[silence]

I love the rays from White Pass ... fantastic shot!

[GaliWalker]

[joker]

a stump on Guye (1 of 1)

Base of a bleached snag up on the approach to the summit of Guye. I "focus stacked" about 8 images (the first focused on the nearest bit of plant, and then each successive one focused a bit further into the scene; used Helicon SW to blend them) and one more image shot one stop darker for the sky. I did it mostly for learning and practice, and to be frank there are a few halo problems that I don't think are worth trying to eliminate. And it's a but busy. But I still sorta like how it looks on the screen. And I learned a few things which may help next time...

[silence]

I would never go to all that trouble, but hey I don't consider myself a pro photog. That said, I think this is a perfectly beautiful image Jim ... and thank you for telling us the process.

[joker]

I enjoy the process, and these techniques (both focus stacking and exposure blending) can really open up opportunities for some dramatic photos, so for me they're worth learning and practicing. Even with the lens fully stopped down, this photo would not have worked as a single shot due both to the extreme depth of field required and the very high dynamic range (beyond even the best sensor available as of today). I wouldn't rate this photo as really showing off why it's worth it - as noted it was a bit more of a "practice shot" to exercise some technique I've been learning lately. But with exposure blending in particular, it can yield nice results with very dramatic lighting that in the past I've typically enjoyed in person but have seen as not worth trying to capture with a camera. This shot took a few extra minutes in the field (versus a single exposure shot) and then perhaps a half hour of processing time at home - somewhat slow since I'm still doing a fair bit of trial-and-error-and-repeat as I learn how to exposure blend tough cases such as trees against sky.

[joker]

old growth forest floor

[GaliWalker]

[joker]

That one is silvery, GaliWalker! Here's Shuksan and a tarn this past Friday evening, as weather moved in.

Shuksan and tarn (1 of 1)

[joker]

Acer Macrophyllia (1 of 1)

[GaliWalker]

^ Nice!

Little Stony Creek Falls, Virginia

[silence]

Beautifully done Gali! Here's a few from our recent trip to Grand Teton

Grand Teton

Teton Sunrise

Cathedral Group

[joker]

Nice shots, guys and gals! Here's a persistent tank that retained water long after its many neighbors had long since dried out, in Snow Canyon State Park near St George, UT

persistent tank-

[joker]

Some east Zion (above the tunnel) sandstone:

Sweep (1 of 1)

[joker]

Valley of the Gods

Valley of Gods B&W (1 of 1)

Valley of Gods B&W 2 (1 of 1)

[joker]

Butler Wash Ruins

Butler Wash Ruin 1 (1 of 1)