July 12, 2020 — Marin County Headlands, California
I did a lot of ICM pans while waiting for the comet NEOWISE to appear over Mount Tamalpais on July 12. The RAW file of this shot had been sitting in archives since then, several times passed over as an also-ran. Today I saw it with new eyes. It had potential.
Every single element took part in the slow pixel dance, changing color, tone, and contrast relationships with their partners many times over. Eventually each one found its place. While I was working, the computer’s fan turned on every now and then, sounding like a gentle breeze blowing through the native grass and coastal scrub.
While yesterday’s picture was a very small crop of its original frame and was ready after about a half hour of processing, this one is the full frame with no crop other than about one degree of straightening — and about two and a half or three hours of processing until we all agreed this was no longer a loosely organized bunch of pixels, but truly a picture.
It proofs nicely at 20 by 30 inches (51 x 76 cm) and can grow to more than twice that size with no ill effect
(Nikon D850, Nikon 24-120mm f/4G VR. ISO 64, 6 seconds at f/4. 10-stop neutral density filter. RAW processing and initial editing in DxO PhotoLab 3.3; Final editing in Adobe Photoshop.)
AMAGA Photography Blog 
Crazy!!!
(but cool….)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
2.5 to 3 hours of processing for one picture: that’s dedication. The result was worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It becomes a joyful obsession.
LikeLike
Wow Different and a beauty! Should be in a staged house. Time to market all this good work!
I am doing redos of some color images to B/W if they lend themselves to change. Loving the result.
Also want a lightweight super camera/ lenses for retirement and open to thoughts.
FYI, did upgrade to Sony RX100 series 7 always remembering your comments.
White Pelicans are in Baylands!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Gary. I am beginning to market. Also entering juried exhibitions. Here’s my first acceptance:
https://photoplacegallery.com/online-juried-shows/landscape/
Let’s take the camera discussion off line into email. I will contact you.
White pelicans!
LikeLike
Time well spent, Michael!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much. It was fun!
LikeLike
Like a dreamscape by Lawrence of Arabia.
I really think you’re well on your way to being a Philip Glass of abstract photography.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s about the nicest compliment I could possibly receive. Thank you immensely!
LikeLike
Okay, my gallery of Michael favorites is getting full…
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous image! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. Took some work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The hours spent were well worth it…all those subtle gradations are so pleasing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It did take quite a bit of work to get them to nicely separate and get them to define themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s beautiful. I see ocean swells at sunset, or after a storm: the sea beginning to calm, while sailors begin to relax.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. That’s great! Everybody sees something different and that, to me, might be the best part.
LikeLike
Time well spent and an obvious labor of love. Your abstracts belong in a Scandling wing somewhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. It was. And thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person