Cloudship GX

[Octane]

For the second time in a week, I've predicted a nice sunset, made my way up the mountain and have been rewarded in full.

Presented here in 617 format is the view south west looking towards the Brindabella Ranges.

Chuffed.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
3.2s f/16.0 at 40.0mm iso100

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

Comments, critique, etc., most welcome.

H

[jjjnettie]

Beautiful!

[bloodhound31]

Nice work Humayun, did you use a graduated filter or any other kind? WHat is 617 format?

Like the last one, beautiful but feels a little cut - off having such a thin horizon.

I love that cloud on the left! Wowee Canberra is getting some gorgeous shows with dinner!

Baz.

[Octane]

Thanks, Jeanette. : )

Barry, yep. I never leave home without them. 617 is 6x17 rather than 3x2.

Having any more in the bottom of the frame would mean that man-made structures would intrude in the composition -- which goes completely against my philosophy of shooting landscapes.

Canberra is definitely getting some nice sunsets. Typically, in the past I've observed epic sunsets in February. I hope they continue.

I'm pleased that I'm getting to the stage where I'm able to read the light an hour before sunset.

H

[bloodhound31]

Thanks mate. Yep, I understand that philosophy perfectly. You stick to your guns there mate! Keep up the good work.

Baz.

[Astroman]

The colours are there, nice work. A little foreground would have been nice though, remember the 1/3, 2/3 rule.. As for the sunset, it look like a ripper, shame about all the cloud though... did it clear off?

[Heath]

Lovely use of the 5d once again Humayun

[DavidTrap]

That's what the clone tool, healing brush and content aware fill are for H.

I reprocessed some waterfall shots recently - there was an annoying branch intruding over the soft, velvety water. Gone after five mins with the clone tool and the picture is greatly improved. I've also taken other photographers and walkers out of a big pano I took around Dove Lake - makes you think I was the only one there!

Great colours again H. The art in processing these things is to keep maintain believability in the end result - not that I'm implying you've photoshopped your colours here!

DT

[spearo]

Beautiful colors H, you know what I think of your images.

I wonder if you would consider a variation in framing of this as well.
It looks great as is with the gradient of clouds in the right half of the picture going to the top but I wonder if it would be worth a play with a really narrow framing at about mid height, from about where it goes blackish on the left hand side.

I think it might be a bit too narrow but might showcase/highlight a striking range of colors? Would lose the diagonal effect though from center to top right obviously.

Might just not be a format that's done at all though, too narrow probably which why i ask, no better way for me to learn. Of course I could actually get out there, do the hard work myself, post it and learn that way but its so much easier this way....;):lol:

As I said its beautiful as is, just wondering if that could be a variation of framing and whether its an acceptable kind of frame or just too narrow if that was done.

cheers
frank

[lacad01]

Very nice work H. :thumbsup:

[troypiggo]

Beautiful. That cloud on the left makes it. It's like an oil painting.

I'm glad you haven't included more FG and cloned out objects. Keep the image pure, as captured. It's a sunset shot, and that's what you see when you view it. The mountains along the bottom make a great underline to the statement of the image, rather than taking it over.

[multiweb]

Really nice. Great colors. :thumbsup: I like the widefield display for these. Makes things look real big.

[bones]

I like it very much. Well done H.
Tony

[Octane]

Andy,

phw0ar! Blast from the past. Come back to IRC with the missus! : )

Ah, yes, the foreground would have ruined the image, though. And, yep, well aware of the rules of composition. However, in 617 format, there's no such thing as thirds; the camera must be perfectly level (which it was; my Manfrotto head has spirit levels). Granted, I don't have a proper camera to take images in that format, but, I can pretend, right? : )

The cloud is what makes that sunset work. Especially the little floater to the left. Without that floater, this image would not work at all. It's like a counterpoint. In general, sunsets suck without clouds (unless we lived on the west coast and could see the sun set over the ocean!).



Heath,

Thank you. : )



David,

Ah, yes. Well versed in the clone tool (used it plenty to remove powerlines in skies). I'm not so sure how the content fill would have helped in the bottom half of the image. Though, see my reply above and also Troy's reply below re: mountain range forming a footnote for the rest of the image.

Apart from a 10% kick in vibrance at 25% opacity, I can assure you, the colours were all there. : )

Appreciate the constructive criticism -- as always. : )



Frank,

Thanks, mate!

I understand you, mate. A 317 format, perhaps, to remove the dark on top and maintain just the mountains and to the edge of the yellow/gold. I will give this a go, although, I fear it may be just a little bit too tight (as you've mentioned). Really want to print this one!



Adam,

Glad you enjoyed it. : )



H

[Octane]

Troy,

Thanks! And, yes, you're 100% correct -- it's the little floater on the left. Without it, it's nothing.

100% agree with your reasoning re: framing, too.



Marc,

Thanks, again! Wish I had a proper wide-format camera. Anyone got a spare $7K? : (



Tony,

Cheers!



Thanks, everyone!

H