Last year, 2014 for them reading this in the distant future, we took a drive to Montrose. It was a scouting trip for a potential move there. That was a bust, but we did finally visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
You already saw the rocks and dead trees on my last post. Here come some wildflowers.
Once again, you can click on the photos to open a larger version in a separate window or tab. There is also a SmugMug gallery for these HERE. In SmugMug, you can see the photos in their native resolution.
Sometimes the photos do not need a lot of work. Here is a shot right out of the camera without any processing.
As shot, no adjustments
Still, I put it through my usual basic process.
Processed with onOne Effects
The basic Lightroom tweaks gives me this:
onOne processing plus Lightroom basic tweaks
Here are the Basic Lightroom adjustments after getting the file back from onOne.
However, I want it a tad brighter . . . I could just increase the exposure, but I take a different approach so I can maintain details.
You can see that I moved around a lot of sliders. I actually reduce the exposure and bump up shadows and blacks, contrast, clarity, vibrance, and saturation. This is what I end up with:
processed with onOne plus more aggressive Lightroom adjustments
Here is a neat cactus flower.
As shot. I used the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens because the macro was back at the car.
Here is my crop of the photo (eliminating all the extra noise, as it were.)
As shot, cropped
And here is the finished product after I play with onOne and Lightroom.
onOne and Lightroom processing
And, here’s another interesting flower . . . and a bug as an added bonus.
Montrose,
As shot, cropped for composition
Processed
Here is a flower from one of my recent posts . . . first, the cropped as-is shot.
As it came out of the camera, but cropped for composition.
This is the basic processing, and what I showed on the other post.
Basic processing
I can also apply the more involved processing (the one I used on the rocks) and get this:
same processing as used for the canyon cliffs
Some people like the basic process and some like the above, showing more contrast and “popping” the flowers out a bit more.
That same processing also works for these flowers . . .
OK, this is where some people will get bored . . . maybe.
As shot, cropped
Here is the more involved processing . . .
onOne processing and Lightroom adjustments
Now, I could do a few things to bring the flowers out a bit more. All of the following are accomplished by moving sliders in Lightroom.
Black and red
Palladium Monochrome
Here is a similar photo and a few more variations.
As shot
Processing for texture
Monochrome with dark vignette added
Same as the last one but with light vignette.
I think I’m partial to this version . . .
Let me take yet another photo (I know; they all look alike) . . .
As shot
Processed with higher contrast and more aggressive showing of reds.
Adding a slight vignette brings out the flowers a little more.
I could also remove most of the green to further isolate the flowers . . .
This, on the other hand, does not work as well . . .
Here are another set of flowers using the basic processing . . .
Here are the same shots but with the more involved and darker processing.
So, which processing do you prefer?
Let me speak a bit about composition . . .
Here is a scene I liked for the various elements; flowers, trees, rocks, sky . . .
What if I change the orientation?
Which has more impact? Obviously, one is larger on the screen because it’s taller – ignore that.
Another another pair of the same scene but different compositions.
Finally, I happen to have a photo of some interesting rocks processed in different but subtle ways.
That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.
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Cosmic Maelstrom
Astute persons might have noticed these doodles, and correctly surmised they hold some significance for me, and perhaps for humanity at large.
If you click on the doodle, and nothing happens, this is the link it’s supposed to go to: https://disperser.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/palm-vx-and-i/.
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Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website. Could be they also torture small mammals.
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Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so. I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards. I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way. That would mean something to me.
If you wish to know more, please read below.
About awards: Blogger Awards
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Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.
. . . my FP ward . . . chieken shit.
Love your photos – especially the ones with contrast and the colors popping. Do you ever reveal the final results of your polls – the wording, by the way, is almost as much fun to read as the rest of your post. I said, ALMOST. ;-)
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At the bottom of the poll box there should be something that says view results. If it’s not there, let me know because it means I don’t have the settings right.
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At the time I wrote, I did see the poll results. But I suspect that I cast my vote shortly after you posted it. So my vote was the only one that was noted.
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I don’t usually get more than three or four votes, and that’s on a good day.
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I just checked, and you should be able to view the results . . . but, be prepared for disappointment.
I don’t usually draw more than a vote or two, if that. In fact, I’m pretty sure most people don’t read past the first few paragraphs.
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I think you are trying to do some sneaky psychological profiling of us with this voting lark because I know you don’t really care what we think but thanks for the instruction. Amelia
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No profiling; just an excuse for some fun writing. And I do care, really. My whole life revolves around this blog. Without it, I would be a soulless hulk. Oh, wait . . . never mind.
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I love that first (unprocessed) pic of the yellow flower. Runs. Hides. Ducks for cover.
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No need to run; I could have easily have left it as is and been happy with it. As the post is in part about post-processing, I ran it through the paces. I don’t think if differs all that much from the final product.
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Most of your photos are good; some of the flowers are spectacular. Overall, the posting is a tad too long but your polls are hilarious!
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You’ve obviously not a long-time reader of my blog . . .
For example, here’s what an actual long post looks like:
https://dispersertracks.com/2014/01/20/one-day-in-photos/
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I love your photos and your polls, Emilio! I always want to pick/vote the smart-assed-iest smart-ass poll comment, but I don’t…as I want to give you honest feedback.
Wildflowers are my favorite flowers…that they pop up and grown and thrive…sometimes in very harsh conditions with no gardener tending to them with TLC is amazing. :-)
HUGS!!! :-)
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Really, you should vote your preference. I get just as much a kick from knowing someone appreciated my smart-assiness.
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HA! Well, I ALWAYS appreciate your smart-assiness…as I am a smart-ass, too! :-P
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This post really illustrates the reason I like Lightroom. The ease and flexibility is unbeatable in other image processor. I tried to ditch Adobe because I didn’t like the idea of the CC and tried another product. It was not as easy to use but that’s just because I’m used to Lightroom and I don’t want to learn another program all over again. The post also shows the importance of processing, no matter what software is used to achieve the goal.
Have you tried the baked Cheetos? Don’t!
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You could buy the full license of Lightroom? I think I’m going to do that every few years in case I ever want to ditch the $9.99/month plan. Although, really, for what you get, it’s pretty cheap. for the cost of eating out a couple of times a year I get the latest of Photoshop and Lightroom plus fonts, plus the media encoder.
And, I think I’ve only tasted Cheetos once, baked or not. Once. Last Century. Once.
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great shots!!
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Thank you.
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Here’s adding more kicks for smart-assiness! Your voting posts are always lots of fun. And I gotta say, your Fearless Followers are the cherry on top!
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Ha ha. Love the polls. I succumbed to temptation and answered truthfully rather than helpfully. Make of that what you will. ;) Seriously, though, I am always struck when visiting wild places in your country, by the amazing diversity of wild flowers. So beautiful.
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Thanks . . . levity is what often fuels my life. And yes, wildflowers . . . especially out here in the West. The shorter growing seasons are compensated by furious, diverse, and aggressive blooming.
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