My first learning journey -- a camping trip to Sonora Pass, CA

blackstar

Senior Member
This is my first learning trip outside and far away from my living place -- to the wild countryside of high mountain area (~9500 ft) in NorCal, the Sonora Pass (and neighboring area). Photo gears: Nikon D3500 with kit lenses (18-55mm, 70-300mm), tripod, extra batteries, iPhone. Trip length: 5 nights, 6 days. Total photos taken: ~1000, only about 10% kept (including multi-exposed for star trails). Will showcase some of my shots here. All comments and critics are welcome and appreciated as help and learning sources. Please base your review also on my camera and lenses.

First, before reaching the Pass, some scenic shots were taken: compare the blue sky in the pictures to the current smokey sky in NoCal, how can I forget the trip!

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More to come...
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Finally, in the late afternoon, arrived at our wilderness campsite near the Pass. It's about 9500 ft elevation and wasting no time, went hiking up 200 ft higher to explore the mountain top view (can see from the photos that camera sat pretty flat on the tripod, no up angle needed :). It's windy and air was thin and cold. These were shot before sunset:

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hark

Administrator
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Q: how do I delete the extra "attached thumbnails" in my post?

Thanks

You need to go into the Edit Post section then click on Manage Attachments. From there, you should be able to select the ones you want to remove.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Hmm... So far, no comment or critic. My learning has stalled...

What are you using to edit your images? The reason I ask is because most of them seem to be over-sharpened and/or have a too much clarity. Leaves tend to be soft and supple for most trees when viewed with the eyes. And the shading of the blue sky doesn't look realistic - it's too much of a transition. Both of these things can easily be corrected by re-editing without having to retake anything. It's beautiful scenery! :encouragement:
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Thanks, Cindy. You're correct on my PP effort about increasing clarity, but no particular sharpening implemented. I use a powerful but easy to use program: Nik collections' HDR Efex. I just choose whichever version I like and Nik does all the work. Only occasionally I would adjust a couple of effect parameters to my like. Admit some may have too much "artistic" effect. But mostly, I like its HDR effect even (or especially) on a single image that contains partial exposure fault (e.g., underexposed foreground). It makes corrections or improvements automatically. But unless you want the Silhouette.
 

Chris@sabor

Senior Member
It's fun taking pictures and seeing what your cameras capabilities are! Just a couple criticisms, blue sky is beautiful but boring, the clearer the sky the less I show. Subject is very important, even in a landscape photo...think about what you want the viewer to focus on. Over processing can leave haloing and is noticeable in many of your images. Many of your images seem under exposed. It is difficult to get a good exposure in bright sunlight but there are way, like filters, for me just taking the images early or late in the day works best. A great foreground makes all the difference! You're on a journey, your photos remind me of my own. Here's one last tip, less and better is more. Meaning, publicly show the photos you're most proud of...skip the rest. Sounds and looks like a nice trip!
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Thanks, Chris. Much appreciate your criticisms, though most points were already taken (from many an in the field) when I became a serious hobbyist not long ago. They are clear, but, to beginners, easier stated and understood than done. That's why as a former college instructor I always remind my class that learning can't be complete by understanding alone, practice is often the missing key to success. That has been said, I totally agree with many points you address. A few ask for difference: personally I think the blue sky is a gem to my eyes and mind, and it's never boring if it's true blue to my perception and appreciation. As my thread title stated, this is a sharing of my learning trip for your help. This is not quite a showcase of my most proud works (don't have any yet). Also, I like to share a little of the trip story which by no means can be done with just a few good pictures. I think even bad pictures help too.

Surprisingly your mention of "haloing" in my images catches my suspicion that I could be wrong about this issue: I also noticed it but thought it was due to my dirty or wet lens (there were few times of raining in a day in the mountain). I need verification for this. Thanks
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Came to the main mission and the most exciting and challenging part of this trip -- night sky shooting... Again I failed with under-exposure settings. As so many have indicated, using both viewfinder and Live View in dark nights has often been difficult to validate or prove test shots. In my case, all I could manage was viewing some bright shinny stars through the viewfinder and peeking up the faint color of the MW from Live View screen... not knowing it's underexposed. I have now realized in the case of night sky shooting, highly conservative exposure settings are my faulty practice and implementation.

The starry starry night:
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blackstar

Senior Member
The Milky Way:

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Second and third images are the same shot with different exposures processed. Let see which version you deem better. Thanks
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Now I would say if I set iso=3200 and speed=15", it will make easier to validate test shots and render better final outcomes. Not only I get better exposure, but the speed is right on the "star trail" limit for my crop sensor. Another thought: this 18-50mm lens is not the best (or good) for the task.
 
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