61 - Anticipation
Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 16mm, iso200, 1/15sec at f/8.0, +CPL
This is the southern trailing edge of the cold front that just froze the northeast. It passed through south Florida right at sundown. It revealed its intentions around 3 in the afternoon and I knew I needed to be somewhere other than my backyard at sunset. What was unique and doubly beautiful was the strength of this front and how that created a line of high clouds that went from an apex in the north (top image) to a similar apex in the south (bottom image). The lines the clouds created ran all the way from north to south. I attempted to create images suitable for stitching into a panoramic, but colors, light and lines were changing so fast that I doubt I have anything that will work. In the N image out in the water stands a great blue heron, as the sky burst into color he seemed to stop fishing so he too could just enjoy the sunset skies...
Comments
Using a CPL at such a wide angle isn't always a good thing. I know it helps to make the clouds pop, but you end up with that "tounge" of dark sky in the middle of the frame. This is apparent in the second photo. It just makes the sky seem a little uneven.
Of course having lots of clouds breaks up this effect, but if you had a cloudless sky, it would look bad.
If you go w/o a CPL, you can always use the selective color layer in PS to add black to the cyan and blue colors in the sky - this will darken the blues much like a polarizer would. The PS effect is not as good as using the actual filter when shooting, but it does help if you go w/o the CPL.
Select the sky portion only (use a feathered selection), then add a Levels layer. Bring the black and white sliders inwards, and that will "pop" the clouds and sky much like a CPL.
Again, not as good as using a real filter, but the PS effect is evenly applied, unlike the CPL and the "tounge" effect.
Anna :)
JLT, My favorite too...
TandS, Thanks for commenting.
Anna, Thanks, this was easy to name as soon as I saw the clouds start to form I started to anticipate.
Diane, Thanks so much for commenting. Your work and instruction has greatly inspired me...
Debra, WOW thanks for being here!!!
Suzanne, Thanks for visiting and leaving a lovely comment...