Palo Duro Canyon

[Jeff_Green]

Next time I go, I will stay longer and relax more. The 6 mile lighthouse hike with all my camera gear wore me out!

Please feel free to let me know what you think!
1

2

3


It has been so long that I have been on a trip for the sole purpose of taking pictures that I am out of practice! I look forward to advice and critiques!

[lhdvies]

I'm not expert enough to give advice or critiques, but I can tell you for sure I like these photos a lot. Well done IMO! (2nd one being my favorite!)

[Melany]

The 6 mile hike is a piece of cake -- but that climb UP is a bitch (and it's even harder coming down!)

Something I always remember AFTER I get home, is to put something in the forground to lead the eye up to your subject (rock, tree, stream, etc) I get so excited about shooting Palo Duro, I forget LOL

I like to underexpose about 1 click, especially out in sunny conditions.
As you probably already know -- carry less gear next time LOL. I'm guessing you used a polorizer on the middle shot, but took it off for the last?

Where's the Lighthouse shot? I took my tripod, and did a selfie up there -- just to prove that I made it!

[TheFantasticG]

I like #2 more because the sky is more towards natural color.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by Melany

The 6 mile hike is a piece of cake -- but that climb UP is a bitch (and it's even harder coming down!)

That is true, I was counting that. I had to stop right before the climb onto the table and rest for a few minutes. Had a half gallon thermos of water, my camera backpack, heavy duty tripod, I was exhausted after the first climb!

Something I always remember AFTER I get home, is to put something in the forground to lead the eye up to your subject (rock, tree, stream, etc) I get so excited about shooting Palo Duro, I forget LOL

I would have loved to have a leading stream to put in the picture... but of course the entire state would love that too! lol

I like to underexpose about 1 click, especially out in sunny conditions.
As you probably already know -- carry less gear next time LOL. I'm guessing you used a polorizer on the middle shot, but took it off for the last?

Don't shoot me, no polarizer filter for any of the shots. I know, I wish I had it, but alas I didn't.

Where's the Lighthouse shot? I took my tripod, and did a selfie up there -- just to prove that I made it!

How about this one?

[Melany]

Now THAT'S a nice shot! Even got a tourist in the forground, leading the eye to the pretty landscape, and giving a sense of scale! :-)

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by Melany

Now THAT'S a nice shot! Even got a tourist in the forground, leading the eye to the pretty landscape, and giving a sense of scale! :-)

I put the amazingly sculpted model in that image to compliment the amazingly sculpted landscape... either that or it's a self portrait that shows why I am a photographer and not a model.

[snydersnapshots]

Nice shots, all of them, though I like 2 the best. I'm glad to see you finally got out like you were talking about wanting to do in your thread last month!

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by snydersnapshots

Nice shots, all of them, though I like 2 the best. I'm glad to see you finally got out like you were talking about wanting to do in your thread last month!

Thanks! It really has helped me. I was able to get away and relax AND focus on my photography at the same time... with the exception of getting my glasses broken by getting smacked in the face with a tent pole...

[DHaass]

Your composition and subjects are fine. I would like to see you shoot in some better light, either early or late, whichever direction get's the best light and color on the rocks.

[goshields]

Jeff:

These three are are really nice landscapes of PDC. I was there last year, but didn’t get to spend much time.

You said to let you know I think - so, here goes. Each of them looks a little flat to me.

I downloaded each of them and played with them in Nikon Capture NX and made some minor adjustments to see if I could make them ‘Pop” a little more.

These are the adjustments I suggest be made to each of them.
Adjust the color of the sky in #1 & #3 to match #2
Add some contrast
Boost the color just a little to bring out the red dirt
Add some High Pass Sharpening

It’s just a personal preference, but I think most of my landscapes benefit from adding contrast and a little High Pass Sharpening.

Also, I’m assuming you used your D300 and without embedded EXIF I could not tell which Picture Control you used. If you shot these in Raw, try changing the Picture Control to Vivid or Landscape. Either of these will bring out the colors. (I usually shoot Standard Picture Control and change in post processing if needed.)


Again, great photos…

Grady

[Jeff_Green]

Thanks Grady! I will play around with them some more and see what I come up with! I really appreciate the time you took to offer some suggestions!