Visit MPB Visit MPB Visit MPB

First time lucky with a Kx

droopsnoot
Posted 04/07/2012 - 10:36 Link
Thanks for the detailed description.
Real name: Mike Edwards. My homage to seventies Vauxhalls: www.firenza.net

Camera - Pentax Kx, 18-55 kit lens, 18-200 Sigma, 50-500 Sigma, 500mm Tamron mirror
Northgrain
Posted 04/07/2012 - 11:01 Link
Just fabulous images. Really really enjoy these aerial shots when you post

I'm wondering what the very faint, huge peaks on the RH horizon of the K2 shot are...?
ChrisA
Posted 04/07/2012 - 14:07 Link
aliengrove wrote:
The first shows K2 in the distance. All taken with my FA 24-90mm. Larger versions can be seen on my Flickr stream.

Shame it's a bit too far away to see if it's full frame.

Terrific shots, as usual. Thanks too for giving so much detail of your workflow.
.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
.
Frogfish
Posted 04/07/2012 - 15:50 Link
Great set ! How did you get to take these (assume scheduled consumer flight - which route) ?

I like the last the best - those glaciers are immense and numerous. It looks as though there are half a dozen avalanches going on (though I'm sure it's just wisps of cloud) !
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Frogfish
Posted 04/07/2012 - 15:52 Link
aliengrove wrote:
As far as PP goes, a lot of trial, error and advice from the web have led me to adopt the following method to get the best from images suffering from atmospheric haze.
I started with the RAW files in Lightroom, where I adjusted WB, reduced noise and applied a grad filter from the top to reduce exposure slightly and increase contrast. Then the images were exported to CS5. The images have then had a general levels adjustment, with the lower part of this adjustment erased by about 40% using a large soft-edged brush (a general levels adjustment often makes the bottom of the images too dark).. Then I made selective levels adjustments using feathered masks (between 20 and 60 pixels depending on the size of the area) on different parts of the images. I then used an unsharp mask at a large radius (40 pixels and amount about 30-50) , using a heavily feathered mask (about 100 pixels), on the middle and far parts of the image, which reduces haze by increasing contrast. A few of the images have also had the saturation of the blue channel reduced slightly in the distance, again using a heavily feathered mask, to get rid of a touch of the blue cast you always get from altitude. All these adjusrments need careful fiddling to get them to blend into each other. Sometimes I tweak the individual masks by erasing parts of them using a soft-edged eraser at various opacities.The whole process perhaps sounds tedious but it generally takes about 10 minutes per image. Finally they are sharpened conventionally using unsharp mask.

Alternatively in Picasa hit .. 'Take a Chance' !
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Edited by Frogfish: 04/07/2012 - 15:52
aliengrove
Posted 04/07/2012 - 16:08 Link
Thanks for all the comments!

Frogfish wrote:
Great set ! How did you get to take these (assume scheduled consumer flight - which route) ?

I like the last the best - those glaciers are immense and numerous. It looks as though there are half a dozen avalanches going on (though I'm sure it's just wisps of cloud) !

The images were taken enroute from Doha to Osaka, from 33000 feet.
davidtrout
Posted 04/07/2012 - 17:22 Link
What can I add to all the above comments Jon? They are breath takingly beautiful. More images for the possible coffee table book?
David
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout
PPG:
Edited by davidtrout: 04/07/2012 - 17:24

Add Comment

To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.