I have been spending a pretty good amount of time learning how to manual blend multiple exposures for an extended dynamic range which is larger than what the camera can take in a single exposure. I am using Channel masks to achieve this result. I have learned the use of this technique from Sean Bagshaw who is a highly skilled landscape photographer and artist.
With this entry, I have hand blended parts of 2 separate images. Each exposed with the intent to use each part in the image correctly. This is an HDR technique, I'm just doing it without the aid of any HDR software. This technique creates a vastly more real looking image. I did a small amount of color correction and contrast adjustments in CEP4 as well. Using these blending techniques, I was able to overcome some very difficult areas in the image such as keeping the foreground exposed correctly and the very bright clouds. Any image with the sun behind clouds is impossible to expose correctly in one or even two or three exposures. HDR software would have created halos and color shifts due to the high dynamic range of the area's.
Wow! Can't believe this won with so many great entries! Thanks for the votes and comments. It's humbling to be part of such a great community.
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Congrats on the blue!! I've started playing with manual blending as well, since the HDR software seems to run into limitations on truly contrasty scenes. Thanks for posting it in the notes.
Beautifully colored, dramatic and spread over the full extent of the sky, the clouds alone are exemplary. Add them to a wonderful landscape and the visual lead-in of the downed fence -- this would also astound in the fences challenge -- and you have a glorious image. The foreground is intimate, the rest of the landscape is breathtaking in scope and the clouds are majestic. Right into my favorites.
Gateway to the West
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