mm iso100

Slightly larger resolution available here (http://users.tpg.com.au/octane2/adv.html).

Comments, critique, etc., most appreciated and welcome.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled macro programming. :rofl:

Regards,
Humayun

[troypiggo]

Lovely landscape. No critiques here. Good to see you still have some more up your sleeve.



Haha. I was thinking the same thing. There's been a bit of a wave of macros flooding the forum. Hope y'all aint sick of them. Yet. There'll be more to come, from me at least, before the end of the Xmas break. :)

[Octane]

Hey Troy,

Cheers!

And, no, not sick of them at all. I love nature (as we all should!) and find the excellent images you guys post, both fascinating and inspirational. Please continue to share! My little comment was made in jest as not much else gets posted nowadays. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[Miaplacidus]

Beautiful image, Humayun.
After the madness of Christmas, I think you just lowered my blood pressure 10 points! Much appreciated.
When did you take the photo?
Regards,
Brian.

[Octane]

Thanks so much, Brian. Glad you appreciate it. :)

This photo was taken on the morning of 1st of May, 2009. :)

I'm looking forward to going back in April, or thereabouts.

Thinking about saving my pennies for a visit to Yellowstone sometime next year. That would be paradise.

The aim of my work is to present picturesque and dynamic images which transport the viewer's mind and put them in the composition. It's one of the reasons why I try to attempt (whenever and wherever possible) to avoid any human elements in my images -- sometimes this isn't possible, for example, my photos of Queenstown. When I do pull it off, I think this helps with my vision; that the viewer doesn't necessarily need to know the details of where the image was made, but, can put themselves there in the light.

Regards,
Humayun

[dpastern]

H - I'm curious about your processing workflow for these landscape shots, any chance of sharing it?

I had a good laugh at your 2nd comment. I'm sure I can see a bug on the grass in your shot :P

Dave

[gary]

Really nice! Fabulous processing :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Great shot :thumbsup: I really like this one.

Nice sharp foreground, excellent distance and contrast of colours, nice mood with the weather and lighting. Very nice.

[bloodhound31]

Stunning scenery! That just makes me want to get the backpack on and scoot off on the mountain bike.

Baz.

[M54]

Huyuman, you have a wonderful sense of composition.:thumbsup:

[rogerg]

I keep coming back to this photo... it's really quite something :thumbsup:

[telecasterguru]

A very nice image. Where's my tent?

Frank

[Quark]

Hi there Humayun, its been to long since my last visit to this forum.

H, you have done it again, I am in awe of the feelings that you can evoke in your most excellent work. The atmosphere that a true master can create. You have demonstrated this quality on many occasions, but with this image it is the feeling of depth within this amazing vista that really caught my attention.

I have been admiring this image for about an hour, as has my wife and son, we all think it is stunning.

Humayan, this does not look like a photograph, this looks like a landscape painting from a master. The changing textures of the well resolved and light coloured grass in the foreground with the darker foliage on the next hill, the whole light and shade effect that leads us through to the distant lake is done so very well.

I would think that, if you don't already live in a very large house with heaps of wall space for hanging, that you must have major problems working out what to frame and hang. This image would make a great centre piece, appropriately framed on the lounge room wall.

When you have your first exhibition please let me know.

Regards
Trevor

[RobF]

Just stunning Humayun.

I do have one complaint though - I realise you probably don't want to give your work away, but I'd love to see a fullscreen image of this beautiful shot. I suspect I'd keep visiting it whenever I feel like strangling anyone.....;)

[DavidU]

Beautiful and peaceful. Very nice work H.

[Miaplacidus]

Yes, I have to echo Trevor's comments. A captivating image that just draws you in and back, over and over again. It deserves to be seen full size, and certainly belongs in an exhibition (like much of Humayun's other photos). Simply superb work. Thanks again.

[Lumen Miner]

Superb mate! :)
I get drawn in to the distant details, then sucked right back again to the foreground grass. This process keeps repeating itself, nice work.

[Octane]

Dave,

Each shot is quite different. It all depends on how much I exposed. Sometimes I have to increase the exposure, sometimes decrease.

For this particular shot, it all came out quite nicely in the camera, luckily, as the light was just right. I did, however, manually blend a 1-stop (I think it was) underexposed image for detail in the clouds in the top left.

I increased the saturation in the greens, reds and yellows by around 15% and applied a high pass sharpening filter for foreground and background (masked). And, lastly, a low opacity linear contrast layer just to add a little separation. Contrary to most photographic rules, I'm not a huge fan of contrast; I don't mind subtle delineation between the subjects in the photograph. Oftentimes I find increasing contrast destroys shadow detail.

I think that was about it, actually. I try and do as little as possible in post whenever I can.

I can't see the bug! :tonguepoke:



Gary,

Thank you, sir.



Roger,

Glad you enjoyed it!



Barry,

You and I both, mate. You and I, both! I am really looking forward to going back.



Molly,

Cheers. I appreciate the compliment.



Roger,

:big grin:



Frank,

Cheers!



Trevor,

Ah, mate, always love reading your comments!

The fact that you've mentioned that it doesn't resemble a photograph is enough for me to know that my job is done.

Unfortunately, I rent a tiny little one bedroom bedsit/studio and have very limited wall space. However, I went and picked up a new toy from Sydney last week. I will be taking pictures of it in the next day or two (will post in imaging and camera sub-forum) and you can rest assured that this one will be printed in large format, framed and sent to my parents to hang in their place.



Rob,

Thank you, mate.

When I get a moment, I will upload a larger version for you and link to it.



David,

Thank you!



Brian,

That's so kind of you. :blush:



Mitchell,

Cheers! I find myself drawn to the grass as well and then my eyes wonder forward and backwards, over and over, too. :big smile:



Thank you everyone for looking and leaving me such kind comments. It's these comments which inspire me to do more.

My apologies for the late reply as I have been rather busy with life. :cryface:

H

[bloodhound31]

I thought I would come back and look at it again.....YEP, still love it.

[hotspur]

a lovely image,well done on the PP work,has a great 3D feel,about it,

the viewer can really enjoy looking into the distance,as if one was on site.

i feel your works have improved since i first started looking at them,not that the earlier ones were bad,just the later ones better.

Its really difficult to give full critique on images of this magnititued on a simple screen image.

I would imagine these would look outstanding printed on canvas,i recently saw this done in a gallery of images,similar standard of yours and it was most amazing,i hope you have a similar gallery show of your images

[danielsun]

Amazing colors and view, almost like a colorful painting.
Very nice work H.:thumbsup:


Cheers Daniel.

[Octane]

Barry,

Thanks, mate. Glad you like it. I feel my job is done if you came back for another look!



Chris,

Thanks, Chris. To be honest, there wasn't much post-processing on this image. I blame the camera!

I've always said that looking at images on the screen is not ideal; the prints look fantastic. It's a pity I have nowhere to really hang them, so, they have to go to my parents place.



Daniel,

Thank you, kind sir.



Thanks again, everyone, for looking, commenting and enjoying!

H

[Jen]

:eyepop: wow H, how cool is that i love how the clouds are just sitting on that rock makes me wanna go climb it :lol: very nice pic :thumbsup::thumbsup:

How do you get the back ground to stay focused with the closer stuff i was trying to learn how to do that the other day :screwy: