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Post by hmca on Aug 8, 2018 3:55:20 GMT
I am always trying to capture lightning strikes. Nature put on quite a show tonight. F 8/ 44.0/ISO 100  |
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pontiac1940
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Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Aug 8, 2018 4:03:05 GMT
Nice shot Helen.
Love lightening storms...had some good luck ten years ago. But conditions are rarely right.
Great capture.
Clive
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Post by Bailey on Aug 8, 2018 10:36:04 GMT
Spectacular capture and photo hmca  but on my screen there seems to be a bluish colour cast in the image, especially the clouds. I would think they should be a darkish grey colour. So unfortunately I couldn't help myself  and had to have a tinker with it in PSE  . I hope you don't mind. The histogram's Blue channel shows way too much blue compared to the red and green channels. So all I did to try to improve the colours was add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer, selected the Blues channel and lowered saturation to -53 and Lightness to -77. On my screen this gives a dark grey tone to the image, especially the clouds. With a Brush set to 50% grey from the Colour Swatches palette I painted everything except the clouds on the layer mask and came up with this: I think there might still be too much of a blue cast in the bottom half of the image, but that you could edit to suit or just return the layer mask to all white. Please don't take this as criticism but just as my 2c worth of food for thought |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,361
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Aug 8, 2018 13:11:02 GMT
"...but on my screen there seems to be a bluish colour cast in the image, especially the clouds." Helen's photo looks correct to me..that's one of the "colors" lightning casts in the clouds. The desaturated/altered version is unnatural. Discussion on colors of lightning. stormhighway.com/what_color_is_lightning.phpClive July 25, 2009, near Cowley Alberta  |
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Post by hmca on Aug 8, 2018 13:43:46 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 13:48:12 GMT
Helen,
I am envious!!! I have so far not been able to photograph lightning; the conditions have usually been atrocious around here (think golf ball size hail, strong winds, and lashing rain!).
I couldn't disagree more with Bailey's analysis and edit, as the result just looks boring and lacklustre now. And Bailey, could I remind you of Forum Rule #3 which states that you need express permission from a member before you can edit their photo, which, going by the wording of your post, you did not get from Helen in advance. Just because someone posts a photo in the "Show Your Work" board does not immediately give another member the right to provide a critque of said photo - as always, critique should be given if a member asks specifically for it. And finally, a lot of the time a photo's editing was done specifically to create a "feel/mood" by the originator, so just going by the histogram and the values of the different colour channels is not always what is needed for a specific photo.
I for one prefer Helen's take on her photo and applaud her for an outstanding picture, worthy of printing and hanging on the wall.
And Clive, thank you for that link to a very useful article on the colours of lightning.
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Post by PeteB on Aug 8, 2018 15:13:35 GMT
Helen Great shot! What method did you use to "time" the capture? I love your processing! BTW, thanks for the links, I especially like the PetaPixel link. |
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Post by hmca on Aug 8, 2018 16:35:01 GMT
Thank you, Pete. My "method" is basically trial and error. There was a lot of sheet lightning.........what we always referred to as "heat lightning" as a kid. It was quite dark when the pictures were taken so I was just leaving the shutter open for what I estimated to be 20 - 30 seconds or more to try to capture it. However, as soon as I saw a bolt I would quickly release the shutter. I was surprised when I saw that the shutter speed for this one was 44 seconds. |
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Post by Lillias on Aug 8, 2018 17:26:25 GMT
I'm afraid I can't talk intelligently about photography but one thing I feel sure about and that is that this wouldn't be an easy shot to get. Good for you Helen and it looks great to me.
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Post by hmca on Aug 8, 2018 19:42:23 GMT
Thanks, Lillias....and Simone too. I was quite pleased with this shot.
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 8, 2018 20:18:11 GMT
Helen, I am envious!!! I have so far not been able to photograph lightning; the conditions have usually been atrocious around here (think golf ball size hail, strong winds, and lashing rain!). I couldn't disagree more with Bailey's analysis and edit, as the result just looks boring and lacklustre now. And Bailey, could I remind you of Forum Rule #3 which states that you need express permission from a member before you can edit their photo, which, going by the wording of your post, you did not get from Helen in advance. Just because someone posts a photo in the "Show Your Work" board does not immediately give another member the right to provide a critque of said photo - as always, critique should be given if a member asks specifically for it. And finally, a lot of the time a photo's editing was done specifically to create a "feel/mood" by the originator, so just going by the histogram and the values of the different colour channels is not always what is needed for a specific photo. I for one prefer Helen's take on her photo and applaud her for an outstanding picture, worthy of printing and hanging on the wall.
Simone, I agree with you on all counts.
Helen's photo is simply amazing. It is the kind of photo that I, an amateur photographer, can only shoot in my dreams. I envision it entered in a photo show (juried or otherwise) and getting all kinds of accolades.
On the other hand, Bailey's version, in addition to being the result of unsolicited, rule-breaking editing, looks just . . . blah. No longer do we have Helen's photo, a great example of her skills as a photographer and post-processor as well as of her creativity. Now we have Bailey's photo, one which stripped the WOW factor from her photo and turned it into just another run-of-the-mill photo.
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Post by Bailey on Aug 8, 2018 22:38:33 GMT
No problem hmca, Clive et al. I see your point. I don't venture out into thunderstorms nowadays. Maybe I should next time and try to take a photo
Hi Sepiana
On the other hand, Bailey's version, in addition to being the result of unsolicited, rule-breaking editing, looks just . . . blah. I didn't think I was breaking any rules because in my Playing with Landscapes and Colours thread hmca and PeteB downloaded my image. PeteB clearly edited it without me asking when he posted that he tried hmca's solution and it worked. I had no problem with that at all and I appreciated their feedback. I hope there isn't one rule for moderators and another rule for us mere mortal members  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Aug 9, 2018 0:11:21 GMT
On the other hand, Bailey's version, in addition to being the result of unsolicited, rule-breaking editing, looks just . . . blah. I didn't think I was breaking any rules because in my Playing with Landscapes and Colours thread hmca and PeteB downloaded my image. PeteB clearly edited it without me asking when he posted that he tried hmca's solution and it worked. I had no problem with that at all and I appreciated their feedback. I hope there isn't one rule for moderators and another rule for us mere mortal members
I quite agree with you Bailey, and I know your input was appreciated (by some of us). Speaking just for myself, I am embarrassed by the mean-spirited response that was posted.
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Post by blackmutt on Aug 9, 2018 1:09:05 GMT
Helen,
Great capture! Stay safe while you attempt these photos.
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Post by kdcintx on Aug 9, 2018 1:36:16 GMT
Helen and Clive - you captured fantastic lightning photos. I would be absolutely giddy to get such photos. Good work.
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and had to have a tinker with it in PSE 
. I hope you don't mind. 
