The Dunes at Night

[GB1]

Here's an experimental creation using a pic of the Imperial (Yuma) Sand Dunes. A little cleanup, lots of desaturation, darkening, a moon, ............. and this is what comes out.

Is it missing something, perhaps a jackal or two, or a lion? I have a problem knowing how far to go.

Comments welcome.

G

[MNRyan]

That is one of the most incredible images ever! I might have made the moon slightly larger but still it's an A++

[armando_m]

A very pleasant image

as for trying to suggest improvements, or more like asking q's
Was this really taken at night ?
I understand you added the moon? if so then the source of light seems to be from behind, perhaps the sun has not set yet ?

[Nicci]

Very nice! I would either get rid of the moon (it looks wobbly to me) or make it bigger as MNRyan suggested. It seems to need more......darkness maybe---to my eyes and on my screen. But over all, other than the moon, I like it.

[GB1]

Thanks Ryan, Armando and Nicci. I am thinking of entering this one into a contest (have to decide quick on this for the deadline's tonight)... they say "digital manipulations" are OK.

Nope, it wasn't taken at night,about 7 am actually ~ 1 hr after sunrise. I just played with it by converting to black and white and then selectively darkening the blue, then adjusted the heck out of the contrast and intensity.

I see what you mean about the moon... Crappy copy and paste by me. I will redo and make it a little bigger too. Look for the repost here later.

Here's the source material except for the moon which came from another shot I did a few minutes before. I did an HDR on this one. Below is the completely unaltered middle exposure. You can see that post processing is really needed on these shots !!! Sooooo flat! The HDR adds some umpf. You can also see that I'm getting a lot of vignetting from my filter holder. I am having to zoom in a little to avoid it, but didn't quite zoom enough here.....

G

[n8]

what kind of filter were you using? I just recently got some old cokin filters and would like to put them to use.

[hminx]

Other than making the moon slightly lighter , I reckon its great as is.

[GB1]

Alright everyone, what about this version? Moon's definitely more prominent.



Council, it was a Cokin set too. What's really odd is that I don't get as much vignetting on my Nikon F100 which supposedly has ~ the same size frame as my new D700. But I'm seeing a lot more vignetting on the 700. Note that I'm talking about 24mm focal lengths, may be OK if you are using less than a full frame sensor and longer lenses.

hminx, see the larger moon here. In some ways it's better, but also less mysterious.

[Greg McCary]

I like the moon more in the first one but it seems skewed or something. I think you should fix the blown out part of the sand and it would be fine.

[hminx]

Another moon and this could be Frank Herbert's Arakis

[Chris350]

I like it. the second one that is. As to the vignetting with the Cokins, do you remove any other filter that might be on the front of the lens before you install the holder? I use one with a 16-85 DX lens and if I forget to remove the UV it vignettes in nearly the exact same way.

[MNRyan]

I really like the change, I think it adds to the image. Not to make you change it again, but maybe no moon would work too.?

[jetrim]

Love the second version, one of your best ever (and that's saying something!) but I almost wish the moon was on the left, to give the light spot some relevance (or a dune buggy :lol. Seriously great work GB!

[GB1]

Here ya go guys. I made the moon a tad smaller, sorta in-between the two previous sizes.

Let me know your feelings on these, if any!

Ryan, here's the image w/o the moon altogether. It's a different creation w/o it I think.

hminx, I never read Dune though I guess these dunes go with the theme A possible book cover some day would be great. (I can dream anyway.)

Greg, if you mean that one bright area on the top of the sand dunes, I'm honestly not sure it's worth the effort. I actually added some contrast to make the image pop. I am however wondering if I print it can I get one of those older silver gelatin prints to achieve the same effect, if it does?

Chris, nope, no other filter attached, just the Cokin holder and Colin polarizer filter. Thanks for the idea though.

Looks like that photo contest has extended their deadline by a week ..

[GB1]

Love the second version, one of your best ever (and that's saying something!) but I almost wish the moon was on the left, to give the light spot some relevance (or a dune buggy :lol. Seriously great work GB!

Thanks Jet. I see what you see on the light-from-the-moon issue: the moon would really have to be on the left. Ahh... looks so much better in the middle though, where the lines 'lead' the viewer to the moon. Anyway, trying your suggestion...

[DrRoebuck]

Council, it was a Cokin set too. What's really odd is that I don't get as much vignetting on my Nikon F100 which supposedly has ~ the same size frame as my new D700. But I'm seeing a lot more vignetting on the 700. Note that I'm talking about 24mm focal lengths, may be OK if you are using less than a full frame sensor and longer lenses.

I have a 24-70/2.8 and D700, and get vignetting at wider focal lengths. But when I use a 20mm prime I don't. Just something to consider if you want to use the filters at wider focal lengths.

[DrRoebuck]

Also, I think the moon has to go. It looks even more artificial in that last version, because it's not nearly as bright as its supposed reflection.

In fact, that bright spot in the sand kinda kills the whole thing for me. I did a vertical 8 x 10 crop almost at the far right side and it seemed to work well. It made that curving line of the sand dune prominent.

Without the moon I'd do the same crop, but closer to the right edge.

[MNRyan]

GB1, I guess it does make it a lot different. But I still like it because it really makes you focus on the sand and the pattern there.

DrRoebuck, I think you might have nailed the image with the moon in there. Great Idea.

[GB1]

I have a 24-70/2.8 and D700, and get vignetting at wider focal lengths. But when I use a 20mm prime I don't. Just something to consider if you want to use the filters at wider focal lengths.

DR - That is a mystery. It doesn't even matter if the lenses are FX or DX because the 700's sensor is full frame. Odd. Perhaps it has something to do w/ the filter ring/mount on the front of the lens where some are pushed out farther than others. Hmm.

[GB1]

I like your crop DR. I think there's a number of good pix inside the main one here. I'll see about reducing the brightness on that one dune in the upper left and see if that helps. It looks a little plain w/o the moon IMO, though I do agree that it's not technically correct considering the angle and brightness. Maybe a few bright stars instead ...

Thanks too Ryan.

G

[Frog]

I was so impressed with the first one, I almost didn't want to see any edits.
I did not like the sky that much darker in the second edit.
I think the second shot in post #14 is best
I do not like the moon on left near as much.

Hope it isn't too late to enter it in the contest. Really like what you have done.

[GB1]

I was so impressed with the first one, I almost didn't want to see any edits.
I did not like the sky that much darker in the second edit.
I think the second shot in post #14 is best
I do not like the moon on left near as much.

Hope it isn't too late to enter it in the contest. Really like what you have done.

Thanks Frog, your insight is always appreciated!

It isn't too late for that contest, they pushed the deadline back a week. You can check it out at www.artofphotographyshow.com and see if you want to enter. Be forewarned though: the volume is tremendous and the odds are therefore slim. I think they had over 11,000 entries last year and chose 100. Weird stuff too .. I think those judges are too bored.

Here's a few other edits. Tell me when enough if enough This one has a bit of a nativity feel ..

[Greg McCary]

Yes GB the bright area of the sand is what I am referring to. When you added the contrast layer you could have used the eraser to bring back some detail, but if you are happy with the result then leave it as is. I agree it is one of your better shots. It all boils down to personal preference. It is a very good shot.