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Sagar Patil
15-04-2009, 09:47 PM
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake:

Altitude = Approx. 4100 Meters
Length = 1 km
Breadth = 0.5 km
Nearest Places = 1) Gangtok - 40 km 2) Nathula Pass (Indo-Chinese Border) - 5 km

This lake remains frozen for 3-4 months in winter.

Satellite View can bee seen here (http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=27.3746256&lon=88.7615919&z=16&l=0&m=a&v=2)

Photo is taken from left most tip of the lake.

Sony DSC H-50
F = F/8
S = 1/1250 s
f = 5 mm
ISO = 100

Mrudul Godbole
16-04-2009, 10:22 AM
Hi Sagar,

Thats a nice landscape.I think the saturation is a bit high.Have you used digital zoom?Please try reducing the saturation a bit, it will really enhance the photograph further.
I liked the composition.

If you have the original photograph, please post that so we can see how best we can process it.

Keep posting..

Sagar Patil
16-04-2009, 01:21 PM
Hi Mrudul,

This is single photo HDR, so this may be the reason.
Frankly, I never do digital zoom. I will post original photo soon.

Rgds
Sagar

Sagar Patil
16-04-2009, 01:26 PM
This is original photo with 0-Step among 3-BRKs

Sabyasachi Patra
16-04-2009, 01:26 PM
HDR or High Dynamic Range as the call it is a fad. Lot of people try that. It is better to use a graduated Neutral Density Filter infront of your lens rather than try different expsoures and stitch photos to create a digital illustration.

The snow has no details. And the blue sky appears out of place. I believe the original photo would be much better. I am sure it would have been fantastic visiting this place.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Sagar Patil
16-04-2009, 01:30 PM
Yes Sir,

Agree with you, just tried the things available in cam :rolleyes:

Still I want to practice more for shooting snow spread areas, your guidance will be helpful :)


Rgds
Sagar

Sabyasachi Patra
16-04-2009, 02:46 PM
Sagar,
Snow scenes require around 2 stops of extra exposure. The meter of the camera is to designed as per a 18% gray card. So anything that is brighter than that would be under exposed by the camera to bring it down to midtone level. Similarly a subject that is darker than mid tone would be over exposed to make it brighter.

The snow is about 2 stops brighter than the mid toned 18% gray. So you are supposed to give extra exposure compensation of about 2 stops.

It is easier in Digital cameras, as you can check the histogram and correct your exposure. Try to get it right in the camera itself. Take your time before "shooting". During my formative years, I used to shoot like crazy when I am infront of a good scenery. Later on, I used to find that there were either unwanted elements in the image or there the composition was not upto my taste. So better to take your time before clicking.

In most of the photography competitions, cloning (or popularly known as photoshopping) is not allowed. You are only allowed to do minor colour, contrast and levels corrections. Anything beyond that, becomes a digital illustration, rather than a photo.

Further, resorting to cloning and digital manipulations doesn't help you in becoming a better photographer. Ofcourse, one can become a digital artist, but that is not the focus of this forum.

Please look at the link regarding BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. One can learn a lot. It is interesting reading as well.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Sagar Patil
16-04-2009, 04:14 PM
Sir,

Your comprehensive guidance is really helpful.
You are right, practice makes a man perfect, and offcourse practice needs more time and patience.

I was aware about 18% gray funda. But was totally unaware about the trick of increasing or decreasing exposure stops at right places and time. Thank you for this.

I will sure try to increase my skills, I can and I will :)

Thanx & Rgds
Sagar

Sumanth Sharma
17-05-2009, 10:43 PM
Decent attempt, I was there in August 2006, in fact it was our honeymoon, so thanks it brings back sweet memories.

Let me go back to my hard disk - I will try to pull out my snaps.

Mine was a DSC - H1 (predecessor of yours)

About the pic, I agree too much saturation, I think ND filter would have helped.

Check out some articles, better photography carried out an article couple of months back about achieving ND filter effect in PS - I have never done any Post processing though.