Getting a luminosity look to your images.

Old-Growth Forest, Humboldt County

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 7 June 2011 in Landscape & Rural.

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Hey gang, I have been posting daily images and tips on my Don Smith Photography Facebook page. Navigate on over and click the like button so you can follow my daily musings!

Today's image was from my recently completed Northern California Workshop. We awoke to a light rain one morning with no wind. I felt this would provide perfect conditions to work in the old-growth redwood forests. We selected the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, about a 30-minute drive from our hotel.

The light/conditions did not disappoint as there was a luminescent glow emanating from these moss-covered trees (I call this Spanish Moss). The trick is in getting my RAW file to reproduce the way my eye saw the scene. Thanks to my Nik plugin filters, I was able to accomplish this goal in minutes.

To read more about how I achieved this look, please read How to Give Your Images a Luminescent Feel.

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Comments (14)

skarlet from kerman, Iran

great composition and lovely colors!

7 Jun 2011 10:10am

@skarlet: Thanks Scarlet.

LauraS from Chico, United States

Beautiful shot, Don. Really nice.

7 Jun 2011 2:31pm

@LauraS: The light was perfect that day Laura - the best time to shoot forest scenes.

Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States

This is really a stunning image! I love that you singled out this "little" tree...The redwoods are so magnificent, that it can be hard to see the rest of the beauty going on around them! And I loved the tutorial, too!

7 Jun 2011 2:43pm

@Tracy: My best forest scenes seem to be isolation scenes Tracy. Forests can become very chaotic to the eye if too much is included - I know you are aware of that. I'm loving your colorful posts - keep them coming!

klausZ from Kufstein, Austria

perfect mood! this moss really decorates this old tree in an amazing way!
great point of view and framing!

7 Jun 2011 3:41pm

@klausZ: Much appreciated Klaus.

Ralph Jones from Detroit, United States

Outstanding.

7 Jun 2011 6:10pm

@Ralph Jones: Just wondering if you have been following any of the Stanley Cup playoffs Ralph? My oldest son is into it, but if it wasn't for him turning on the games I'd probably not watch/ I want the whole thing to end so the teams can start signing the RFA's. How's the Red Wings looking for next season?

Scott F. Schilling from San Martin, United States

Wonderful image and I look forward to reading your article! You chose the perfect conditions for your workshop to shoot these forest scenes. I like the tones that this soft light brought out!

8 Jun 2011 2:42am

@Scott F. Schilling: So you are the one guy reading the articles!!! You would have enjoyed this session Scott - a light rain and zero wind - everything glowed!

Tim from Ft. Worth, United States

wonderful feel to this! i've bookmarked your website and will peruse it for insights. wow! i love your work on the facebook page, too.

8 Jun 2011 2:46am

@Tim: Thanks Tim, glad to have you on-board. I will be posting on my blog about twice per week, while I'll be posting a mini-lesson on Facebook daily. If you would like, send me an email and I will add you to our monthly e-newsletter list. It is listed on the front page of my website.

DarkElf from Perth, Australia

wonderful composition and indeed the colour have come through superbly with great vivid and luminous look! great work on the capture and on the processing as well!

8 Jun 2011 2:55am

@DarkElf: I will be talking to the folks next week at Nik Software further about something I may have stumbled onto with single image Tone-mapping and opacity layers. Will write more about it once I talk to them.

helma from Tehran, Iran

Outstanding !
excellent shot.. tnx

8 Jun 2011 10:12am

@helma: You are welcome Helma. Hope you are back out photographing on a regular basis.

Denny Jump Photo from Easton, PA, United States

Hey Don - This is magnificent! I really mean that...We have been really charging around lately so I am really late getting back with people. I owe a ton of folks my super-intelligent, highly-revered comments (yah right)....But honestly, I really love this one. The moss and trees, as you have composed this, really strongly evoke and encourage the fantasy feel in my mind. Almost reminiscent of (I can't remember the author's name) of the artist who does those chidren's books that have forests with a lot of moss (and I am not being sarcastic here, I LOVE those books). The translucent coloring of the moss and the blueish fog in the background (and all around) just bounce around with the beautiful green on the left. This entire view brings an energy and calmness all at once...Just awesome! The "un-mossed" larger tree standing next to the mossed one makes me think of a father and child. And before you ask, I have not had a drop to drink since Christmas Day of 1991 and those other "products" go way back to the 60's....Hope the PT is going good for you! ...Will need to read your articles from home - darned gestapo.

8 Jun 2011 12:35pm

@Denny Jump Photo: Hey Denny - don't want to piss off the gestapo - especially if they are paying the bills. In all honesty, I do look forward reading your responses. As photographers, we all fall in love with images at times that no one else seems to give a hoot about. I do use the feedback from Aminus3 (and now Facebook) to gauge sentiment to some of my images. Getting them past the stock agency editors is a whole other deal. Personally, I just photograph what moves me. So far, that has been a pretty successful formula. Now back to work before Colonel Clink comes by!

Denny Jump Photo from Easton, PA, United States

You are a funny guy Mr. Smith...But thanks so much for yur kind respnse - I do appreciate it. Your formula is the best. I work solely on emotion, as you know ;-) Now if I could just improve the quality of my stuff - but that's another session :-)
Signing off - Sergeant Shultz

8 Jun 2011 2:22pm

@Denny Jump Photo: Your work is very good. The best tip I can give anyone who wishes to take their photography up a notch is to photograph under quality light (fringes of the day generally). Light is everything!

Ralph Jones from Detroit, United States

To be honest I haven't really watched any hockey since the Wings got eliminated. I will turn the Tigers on at night and half watch, and they have been hot of late. I have been watching the NBA finals, that's been very entertaining.

8 Jun 2011 11:16pm

@Ralph Jones: You sound like me Ralph, not really interested in the Cup finals (though it is getting more interesting with Boston's win last night). The Giants are playing well but our A's suck. Probably for the best that I just don't veg every evening in front of the TV.

James Guillory Photography from Garner, United States

Smith, Like Scott, I do read your articles. The Spanish moss in South Carolina, was pretty cool, but not very colorful when I was there. Maybe on my next visit....

9 Jun 2011 12:18pm

@James Guillory Photography: Just saw an image in the latest edition of OP of some red Spanish Moss somewhere in SC - check it out.