Taken while flying in a Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) plane in Afghanistan. Processing includes levels and curves to bring out color I didn't even know was there, and add some contrast that is hard to come by in this region. The "boxes" are walled compounds with homes, probably some livestock. It was a pretty day to fly!
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Wow! I'm rather surprised, but pleased. Glad I had the chance to show off Afghanistan - it really is a pretty country. And it is not tone-mapped (neither the photograph nor the country). Just simple editing (adjustment layers and some blending modes) with a wee bit of dodging/burning in parts.
The original:
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Place: 10 out of 393 Avg (all users): 6.9464 Avg (commenters): 8.2105 Avg (participants): 6.9756 Avg (non-participants): 6.8667 Views since voting: 5947 Views during voting: 311 Votes: 168 Comments: 98 Favorites: 34 (view)
Wow. You've certainly managed to pull so much out of this... I would not have even tried because I wouldn't have thought this was possible. Excellent treatment of the colours and tones. The more I look the more I see.
IS IT A PHOTO OR A PAINTING... IT COULD BE BOTH BUT I KNOW IT IS A PHOTOGRAPH BY YOU AND A BEAUTIFUL ONE AT THAT... I HAVE DECIDED THIS IMPRESSIVE AERIAL LANDSCAPE IMAGE DESERVES A SPECIAL SHERPET JEWEL AWARD FROM ME... IT HAS MOVED ME RE THE AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IN LIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY. IT IS ALREADY FAVORITE AND NOW ONLY THE SECOND PERSON TO RECEIVE THIS SHERPET JEWEL STAR AWARD. THANK YOU MY DEAR FOR BEING YOU AND SHARING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH US...FROM SHEZ
Oh my... was an astounding image. Albeit this image did really well in the challenge, I personally believe that it should have done even better. Very nicely done.
I agree with what everyone has said about this shot. From the air like this, you have captured the feel of the landscape and geography without being able to see the grit, stress, and garbage that must surely accompany the scene at street level. This is a rare and beautiful snapshot of a very unforgiving landscape.
A fantastic shot, of some rarely seen scenery, that could only have been captured in this frozen moment. The noise from the saturated blues in the mountains, and greens in the foothills are all that stand between a a 9 and a 10 here, and I would have went with a 9. My preference would have been to try to de-saturate the noise some, and level the color down overall. Also would have liked to see this slightly sharper.
I have never seen a picture taken from a plane that is THIS GOOD! This is really wonderful. I love the boxes. The processing - without being tonemapped? AMAZING. It looks phenomenal.
Wow, Deb, what am amazing job you did with the editing! The light and shadows create this underwater feel - it's very cool. Love the color gradient too. Congrats on your new 3rd best and a top 10 in the Free Study!
Deb, this is a stunning image! What a beautiful place...thanks for sharing this far-off part of the world with us. I love your wonderful editing on this!! You know it's hard to believe hardships exist in such a lovely spot.
Terrific photo! Amazing post processing -- thanks for sharing your original. It's really interesting to know what can be done. Congrats on your top ten -- I had you pegged as best in show! :-)
Congrats on the top ten! Was this shot through a window or was it a clear shot? I took something similar from a commercial plane over the Rockies and had a similar color effect, although it was stronger in the orignal so I assumed it was just the glass causing it.
Amazing image and amazing finish in a Free Study challenge. Congratulation on the top ten placement!!! I'm particularly impressed with your post processing skill. There doesn't seem to be much hope for the original when I look at it, but lo and behold, with your magic you produced a real winner.
Oh, Deb! This is stunning. I am so impressed with your Middle East photography! Congratulations on a well-deserved top 10 spot for this beautiful work.
Fantastic processing - it's really great how you teased so much detail and color from the original shot. The square format just nails it. Congratulations!
WOW Deb, this is truly outstanding. You got a little ol TEN 10 X from me on this beauty. I'm so glad you've been able to adjust to the hot country and flourish photographically. It sure has been a good experience for us in the DPC community. THANK YOU.
WHoo Hoo , Deb !!! I had a feeling this was yours cause of those gorgeous mountains---amazing shot & well deserved ten spot (should be higher IMO)-congrats & big hug :) -P
eeeeeeeeexcellent! Congrats on the top 10 Deb!
I remember reading somewhere you said you were tired of the birds on your profile page. Just one more to go! :)
wow deb .. this is amazing .. it makes me think of a fairy tale land, which of course seeing where you've been it most definitely is not !!
the lighting, the colours, everything is just brilliant and so beautiful .. well done on an excellent score and a wonderful finish in the free study . :)
Triffic image here, and what a deserving result for this awesome image from you Deb..... I am just so proud of you and this result.....Way to go gitl.....
Very nice Deb. The tones of light and dark throughout the image are incredible. Very pleasing shapes, espeically that circle patch. Congrats on the wonderful score.
WOW, Deb. Did you show us the original in our team thread? I'm amazed at the color and contrast you got in there. Congrats on the top 10, esp. in a free study! And a new personal 3rd-best. I'd say that's worth the editing time. :)
I flew for the first time a few months in over two decades a few months ago, and I didn't like it! This is, perhaps, one of the best aerial photos I have seen: really well composed, and an almost orther-worldly colour palette. Intriguing.
Wow! I really like the variation in tones between the flats and the mountains. Looks like wild country and you did a heck of a job keeping the camera still in the plane/chopper! 8
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