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Alchemist's Sky
Alchemist's Sky
Dr.Confuser


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2009-12 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
Location: Kirkland, Washington USA
Date: Dec 28, 2009
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 800
Shutter: Various
Galleries: Landscape, Fish Eye
Date Uploaded: Dec 15, 2009

 Photographer’s Notes
Okay … last Free Study of the year. Let’s pull out all the stops. This is the view from my house, looking west over Lake Washington towards Seattle. I love living here, love the weather we see and experience, love the sunsets.


This was the sunset on the afternoon of December 28th … afternoon? Well sunset comes early to northern latitudes in winter.


The "Alchemist" reference in the title is a nod to the fact that this is clearly a “made” image. While I started with a fine image, one that pleased me initially, I wanted to really push it (within the limits of advanced editing, of course.)


Maybe you’ll like this, even love it, as I do. Maybe you’ll hate it. Let’s let the voters decide if I've turned lead into gold ... or blue in this case.

Post Processing
• HDR 7 Images toward Realistic (Photomatix)
• HDR Same 7 Images toward Cartoonish (Photomatix)
• Tone Map Each Image (Photomatix)
• Blend Images (PSCS4)
• Correct Lens Distortion (PSCS4)
• Crop (PSCS4)
• Darken Sky (PSCS4 Overlay Layer – Gradient Mask)
• Remove Sensor Dust (PSCS4 Clone Layer – Gradient Mask)
• Darken Water (PSCS4 Overlay Layer)
• Push Yellows and Reds (PSCS4 Hue/Sat Layer)
• Save 7 Bracketed Versions (PSCS4 Exposure Layer)
• HDR 7 Bracket Images (Photomatix)
• Tone Map ({hotomatix)
• Push Yellows & Reds (PSCS4 Hue/Sat layer)
• Push Contrast (PSCS4 Curves Layer)
• Lighten Sky a Little (PSCS4 Overlay Layer)
• Desaturate Green (PSCS4 Chanel Mixer Layer – Masked)
• Resize (Genuine Fractals)
• Border – Blur (PSCS4 Gaussian Blur – Masked)
• Border (PSCS4 Stroke Layer)
• Save for Web (PSCS4)

Camera Data
• Date: 2009-12-28
• Camera: Nikon D3
• Lens: Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
• ISO: 800
• Aperture: f/13
• Shutter: Various

Statistics
Place: 56 out of 334
Avg (all users): 6.1437
Avg (commenters): 7.6000
Avg (participants): 6.2017
Avg (non-participants): 6.0182
Views since voting: 1420
Views during voting: 318
Votes: 174
Comments: 7
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D300
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED
 01/08/2010 12:15:32 AM
I never got a chance to go through all the entries in this challenge so did not see this (I might have recognized it) but it seems it should have scored higher to me. I love the processing. I never thought of doing two processes in Photomatix and then blending them, cool concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 01/07/2010 07:54:25 PM
Lovely editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 01/06/2010 06:07:37 AM
I like the colors and cloud texture, but I think you've gone a bit far with the Topaz here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 01/04/2010 08:14:22 PM
I like the clouds.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-20D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 01/02/2010 03:33:39 PM
I normally would not score this style of image higher then average. The 'dreamy' blurred items of the docks and land create a huge distraction for me. However this image did get higher then average because of the dramatic appeal of the sky and colours as well as the horizon line and water reflection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon
 01/01/2010 10:25:11 AM
Beautiful and quiet. I love the colors and richness of the sky.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D3300
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
 01/01/2010 09:37:01 AM
wow omg 10 10 10 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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