A few from my trip to the Lake District

[StuartRae]

I had a great time - good weather, excellent beer and beautiful scenery. Here's an almost random selection from hundreds.

All taken with a 350D + EF-S 17-85 IS.

Approaching Castle Crag with Skiddaw in the background.

Looking south along Derwentwater.

Blencathra

And as a counterpoint to the scenery, an image which some may find distasteful.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Ray West]

Hi Stuart,
Have you done much processing on these (remembering an earlier thread where you compared the different methods available)?

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Ray,

Does it show?

In general I adjust the EC and Shadow Contrast in RSP to get as much detail in the sky as possible and then lift the shadows in PP.

The first one was done with Shadow Illuminator.

For the view along the lake I used Photomatix Tone Mapping as it tends to bring out more detail in clouds.

For the mountain I used Light Machine to increase saturation and add a touch of blue to the sky.

The ex fox is as shot.

So yes, I used just about everything!

Stuart

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Edit

I should have added that I've processed the images to make them look how I like them.
If you think I should have done things differently please let me know.
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[Cem_Usakligil]

...I should have added that I've processed the images to make them look how I like them.If you think I should have done things differently please let me know.
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Hi Stuart,

No, I have nothing to suggest at all. You've done a great job. The first one is my favorite, and I like the ex fox too. Maybe you can play a bit with your crop on that last one?

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

 

[StuartRae]

Cem,

Thanks for replying. How would you suggest cropping the fox? I wanted to leave a bit of pretty greenery in the image just for contrast.

Stuart

 

[JohnZeman]

The first three are beautiful Stuart, the top one has just a wee too much contrast for my eyes, but it's still very good and I envy your trip to Scotland.

By the way, is the bottom photo of your lunch that day? lol

 

[StuartRae]

Hello John,

Thanks for the comments.

Nice to find another Raw Shooter refugee here.

I think you're probably right about the first shot. I must have twitched when I was adjusting shadow contrast in RSP.

There wasn't really enough meat left on the fox to make it worth bothering with.

BTW, the Lake District is in the NW of England, not Scotland. Not that it matters except it's less distance for me to travel.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[janet Smith]

Hello Suart

I really like the first one and the fox...... the first one I really like because it is of one of my favourite places in the Lake District, but also the way the wall on the RHS leads the eye into the photograph, also very interesting to read about all your PP, would it be possible for you to show the before and after? it would be interesting to see the impact of all your hard work.

 

[StuartRae]

Hello Jan,

This is one of my most photographed places, with shots going back a couple of decades. I love the way Castle Crag and the slopes of High Spy frame Skiddaw.

it would be interesting to see the impact of all your hard work.

LOL! No hard work - one mouse click is all it took.

Here are the images you asked for.

First one converted in RSP with no adjustment to the exposure. The background looks fine, but the sky is washed out.

This is the original of the one I posted. The background is to dark and lifeless, but the sky is fine. Converted in RSP with a decrease in EC and a boost to shadow contrast.

And as for all my hard work, here's the Shadow Illuminator interface. Leave everything to default and click OK

Some time ago I posted a comparison of several shadow recovery plugins. Here's the link.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[janet Smith]

Hi Stuart

My chin has just dropped onto my chest!!!!

One click!! I've spent hours messing around in CS2 with some landscapes I'm currently working on, I'll be checking this out right now!!!

Thank you.....

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Stuart

My chin has just dropped onto my chest!!!!

One click!! I've spent hours messing around in CS2 with some landscapes I'm currently working on, I'll be checking this out right now!!!

Thank you.....

Hi Janet,

Consider evaluating Lightroom; therein you can achieve the same results using one or two clicks. I.e. using the "recovery", "fill light" and optionally the "Clarity" sliders.

Cheers,

 

[janet Smith]

Hi Cem

I've been very focused on developing my CS2 skills, but I will definately be checking this out.....

 

[JohnZeman]

Stuart thanks for this.

And my apologies for saying this was Scotland, I had this thread mixed up with Jan's.

I just tried, and have now purchased the Shadow Illuminator Pro plug-in. Cem one of the photos I used while evaluating the Shadow Illuminator plug-in was on one where I had a shadow problem in Lightroom. I had optimized it in LR as best I could with fill light and clarity before sending it to the Photoshop but the Shadow Illuminator made quite a remarkable improvement over my best Lightroom efforts.

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

Hey Stuart nice pics. Good to see that your RSP still does good work .Looks like we have only a few more months before the ole RSP forum is shut down . I use LR and RSP still . LR clarity and HR is good. I have never heard of SIP I will have to check it out.
The fox pic is dramatic .
Regards
Don

 

[Andrew Stannard]

Hi Stuart,

Lovely pictures. The third is my favourite - I've always liked the shape of Blencathra, and your photo has really caputred it nicely!

As for the fox! I've seen farmers hang up moles in a similar fashion, but never before a fox. I'm off to the Lake District this weekend, and have to admit I hope don't come across a scene like that.

Cheers,

 

[StuartRae]

Good to see that your RSP still does good work

Hi Don,

I still use RSP as my converter of choice, and will continue to do so until it no longer supports my camera. LR has some nice features, but I just can't get on with it - slow, clumsy and poorly designed.

I'm off to the Lake District this weekend,

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the comments, and enjoy your trip. Fingers crossed for some decent weather.

Regards to both,

Stuart