We weren't born in a cave...

[plant_prof]

...but my family likes to have fun in one.

A shot of my two sons and wife playing in Cathedral Cave, South Island New Zealand.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/plant_prof/Cathedral_cave_family.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/plant_prof/?action=view&current=Cathedral_cave_family.jpg)

[gkuenning]

Nice composition and contrasts. I see you used manual white balance; it looks very bluish to me. I think this is a very difficult shot for WB because the puddle and the sand really are reflecting the blue of the sky, but my eye wants the sand to be more brown.

Looking at the hills in the background, I think you could pull down the blue a little without doing any harm. I played around just a bit in RawTherapee and found that using the puddle as a "gray" point pushed the color temperature up to 12K and produced a promising sunset-like effect.

[cdrumeller]

beautiful!

[plant_prof]

Looking at the hills in the background, I think you could pull down the blue a little without doing any harm. I played around just a bit in RawTherapee and found that using the puddle as a "gray" point pushed the color temperature up to 12K and produced a promising sunset-like effect.[/quote]

Geoff, very interesting idea on using the puddle. I'm quite new at this digital post-processing so I'll give your idea a try and post the result when I get a chance.

[plant_prof]

Here is my attempt at adjusting the image. Further suggestions?

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/plant_prof/Cathedral_cave_family_alt.jpg

Thanks, Brent

[gkuenning]

I like! Maybe select the outside part (sky & ocean) and pull down the brightness a bit, so the clouds show better? Depending on how much free time you have, of course...given the last four characters of your handle and the fact that you have two kids, I presume the answer to that is "absolutely NONE!"

BTW, where is this cave? I'm heading for an NZ sabbatical soon. Looks very cool...

[savme]

I dunno I like the first pic with all the blue :oops:

[Comerfjc]

I feel like I missed something. The first shot, IMO, looks WAY better. The second looks washed out, softer, and I can see CA around all the edges.

First one++

[k-style]

i like the original a million times more....is this where that scene from king kong where he was captured filmed?

[plant_prof]

I like! Maybe select the outside part (sky & ocean) and pull down the brightness a bit, so the clouds show better? Depending on how much free time you have, of course...given the last four characters of your handle and the fact that you have two kids, I presume the answer to that is "absolutely NONE!"

BTW, where is this cave? I'm heading for an NZ sabbatical soon. Looks very cool...

The location is called Cathedral Cave located in the Catlins on the very southern end of the South Island. It is only accessible during low tide and moderate seas, so you have to plan accordingly. The whole Catlins area is gorgeous and great for shooting.

My solution to being an academic and father and having time for photography and other hobbies is to try and integrate it all. Thus, a shot of my family in a very photogenic area just 30 minutes from one of my research sites.

Is it possible to select different areas of the image and treat them differently in DPP?

I dunno I like the first pic with all the blue :oops:

I feel like I missed something. The first shot, IMO, looks WAY better. The second looks washed out, softer, and I can see CA around all the edges.

First one++

i like the original a million times more....is this where that scene from king kong where he was captured filmed?

I'd like to be able to combine the color of the sand in the second image with everything else about the first. Any suggestions for altering in DPP?

Thanks

Brent