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

Thomas J Avery said…
I like the wide, open space and amazing clouds. The GBH is a nice touch. It's neat when you get an animal in your photo and their posture suggests that they're interested in the same thing you are: the beautiful scene.

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.
Thomas J Avery said…
Oh, I also meant to add that if you use PS instead of a CPL to "work" your skies, you can also do a black point adjustment only on the sky.

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.
J. L. T. said…
Wow Mike, it´s so beautiful. I love the blue hour! Love the bird!! Sunny greets
Unknown said…
Magnificent details and patterns in the sky. The colors are so brilliant. Beautiful
myonlyphoto said…
Mike oh wow this is real anticipation. Excellent.
Anna :)
Anonymous said…
GORGEOUS... both of them. Those colors are just spectacular. Love the vast openness.
Debra Trean said…
WOW is all I can say.........W O W beautiful................
Anonymous said…
Magnificent images. The sky is amazing and I especially like how the beach becomes a perfect mirror.
TJ, thanks for your help I will try your method.

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...

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