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aspirit — Navajo wonders
Published: 2006-05-31 06:20:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 2024; Favourites: 62; Downloads: 179
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I followed a link on =MOSREDNA 's journal yesterday and read a very interesting article about dodging and burning techniques. I've only ever used the dodge and burn brushes to 'fix' small parts of images, not to alter the overall feeling of a photo, and not as a primary tool.I converted this image (Monument Valley, May 2005) to grayscale using the channel mixer, and then used the dodge and burn brushes alternately on sections of sky and ground.
I'm quite pleased with it, but I'm keen to hear what you think. It's a bit of a departure from my usual style, but I'd love to learn some more sophisticated post processing techniques, and experimenting like this is the best way to learn.
I think the result suits the image because Monument Valley is such a dramatic and unique looking landscape. When I walked up to the first lookout (where I took this photo), I stopped breathing for a few seconds as I struggled to comprehend the vastness stretched out before me. There's a kind of sombre power here that reminds us how truly sublime nature is, and I hope this image gets some of that across.
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Comments: 137
WoW !!!!
This landscape is amazing and the black & white works very well !!!!
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That Dirt Road Leads To My House...I am A Navajo From MV
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Wow. What an amazing place to call home. Thanks for commenting on my work.
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this is pretty epic, and yes, i dont think you should ever shy away from post processing, i know a lot of people who feel dirty for doing it but its kind of like working in a dark room..i mean, if your in a color darkroom you'd play with the different combination of lights, which is sort of like the channel mixer in photoshop, and you also dodge and burn , mess with contrast in a black and white dark room but i do agree there is always a point where you cross and your piece becomes a work of digital art rather than a photograph.
but anyways, this is still pretty epic, i think i'll google map it and plan a trip there during the fall or someting
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This is so awesome...I'm a Navajo, but I'm not from Monument Valley, though I have relatives that live out that way.
Seeing how our homeland can look so powerful and vast makes me sink into reverence. It IS truly full of wonders, if I may add. The land is sacred, the sky is sacred, the cliffs are sacred...everything is sacred. We treat it with respect, and in return it grants us Harmony, or Hozho. This is a fantastic picture. Thank you for sharing it to the world.
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Woow!!! fantastic shot, love the shadows & clouds
well done
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Please visit the following link to view your chosen ODD feature!
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I thank you for taking part in my poll!
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Hi Sandi! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
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I think the overall feel to the photo, especially what you've done with the clouds, is sensational. The overcontrasting is so dramatic, like one of those 1930s biblical film epics.
I think its a pity that the rocks have become so dark, but I guess its one of those sacrifices that you have to make for the overall balance of a photo.
I would be interested to see what it looked like edited for the rocks rather than the sky, but I don't think it'd be better.
(Incidentally, I nearly always use burn/dodge for large areas rather than small adjustments... For minor things I nornally just leave it, or use the clone stamp where appropriate)
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Thanks for your very detailed comment Rob.
The rocks were quite dark even on the original photo - it was taken early in the morning and the light was behind them. I think that I would need to use a very different composition if I was going to do as you said and edit for rocks rather than sky - the sky is so dominating in this image, that I think it would look rather bland if I brought out the rocks and left the sky alone - esp. in black and white.
I have more shots of Monument Valley that I may have a play with, bearing all this in mind.
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thats seriously one of the coolest perspectives ive seen of that place, awesome black and white, hope to visit canyon de chelley, if thats what that is but i know that place is in the navajo nation though i think... awesome
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It is Monument Valley. Thank you so much for your comment Chris, I really appreciate it, and the fav.
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That's simply breath-taking...
Monument Valley is one of the most amazing places I've been to and this image is so dramatic and impressive, it really suits the landscape!!
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Thank you for your comment and the fav. I really appreciate it.
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Good use of dodge and burn tool! this is really good!
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This is a great shot, but I would like to see some subtle shadow detail in the rocks themselves. Although this may have been lost when you scaled down to submit this....
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Yes, valid point. I am always disappointed with the scaled down version. Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it.
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Gorgeous. Sinster and amazing, incredible work.
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Thank you so much for your comment. And thank you for the fav, I'm really glad you like it.
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The post-production you have made creates a really dramatic scene, a kind of false quietness. We are expecting something to happen.
Impressive composition.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment, and the fav. Glad you like it.
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I love the dramatic feel you have given it, wonderful job!
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Thank you so much for the fav and your comment. I'm glad you like it!
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its an inspirational picture. simple because its title gives it so much meaning and drama. amazing shot, and brilliant technique.
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Wow, thank you so much. 
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This could be summed up quite simply: dramatic. And I really like it. Through the editing of the image you've managed to bring some really powerful feeling to it - as we all know nature can produce. The drama of the clouds really sets the tone, and the brightness and contrast somehow add a sense of depth. Lovely work...
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Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and detailed comment. I really appreciate it. Apologies that it has taken me so long to respond - my message centre has been out of control for a few weeks now.
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I find mine out of control most of the time! I fear what it'll be like once I make the move down the road to Sydney and start travelling a bit for work...
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Uhuh. I find the only way to cope with it is to spend about an hour every day. If you skip a few, it takes hours and hours to catch up.
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The dodge and burn have worked well. This shot has real impact. The composition is very dramatic too.
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Thanks so much for the great comment and the fav. I'm really glad you like it.
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Wonderful landscape work
I hope your proud of this peice because its beautiful!
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