Editing:
(i) White balance and exposure corrected in Adobe Camera RAW. Imported into Phoshop as a 16-bit image in Prophoto RGB colorspace.
(ii) Neatimage to clean up the noise.
(iii) Shadow/highlight on a seperate layer with mask to bring out the details in the shadow areas in the foreground.
(iv) Created a copy of the image on a new layer and added a high-pass-filter to it with a small radius (1 or 2 I think) and changed the blending mode to overlay. This is to bring out the highlights as in the stars and the grass in the foreground. The effect was then increased by adding a levels adjustment layer onto this layer and changing the input levels to 55, 1.00, and 200.
(v) I used numerous layers and methods to convert the image to B&W.
First of all I used a channel mixer with a mask to convert the sky to B&W using 20% red and 80% green. I also added a curve to to the sky to increase contrast by making the sky darker. (I didn't make the northern lights any brighter though.)
The foreground was converted into B&W with the Russel Brown method.
(vi) I then added a slight amount of color to the foreground by copying the original color image onto a new layer, changing the blend mode to Soft Light and reducing the opacity to around 20% with the northern lights masked out since I wanted them to be completely B&W. If you look very closely you should notice that the house and grass have a slight brown tint. It's not very obvious but I like the effect.
(vii) I brightened a few areas in the photo, the road leading to the ocean in the far right, the reflection of the northern light on the ocean and the area to the left of the house.
(viii) Sharpened after resize.
I think that's it.
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An interesting presentation - as much for the monochromatic treatment as anything, I think. This free study seems to have been treated as a landscape challenge, and this at least adds more drama. It's striking, but not overly arresting.
Excellent night shot. I love the sirl of what is probably the aurora borealis. The building with the scaffolding around it is interesting amidst the natural setting. Very well done! I'd love a print of this!!!! 9
The aurora gets me every time. I've still never seen it as I live a bit too far south. I'd be interested to know what the foreground was illuminated with as it gives a good effect to say the least.
Fabulous capture! The B&W heightens the interest and the mood of this image. Not distracted by color we more readily drink in the shapes, textures, and objects of this shot when normally our eye would have been instantly riveted by the aurora borealis. The weathered look of the old barn and the grass blowing in what appears to be a strong breeze is prominent and gives the eye textures to feel. I also love how you also captured the stars in this shot which further gives this a magical and mystical feeling. The Northern Lights is beautiful, eerie, and takes on the appearance of something otherworldly as we gaze upon this scene. Coupled with the stars in the shot I almost think of the Milky Way is what we see adorning the night sky. Great capture!
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