Critique Style Requested: In-depth
The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
Seems proportional - 3 layers. Should I have had more sky ?
Creative direction
nothing specific - simply a aurora that I was fortunate to see and capture
Specific Feedback
Anything is appreciated
Technical Details
Z9, 14-24
2.5 secs / iso 3200 / f2.8
Description
A mile on the hoarfrosted Dietrich river in Alaska at MINUS 40
2+ hours before the magic unfolded
Will do it again in a heartbeat!
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You posted two very similar images back in March, with all three taken within a short time. Getting them sounds like a heroic effort, but for my taste I would prefer much more of the wonderful sky and much less of the landscape. Preferences aside, there is major noise in the trees with strange artifacts in the sky and ice – the same sort of artifacts in your lighthouse image. This sort of thing arises in the workflow – it is not inherent in the capture.
Thanks @Diane_Miller
Reprocessed - I think my problem is opening up the shadows - too much noise - hopefully this one is better
1 Like
Yes, the sky is also better in this one. What are you using for a raw converter and what for denoise?
I use LR predominantly - unfortunately Adobe does some processing before giving me the raw file - I try circumventing that using Nikon’s Nx Studio where I used the Astro noise reduction in the first image - I know better now. I used Topaz DeNoise on this one. In my excitement, I did not expose for the mountain and am trying to salvage as much as I can
Every raw processor has to start with some default settings in order to debayer the raw data. I would be surprised if Nx Studio gives you more control than LR, although it may have a better inside line on the sensor specs than is available to Adobe. With underexposed images you can sometimes pull out dark detail with less noise using the Curves panel in LR instead of the Shadows slider. I compare both Severe Noise and Low Light (default settings) in Topaz Denoise. The other algorithms are older and usually not nearly as good.
The mottling still showing in the sky may just be from JPEG compression.
Thats a powerful image! I actually like the exposure on the mountain. I know those Aurora formations move fast, so it may not have worked well, but In cases like this to get more sky I like to shoot a pano of vertical images. You might have had to use an even shorter exposure time, but it seems a shame to not get more of that magic in the sky!
