Autumn Sunset

Last evening the autumn colors were in the sky! Heidi joined us for a sunset cruise on our boat and we were presented with glowing clouds filled with amazing colors. I only brought my Fuji X100S along, nonetheless a beautiful shot. Folks comb the island this time of year for New England foliage photos and all we have to do is look towards the sky. Here's the final shot:

Autumn Sunset, Mount Desert Island, Maine

Autumn Sunset, Mount Desert Island, Maine

The raw shot from the Fuji: 

Autumn Sunset

In Lightroom:
  - Increased:  Contrast, Vibrance, Saturation
  - Decrease exposure
  - Increased the area with hints of blue sky with the color picker

Autumn Sunset, Mount Desert Island, Maine

In Nik Color Efex Pro I used the trio of Tonal Contrast, Skylight Filter and Detail Extractor for the final image.

EXIF data: Fujifilm X100S, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/170 sec, ISO 200, 10/11/13, 6:04 PM

Aurora In The Park

Brenda's friend Gordon posted that he saw the Northern Lights out on Islesboro Island. I checked the Aurora forecast and it was 1 out of 10, so I was playing it down. Brenda knew better; we donned warm clothing and headed out to our favorite north-facing star photography location. We may or may not  have been in the park - just saying.  Enjoy!

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

EXIF data: Nikon D800, 24mm, f/2.8, 20 secs, ISO 2000, 10/8/13, 10:26 PM

Sargeant Drive Sunset

Another day of searching outside of Acadia National Park for interesting photographic subjects. This evening we were driving down Sargeant Drive in Northeast Harbor, when I saw this scene coming to life with the crescent moon. I asked Brenda to pull over and we waited about ten minutes for the sunset to light up the clouds. It isn't my best shot of the year, but I enjoy going out and taking pictures on this beautiful island. Do I dare say, 'I'm back shooting with the Nikon'?  

Sargeant Drive, Northeast Harbor, Maine

I'll just mention that I did some post processing using Lightroom, Photoshop and Nik software.

EXIF data: Nikon D800, 34mm, f/10, 1/4 sec, ISO 100, 10/8/13, 6:15 PM

Mossy Trees At Little Long Pond

Time to find some interesting photography subjects outside of Acadia National Park, during the closure. I found this sweet little spot in the woods, while walking around Little Long Pond with Doug, my photography buddy. There are beautiful places on the island outside of park. Below are my post-processing steps, in an effort help others understand how software can improve [put the polish on] a good shot. And yes, taken with the Fuji X100S. Here is the final image:

 

Mossy Trees, Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor, Maine

 

Mossy Trees, Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor, Maine

Straight out of the camera as a RAW image:

 

Mossy Trees, Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor, Maine

The steps in Lightroom:
  - Increased: Saturation, Contrast, Exposure, and Blacks
  - Cropped a smidge of the right, so the right tree is a frame
  - Cloned out the white rock near the right middle edge
 - Added post-crop vignette

 

Mossy Trees, Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor, Maine

Added Tonal Contrast with Nik Color Efex Pro and increased exposure in Lightroom

 

Mossy Trees, Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor, Maine

Ran the image through Nik Sharpener Pro

 

EXIF data: Fujifilm X100S, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/80 sec, ISO 1600, 9/25/13, 5:41 PM

Big Dipper Over Bubbles

At the rate I'm posting photos, you'd think I haven't taken many. I'm going on a blog posting bonanza! I must have at least five interesting photos. I'll start with the one I took last night at Jordan Pond, sshhh don't tell anyone - Acadia National Park is officially closed. Luckily I live about a mile away and could walk there. I noticed early in the evening the skies were clear and we're close to a new moon. I was eager to experiment with the Fuji X100S (that's a surprise ;-). The X100S has a wide angle, fast lens with a low noise sensor, so I thought it might work for night photography. This was the first time I attached the Fuji to a tripod. I tried setting the timer for 15 seconds - hah, goes from 1 second to bulb. So I just counted seconds while holding down the shutter release. Yup, that's right, no shutter release cable either - I'll add it to my never ending list of photo equipment to purchase. I've received feedback that I should post the final image first and then discuss the post processing.  Here's the final image, I really enjoy the reflection of stars in the foreground:

 

Night Sky, Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

Here's the raw photo out of the camera. I couldn't find a white balance setting in the menu, so the color looks a tad unnatural.

Night Sky, Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

Night Sky, Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

In Lightroom:
  - Changed the white balance to tungsten
  - Adjusted the temperature a bit cooler
  - Leveled the horizon

 

Night Sky, Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

In Nik Vizeza I pumped up the blue in the sky. 

Night Sky, Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

Finally, in Nik Color Efex Pro I added the Tonal Contrast filter to the sky and in Lightroom increased the exposure a half stop for the final image. 

EXIF data: Fujifilm X100S, 23mm, f/2.0, 18 secs, ISO 3200, 10/2/13, 11:51 PM