Riverfront Candy . . . . . . IR

[jeffmeyers]

I have posted a number of shots similar to this of the St. Louis Arch. But I found this one unprocessed in a batch of images I captured this past fall. I processed it differently. This was captured with an IR-converted Nikon D70s with a 10.5mm Nikon fisheye lens. If it's worth the time, I may try to bring out the sun's rays a bit more in the upper left corner of the image.

http://jeffmeyers.smugmug.com/photos/477179287_JuGgC-L.jpg (http://jeffmeyers.smugmug.com/gallery/5790798_HPPi7#477179287_JuGgC)

[Roaddog 52]

Nice. I love this point of view, those clouds and the reflection. The blues and golds really work well together.

[Tango]

new perspective on the usual is alway what i try to do toooo.
good work there, i always like the fisheye effect...

[tisun]

I like it -- the colors, reflection, clouds, lens distortion.

[torags]

Really nice Jeff. I don't know how you could improve upon what you have done.

Is it me or is the left side more parabolic than the right?

Rags

[jeffmeyers]

Really nice Jeff. I don't know how you could improve upon what you have done.

Is it me or is the left side more parabolic than the right?

Rags

Thanks. I'm not sure that the distortion is any different. It may just be that the shoreline is closer on the left.

[redleash]

Terrific image, Jeff. I wouldn't mess with the sun rays. Looks great as is!

[coscorrosa]

Love those popcorn clouds! You're really working that IR thing.

The one nit I have is the reflection on the bottom is noticeably darker than the sky above.

Also might be interesting to flip the photo upside down with the reflection on top (after evening out the brightness). Might look like crap, might look interesting.

[clemensphoto's]

Very nice, I really like the comp on this.:clap :clap

[cj99si]

Great perspective on this Jeff! I love it! As Ron said can you get anymore light from the water?

[jeffmeyers]

Great perspective on this Jeff! I love it! As Ron said can you get anymore light from the water?

Interesting point about the relative darkness of the water. I guess I'm just used to this pond having dark water. Also, behind and above me are a line of trees that block the light and darken the pond even more. But whatever the reality on the ground might have been I think you guys are right about the need to lighten the water. Thanks!

I'm just curious. Here's my other favorite shot of this scene. Do you think the water is too dark in this one, too?

http://jeffmeyers.smugmug.com/photos/358504361_tqjnt-L-1.jpg

[cj99si]

It could use some local adjustments right at the bottom so its not an abrupt change in light. It makes more sense with the tree there so you know its a shadow, but its still distracting. Have you thought about just cropping the bottom out, since your already in a wider aspect ration to begin with. Its a nice image though, nit picking aside. I bet if you go there with the sun rays coming through the tree in the upper right it would be sweet, and solve your shadow issue. Although that might not be IR friendly.

[dlplumer]

You are really becoming quite the IR guy. Nice work Jeff. :thumb

[AngryRed]

I'm probably not even remotely qualified to comment on a photo as good as this but I couldn't get past the darkness in the corners, well actually the overwhelming darkness on the entire bottom of the image.

Have you tried playing different crops? I know the symmetry of an even horizon is big in an image like this but I kept seeing something like this in my mind

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n143/gnostic203/_.jpg

Sorry if its inappropriate to repost your image.

Overall in my opinion it is fantastic and I stared at it for about 10 minutes.

[coscorrosa]

Interesting point about the relative darkness of the water. I guess I'm just used to this pond having dark water. Also, behind and above me are a line of trees that block the light and darken the pond even more. But whatever the reality on the ground might have been I think you guys are right about the need to lighten the water. Thanks!

I'm just curious. Here's my other favorite shot of this scene. Do you think the water is too dark in this one, too?



I think this one is better.

And yeah, I'm not disputing that the pool actually was darker - often reflections of the sky are - just that it might look better if was brightened up a little. Usually I'll use a 3-stop or 5-stop (3 stop + 2 stop) GND filter when there's a big difference like this, but if you didn't blow out the sky (and you didn't) you can get the same effect in post, though you might get a little more noise that way in the dark areas when you increase their brightness.

Anyway, this is a great spot, if I was in St. Louis I'd definitely make a point to visit this location.

[Marc Muench]

http://jeffmeyers.smugmug.com/photos/358504361_tqjnt-L-1.jpg

This is a beautiful image of the arch:thumb

reflections are always better in shadows and therefore darker than the sky. This image appears to be more balanced but also appears to be too bright in the highlights. I like the high key effect so am only referring to the highlights. Great composition:clap

[jeffmeyers]

It could use some local adjustments right at the bottom so its not an abrupt change in light. It makes more sense with the tree there so you know its a shadow, but its still distracting. Have you thought about just cropping the bottom out, since your already in a wider aspect ration to begin with. Its a nice image though, nit picking aside. I bet if you go there with the sun rays coming through the tree in the upper right it would be sweet, and solve your shadow issue. Although that might not be IR friendly.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

[jeffmeyers]

I think this one is better.

And yeah, I'm not disputing that the pool actually was darker - often reflections of the sky are - just that it might look better if was brightened up a little. Usually I'll use a 3-stop or 5-stop (3 stop + 2 stop) GND filter when there's a big difference like this, but if you didn't blow out the sky (and you didn't) you can get the same effect in post, though you might get a little more noise that way in the dark areas when you increase their brightness.

Anyway, this is a great spot, if I was in St. Louis I'd definitely make a point to visit this location.

Thanks, Ron. I appreciate the great advice.

[jeffmeyers]

This is a beautiful image of the arch:thumb

reflections are always better in shadows and therefore darker than the sky. This image appears to be more balanced but also appears to be too bright in the highlights. I like the high key effect so am only referring to the highlights. Great composition:clap

Thank you for commenting, Marc. The highlights in these IR shots are always tricky, especially with a bright sun. But I believe you are right.

I need to take a little time and rework these two images taking into account everything everyone has suggested.

I appreciate the time you all took to comment. It was all very helpful. :lust