Some recent AK photo's (Kwethluk, Eagle: mosquitoes, rain, boat)

[Rance]

There was a pretty good sized herd over by KOC (base camp) last night. But it was windy and I didn't have my camera. Saw one really nice bull tho. I also saw swans, king eiders, loons, canada geese, and those other geese I can never remember the name of.
As calm as it is tonight...I'll be bringing the camera with me.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Rance

...I'll be bringing the camera with me.

...and the moquito net? I feel sorry for those poor Caribou...that must just suck!

I'll actually be at the BOC on the 28th before I head south the next day. I tried to time this trip to get some good photos. We'll see how well my planning works out!

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Nephler

Most HDR images that I have seen just don't look real to me. I may give it a try one day though.

Agree with you. Even the most professionally done HDR images look fake. Something that's a little closer than to "real" images is blending three of more identical photos into one. This can be done with software, or the hard way: by using three of more ND filters with the camera mounted on a tripod to prevent it from moving. One can also bracket three of more photos so that each has a different exposure, and then blend these images.

Blending works very well with photos taken in difficult lighting conditions. For example a background that's too dark or too light. In this case, a dark background looks lighter, and a light area is toned down. The result is a photo that has a lot more details all the way through (like increasing the dynamic range).

[Nephler]

I was just reading the other day on how to do just that Ray. If I can ever remember to take the different exposures in the field, I plan to give that a try.

[FollowThatRoad]

Originally Posted by Nephler

I was just reading the other day on how to do just that Ray. If I can ever remember to take the different exposures in the field, I plan to give that a try.

Some of the SLR's can be programmed to do it automatically...My Nikon will take 3 shots at a specified +/- Bracket...

[Nephler]

Yeah, my Pentax will do up to 5 shots with different exposures. Just have to remember to give it a try.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Nephler

I was just reading the other day on how to do just that Ray. If I can ever remember to take the different exposures in the field, I plan to give that a try.

After, use PhotoMatix to blend the images, or to create HDRs. If you don't want to go through the trouble of taking equal multiple shots, then shoot RAW and process the image with PhotoShop as a ."dng" file. When you look at the image before processing, Elements allows you to save that image before it process it. Just save the first image to the desktop, then increase the exposure a tiny bit with the slider and save that one, and then do the same to the next one, and to the next (as many as you want). The first photo will show (for Canon) IMG.590.dng (that's an example), the next image will have the same number, followed by "IMG.590_1.dng," followed by "IMG.590_2.dng," and so forth. Launch PhotoMatix, and "browse" (look for the photos), and then run the program. You can choose to do an automatic blending, one where you control the sliders, one with two images, or HDR. PhotoMatix will them blend the photo as you have chosen, and then gives you the option of saving it to a folder, screen, etc. Before you save it, give it a unique name (I give it a name such as "creek.590.tif" (I save all my images to TIFF format). Once that's done, look at the "dng" images, save the one you like the most, and put the rest in the trash can.

Launch PhotoShop, and open the blended image ("creek.590.tif"), adjust it to your liking, crop, etc., and save it to another folder or something, or on another name. This way you can leave the original blended image intact for other future processing.

[JohnPF]

I have a microscope image of a cicada in amber that is done just that way. As it is nearly imposible to take one shot with the whole body being in focus, several "layers" in focus are brought together and voala!

[debey]

Thank you, all, for sharing Alaska, with me!

[warptman]

Originally Posted by trlhiker

Awesome pictures, judging by some of those pics. yall look like you get some very heavy storms. How often do you get them and are they actual thunderstorms or just heavy rain?

We had some good ones last summer here. One actually had a funnel.