Study Group 26

Ed Gulesserian

January Title - Sunrise At Myrtle Island, SC

Photographer's Notes - This is a photo taken in November on Myrtle Island (not to be confused with Myrtle Beach) near Bluffton, SC which is near Hilton Head.   The tidal marshes are less photogenic in the late fall so in Lightroom I spread out the light and dark tones a bit on the Tone Curve, and added some blue and orange saturation.  The B&W conversion was done in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.  I like the original color version but the B&W version seems to hold my interest more.   I rarely print anything but I question how well the high contrast edges on the clouds near the sun would hold up in a print. They don’t look too good at 1:1.   I’m thoroughly enjoying learning about B&W; reading everything I can find and playing with the Nik software.  For anyone interested, the Nik B&W software is terrific.
Technical:  32mm focal length (DX), f/22, 1/60 sec, ISO 200, tripod

Bob Benson	The Monochrome is wonderful, since B&W is all about tones and textures, and you brought those out in the image. You are correct that the clouds are going to be totally blown out in a print, but given the proximity to the sun, I believe that should not be an issue. (You could always cheat and paint in (clone) some texture from another picture with clouds, but again, I don't think it is necessary.) By the way, while I still prefer the monochrome version, some more local adjustment in the color version might help the textures in the grass. Great sunburst!
Paul Allen	Reaction:  If I had only seen the color image, I would have thought it a nice image.  But it’s exceptional in B&W, which is surprising, given it’s a sunrise shot!  I very much like how the main waterway in the marsh leads into the frame right where the sunburst is to be found.  That’s great composition.  And the sunburst is wonderfully captured and wonderfully handled.    Suggestions:  Not much I can offer.  The only critical reaction I have to this one is that the sky at the top of the frame might be a little overly dark.  I realize you want good contrast for that sunburst, but it feels too dark to be natural with the sun that high.  Looking at the original, the tonal range is more appropriate in the sky (but not in the grass) than it is in the final B&W.
Youmans Hsiong	I see your two images just reverse to Jose’s.  Your b/w adjustment got very strong point of view to this wetland morning image. It has a bigger range of tone and with strong black point contrast. especially, the sun rays and highlights on grasses are outstanding. This is a really a nice panorama image.You maintained details on bright water surface and  backlight high contrasty clouds, except the highlight clouds above the sun.  I don’t know how much you have on your raw file, but I think you can patch it up easy.  I mean, you got to have some details in clouds, not the sun.
Brian Duchin	I agree with your assessment of the Nik software and I am going to have to try it after seeing you black and white  conversion.  The tonalities are well defined and the clouds are striking against the sun peeking through.
Belinda Keller	Both versions are appealing to me for different reasons. B/W offers a different way of looking at “expected” results. I am forever amazed that simple, subtle tones and shadows are often superior to color. I prefer the B/W. Amazing colors and lighting captured in a splendid sunrise landscape. It is well composed leading the eye along ambling waterways to the sun. I like the warm colors reflected in the water, as well as the sun rays.  The color version offers added interest of darkened, almost silhouetted grasses and tree line. For me, the B/W holds more interest and has more impact. The contrasts reveal greater detail in the grasses, clouds and sun. The sky seems much more dramatic, and trees take on a lacy appearance. You see full details of the sun rays in the B/W, unlike the color version (at least on my monitor - in color version, details appear consumed by orange glow).  Overall, I would concentrate on the B/W and print.  If possible, I would try to remove the tiny round reflected spot in the bottom rays that may have bounced off your lens. In the color version, it is not as noticeable and blends into the glow. Good book:  Landscapes, Developing Style in Creative Photography (Black and White Photography) by Terry Hope (2000).  Not digitally-related, but wonderful images/tips (Yosemite, Scotland, Wales...) Have a magnifier handy–  you’ll see why.  Found at a public library.
Jose Maria Cartas	The B&W version is definetly an improvement compared with the original color image. Perhaps it is the lower resolution we need to submit, but in the color image a lot of detail is lost on the vegetation of the marshes, and also on the trees on the left side. You didn't recover much from the trees in the B&W version, but did it from the marshes. The composition is interesting, with the sun as a focal point but also with very appealing forms in the marshes. Your eye goes from one element to the other without getting bored. I do very little B&W conversion, and evertything I did was in PS. After seeing this results, perhaps I need to try Nik Silver Effex Pro.
Ed Gulesserian

Member Bio

Ed Gulesserian- Biography Photography has become an active hobby since I retired in 2007.  Most of my photographs are landscapes, streetscapes and natural light portraits, but I take several workshops yearly and travel, both which point me in new directions. The self portrait is from a street portraiture workshop in Savannah.  My gear consists of a Nikon D80, and several lenses.  The more photos I take, the less important the specific equipment seems to be.   Most of my image processing is in Lightroom, with an occasional use of Photoshop and Photomatix (HDR).   I try to appreciate the gift of each day so the best part of photography is learning to see much more of what I’m looking at and then share it with others.  I’ve met a lot of great people and seen a lot of things which wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Past history is two 20 year careers. Twenty years in the Army; all over but no photos!  Then twenty years in business in Atlanta which is where I now live.  I enjoyed most of what I did, but retirement has been a happy surprise.