Calgary in the Mountains

[mbrager]

Someone is leaving the team I work with, to return to Newfoundland. We decided we want to give her a photo of the city, and I said I would try to come up with one. So I tried out some locations, especially above Bridgeland and Mayland Heights. Tried HDR shots, but I liked this one the best because it is less noisy than the HDR photos. It also shows the Rockies the most, although it has little of the downtown in it. It does show a tiny corner of the building we work in. I used some Photoshop to make the foreground stand out, and brought up the mountain background in a curves layer. Your thoughts would be appreciated.



Mike

[QuietOne]

I agree that HDR can be noisy. This looks good - I can see the detail, but it isn't noisy. The one thing that I couldn't figure out until you mentioned bringing the mountains out was the light - the top of the tower was lit the same as the buildings below. If the mountains were catching the sun, I would expect the tower and maybe some of the roofs of the building to, as well. (Hope I make sense. I don't, always. And it assumes that the distance to the mountains is what my eye tells me it is.)

It's still a pleasing picture, and if it's meant to be a memento, it serves very well. I'd be thrilled if I got something like that as a going away gift from my coworkers.

[mbrager]

Q1: Thanks for the comments. I do see what you mean about the lighting at the tower top and the building tops. I also decided I didn't like the bush in the foreground hiding the building, which happens to be our City Hall.
I'm trying some other options and paying more attention to where the light appears.
Mike

[Mad Aussie]

We probably should put this into Critiques so you get some detailed answers.

To me this looks like it's too yellow and lacks contrast. It's a great view though.
If this were mine I'd be lightening up that city area and hitting the mountains with some contrast and the clouds with some burning.

[mbrager]

MA: Thanks for the comments. You are right. Hadn't thought of putting it in critiques. I see what you are saying about the color and contrast and will work at that for sure.
Mike