Natural Bridge - inside the cave

[wigz]

Apologies to Hans for stealing his subject, but his post reminded me of my shots. It is raining here today and has been overcast and showery since the weekend so I'm pretty much limited to posting old photos.

Natural Bridge is only about an hours drive from my place and I've been there many times over the years. This shot is from 2015 which seems to be the last time I took photos inside the cave, so I probably should pay another visit. The log in the waterfall is gone now.

This is a single exposure with shadows lifted and whites recovered. I also have some HDR shots but I like this one better. This has a little detail in the roof of the cave that doesn't show at this size.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 @ 20mm. 1/2s f/8 ISO 100

[HansE]

That looks very good Alan. I do feel you have lost your center if interest and have two pictures. I'm sure we will see a better shot from your next visit. Lots of water coming through at the moment.

[wigz]

Thanks Hans. I think you are right but, to me, either half of the image is less interesting on its own. I've added a different version below.

[HansE]

I think we are both right. needs a slightly different approach probably.

[wigz]

In response to Hans' comment, a version with a narrower field of view.

[Isac]

Lovely place to sit and click Alan. You first image to me it does look like 2 different images BUT a shadows lift combines them really well. Luminosity mask does well too.

[wigz]

Thanks for the suggestion Isac. I did lift the shadows but not enough it seems. I've reprocessed it, lifting the shadows much more aggressively. I will add below. Let me know what you think.

[wigz]

Another attempt following Isac's suggestion to lift the shadows much more.

More detail is visible if you click the image to see the larger version.

[HansE]

This could be like Monet water lilies- There is a lot that can be done here

[wigz]

Yep, although more like a bottomless pit. I'm stopping here.

[HansE]

Youre in charge!

[Isac]

Much easier now to get a good idea of the whole scene and I like the edit very much. Good onya Alan - well done.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day Alan + team

I am happy with the original image - it's a cave so it will be dark! ... and the water flow from indoors to outdoors works for me
However the others edits work as well once seen - but #1 would still be the one on my lounge room wall

Phil

[wigz]

Thanks Phil. As in many other areas we have too many choices today, making it hard to choose one. It’s just so easy to change the treatment of a photo.

[Isac]

That's called creative license and it's marvelous. As we know, the dynamic range of the camera is nowhere near what we actually see so it's great that we have the power to get a closer representation of what we actually saw - not available in bygone times.

[Ralph]

This as I look at it is almost a 2 shots in the single shot with the waterfall then to the right to outside area.
I am going to disagree with playing around with this as I think the original shot is the best.
In my eyes this is how I see it as I am not techno as most of you here and I take a shot for what it is not for what it could be.
If this make sense to you all. So the 1st shot is the one I like out of what has been done to it later.

[wigz]

Thanks Ralph. They have all been processed quite a bit as the brightness range from dark to light is beyond what current cameras can handle. In the full size image I like the first one, but the darker tones do seem to disappear into black in the reduced size images.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

Good on yer Ralph ..... we're on the same page !!
Phil

[HansE]

All cats look grey in the dark so I chooce to agree to disagree
)