Hoover Dam an experiment in tonal mapping

[bwhinnen]

I'm not sure if this has worked too well, but I am keen to hear your thoughts. This is a panorama of 5 vertical images stitched and then had some tonal mapping run over them with another two layers added to try and even up and bring out some colour and dynamic range that was there to the human eye.



The following was just an amazing sight, the air was obviously still enough for them to remain in place for hours at a time, taken looking over lake mead from the top of the dam, these are the plane trails that criss cross the sky above Southern Nevada. Comments welcomed.



Thanks for looking
Brett

[Justin]

I'd love to have a link to a really big view of the first image - it leaves me thinking there is a lot more depth to it!

edit: yowser thats a big picture , the detail is amazing. I'd try some perspective correction as the pylons and construction at top right look a bit out, or perhaps the stitching wasn't quite perfect

[bwhinnen]

I'd love to have a link to a really big view of the first image - it leaves me thinking there is a lot more depth to it!

edit: yowser thats a big picture , the detail is amazing. I'd try some perspective correction as the pylons and construction at top right look a bit out, or perhaps the stitching wasn't quite perfect

Those pylons were at an angle, probably a little more due to the distortion you can see there, they were probably about 60 degrees off of horizontal from memory.

Cheers for the comments.

[Killakoala]

They are both great. The second one as the perspective is awesome and inspiring. I feel as if I could fall into the image. The second one I like too as it shows just how many aircraft fly in our skies above without us really knowing, except at times like that.

[ChrisB]

That first one is amazing! I feel as though I'm standing on the edge of the dam.

[stubbsy]

Brett

I really like what you've achieved here. This has an old/aged photographic film quality to it, yet somehow it seems too orange. that said I keep coming back to the shot which shows what a strong image it is.

[bwhinnen]

I agree with the Orange cast to it, I actually have toned down the saturation after the tonal mapping somewhat, but it has bought out the spectacular colouring that is there.

This one is processed a little more traditionally:

[marcotrov]

A great image and powerfully presented Brett. Apart from the slight feeling that i'm tipping to the right (a straighter horizon needed perhaps?) i feel an attack of acrophobia starting. Visually very engaging, colours and composition great.
cheers
marco

[surenj]

dam that 1st one is awesome... Tone mapping rocks... I think Dave Hill uses that style somewhat...

[Justin]

Pity you didn't catch the transformers hanging out there...

[zafra52]

I think the first panoramic composion is superb. Unfortunately I haven't been there so I cannot comment on the colour cast. However, if it represents what you actually saw then it is OK. I heard somebody last year criticsing an image of an Australian landscape as being "too red". I guess we all have to show off our ignorance sooner or later.
The last image is also very nice and I like it a lot because of the structures and lines involved. I find the second image interesting.

[CraigVTR]

Brett
Great shots. I had a look at the full res of #1 it shows great detail but unfortunately it also shows an error in the stitching, which you probably know. The road leading up the hill does not align in one spot as well as a couple of the cables nearby. I have terrible trouble trying to get good stitch jobs on my panos, still trying and learning.

[ozimax]

Wonderful image. I was at this very spot in July 2002, but it was so hot I took a few snaps and left. This region looks like a moon/mars 'scape at the best of times.

A question: Is that a new bridge being constructed over the dam?

Ozi

[Matt. K]

Interesting technique you have developed. Peter picked the film-like quality...like old Kodachromes. Looking forward to more of these.

[bwhinnen]

Thanks all.

And no I didn't notice the stitching error, must have passed over that spot! I'll have to rework it I think and see what I can do

As to the bridge being built, they are building a bypass to avoid crossing the top of the dam for through traffic, as you can imagine it gets quite busy on there, it would have been about 23 - 25 the day we were there, a gorgeous day!