Colorful Colorado

[ccd333]

Vivid sunrise near Frisco, Colorado. October 24th.

[metoliusdmm]

Wow, thats awesome, is that a sunset, casue if it is that is one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. great job!

Devin

[ccd333]

Thanks Devin. It's a sunrise. I used to live in Salt Lake. Wish I was into photography then!

[Young Shooter]

This picture is amazing,like its realy awsome, and the reflection off the water is the best part, its like so sharp and full of goodness

[FadderUri]

Wow. Just wow.

[juzzus]

I'm drooling over this image ...

Regards,

juzzus

[ckozo]

my mixed response:

living in pittsburgh, pa, where it is over-cast far too often (i.e. grey, grey, and grey skies), my first response was that the colors were not natural and the saturation must have been increased in photoshop. in other words, based on my every-day local experience, this photo is manipulated too much..

however, i have traveled and have seen this beauty occur naturally. so, based on that, this photo is a great capture!! excellent job!!!

[ccd333]

my mixed response:

living in pittsburgh, pa, where it is over-cast far too often (i.e. grey, grey, and grey skies), my first response was that the colors were not natural and the saturation must have been increased in photoshop. in other words, based on my every-day local experience, this photo is manipulated too much..

however, i have traveled and have seen this beauty occur naturally. so, based on that, this photo is a great capture!! excellent job!!!

My mixed response
;) .....Yes, I did manipulate it some....increased the saturation as you said. That is all. But not all that much. I had my camera on high saturation anyway.....and it was an incredibly vivid sunrise in and of itself. But....I decided to enhance it some after seeing how the pink REALLY jumped out. I am not into altering photos beyond a slight enhancement (I don't even have PS). I do not like the phony look either! I don't feel like I compromised the integrity of this image too a great degree. And yes, there are scenes this bold around these parts.

Thanks for your reply!

[ccd333]

Some other things to consider. Many professional landscape photographers who claim not to use photo editing also use quite often Fuji Velvia film which as most people know "supersaturate" the colors. They also use filters and special lenses. They have many features on their expensive cameras which serve to make a better shot. Fill flash for instance. Or how about motion blurring? After all, that is not what we really see in nature. Or orientation to make something fit in a book or website a particular way.....that is also altering.

I'll be the first to criticize someone for doctoring up a photo. There is a parameter of phonyness to stay out of, and to me there is a subjective line that is crossed. I don't think adding saturation crosses that line in this scene. Maybe you do. The choices are out there....not only in how to utilize to make the images better, but also in how we decide what compromises the integrity of the art. At least we have the freedom to choose on both accounts.....and knowledge about the topic at hand coupled with one's own conscience will determine the outcome on a case by case basis.

[Steph_B]

Hi CCD333,

I had the same impression than Ckozo when I first saw your pic. It made me blink, but that's probably due to the white background of the web page. However, I do agree that the colors look natural, and thus plausible.

This is a great shot. However, I would advise maybe to crop the water by about 2/3 or even more. To be honest, I find it a bit distracting since the reflection is broken by the movement of the waves (I hope you do not mind me saying so). A longer exposure might have worked better here....

This highly saturated sunset style reminds me of the late Galen Rowell photographs. He was an adept of ND and polarizing filters and knew how to use them to give more punch to his pics.

Personally, I do not find anything wrong in post-processing photographs in PS to enhance the message you are trying to convey to your viewers. I do mind however when images are doctored to make us believe things which are impossible. Digital or darkroom alterations are like the punctuation in a text: it should just makes things more 'readable'.

Cheers,

Steph.

[shesells]

Wow! The whole sky is a firework display! Its gorgeous, it's great, and as Young Shooter says... It's full of goodness! Excellent catch.
Kit