PP my Volcano Pano - Long Weekend Challenge

[Killakoala]

I just spent about 1 month in New Zealand for work related reasons. I did manage to have three days off to explore some of the beautiful scenery there. (3 days in one whole month, yeah that sucks)

This image is a panorama of Mount Taranaki, about 300klms north of Wellington on the North Island. It is a dormant volcano, about 2500 metres in height.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 3&t=h&z=11

This particular image is taken at a nice vantage point with the afternoon sun behind me and at an altitude of about 1200 metres. It consists of seven images taken in portrait mode on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3, a great small travel P&S camera with a nice 28mm wide angle lens. The rule-of-thirds is very much at play with my composition.

I'm not happy with the contrast of the image but the dynamic resolution is relatively good, especially from a P&S camera.

Click on the image to Download the (reduced) full size image to PP with. (2.3 Mb)

Post Process the pic to your hearts content. It should be interesting to see what can be done with this image.



Have fun!!!

[sirhc55]

Here’s mine

[methd]

Very minor tweaks. My 2min attempt... (local & global curves and dodge & burn)

[Pehpsi]

Le Quick-Job:



Great shot(s) BTW

[Pa]

very pretty Steve.....heres mine

[surenj]

This image has alot of potential. Here is an quick(ish) attempt.



Hmm looks better when it's a bit bigger than 800px

[phillipb]

And here's the obligatory B&W version

[surenj]

Nice B&W phillip... Dramatic.

[Killakoala]

I suppose I had better put in my interpretation of what I saw as I shot the image. I see in B&W.

[sirhc55]

OMG Steve, are you OK Are you still in a position to push the button on those missiles

[surenj]

Nice one...Dark and moody...

[Killakoala]

The whole experience that morning was quite surreal. I got up at dawn and trekked (the Kiwi's call it 'Tramping') up the side of the volcano. I was the only person there, just me, the animals, birds, insects and the sun to keep me company. I felt as if I was the only person left in the world. Maybe I was just feeling lonely that morning.

I had breakfast at about 1000 metres high looking down into the farmland below with a dormant volcano at my back. It just felt really weird, like the land and the mountain was becoming a part of my soul, a part of what the Chinese call 'Chi,' the living energy of the human body and mind. Frankly I am not the same person who walked back down the mountain. I have changed.

I will be going back over summer, once the ice has melted, to climb all the way to the top. I might not come back down.



Chris, the PM (Krudd) has taken all our missiles away and hidden them from us. I don't think he trusts us with them. So fear not!!!!