Conquering the Light

wonderfull. !

Here is a view of the Toadstool Hoodoo located 0.8 miles off of Highway 89 between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona.

View large - 'Conquering the Light' On Black

View the entire Utah-Arizona Set
View my - Most Interesting according to Flickr

Other tutorials you may be interested in...
1. Digital Blending
2. A Simple method of Dodging and Burning
3. Lab mode for Pumping up the Color
4. Forgotten Filters
5.Auto Blending
6.Hand Coloring Simulation
7.Gaussian Glow

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Comments

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(163 comments)

James Neeley says:

I probably would not have tried this shot before hdr. One of the most difficult photographic situations (shooting into the sun) can be conquered with hdr or one of the other techniques using blended images (DRI). Below are the 5 component images which were then combined and tone-mapped in Photomatix.

The images were obtained with autobracketing from -2 to +2 ev. Be sure to use Aperture Priority so that the dof does not change during bracketing.

Here are the Photomatix tone-mapping settings used...

Minor cleanup with levels and curves adjustment was then done in Photoshop. As a final touch I used Lucisart whyeth filter for detail enhancement with a low setting of 11 which didn't change the overall lighting and tones of the image.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

usbdevice says:

Wonderful shot, I love the colors!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

usamabhatti says:

this is absolutely superb.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Montana Becky says:

Wow! I learn something everyday from this site, and from your photostream in particular.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

bridgepix says:

Awesome work. I love it.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

M de Moss photography says:

Beautiful!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

the-father says:

you did it perfectly! superb work!

You are my winner!
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Gógó says:

Oh my - this is absolutely gorgeous! And so nice of you to give the tutorial - thank you very much!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

StuCkCaRBoy says:

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This Great Photographic Art was made by a Diamond Class Photographer!
Please add your photo to Flicker Diamond The Diamond Class Photographer
Read the group rules please and tag your photo DiamondClassPhotographer
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

bart ceuppens / www.bartceuppens.be says:

fantastic, great work

Please add this beautiful photo to CITRIT,Best of yours!
Citrit group

Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

!!WaynePhotoGuy says:

Great work...
This place is like heaven on earth..
Love your tutorials...

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Cesar R. says:

stunning HDR!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

AlecsS says:

Fantstic work!well done
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

christopherdale says:

Masterful use of HDR here. Thanks so much for sharing your technique. It's immensely helpful!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Sergio Parisi says:

Wow !!! Wonderful capture and perfect processing !!! Amazing !!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Marco Sartori says:

Very Beautiful Picture !!!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Ragstatic says:

yes James...a perfect way to do this type of shots. get the tone mapped image on the brighter side and I see you increased whites :-) and the blend in for contrast , curves as needed.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

~jjjohn~ says:

Beautiful!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

DanielKHC says:

You've perfectly mastered the difficult lighting conditions for this shot. Interestingly, I can see that you also play with the white/black point settings. I rarely touch those settings, but I should try on my next HDR!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Bеn says:

James, you should be a teacher ;-)

Too vivid and too much HDR for me (this one).
This brilliant photo is like a shooting star,
totally inspiring!

SHINING☆STAR - Post 1- Invite 1- Give 5 Stars
Thanks for brightening my day, shine on!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Sandmania says:

This is beautiful and thank you for sharing the process and workflow of the image. Simply stunning colours!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Mariusz Petelicki says:

That's a real beauty ! Great tutorial.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

jack4pics says:

Beautiful scene and work.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

jeanneg. says:

Superb, again! Thank you for sharing!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

KayCpics says:

Beautiful. I would hang this in my office.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Jocko B. says:

Great textures and lighting throughout.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

JimPix [Jean-Michel Priaux] says:

Yes ! Seen in my contacts.
www.flickr.com/photos/jimpix/
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

mischiru says:

Beautiful shot! I love shooting into the sun and HDR has helped tremendously!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

J Duckworth says:

Georgeous image!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Salva del Saz says:

Fantastic shot and again a great gesture of kindness from you!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

rodlewisphotography says:

Interesting this. I'd be really interested to see how a Digital Blend of the 0 EV and the +2 EV pics would look, with a bit of level adjustment. Fancy trying it? Your version looks pretty cool though I must say. How did you get the star? Did you use a star filter on your camera, or was this just how the camera caprtured it?
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

macmir says:

Great shot and excellent work!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

scarbody says:

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Your fantastic color picture is my winner!
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Emely [away working] says:

Dramatic landscape, beautiful sky and the sun is ... well, brilliant :) Love the pic, well done!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

renschmensch says:

Please add this great photo to
www.flickr.com/groups/goldenmix/
and tag your photo "Goldenmix"
Comment On Any Two Please!!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

hotonpictures says:

well put together
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

lydia63 says:

Your Photo is superb ! please post this beautiful picture at
¡Su foto es magnífica! fije por favor este cuadro hermoso en
Votre photo est superbe ! veuillez oster cette belle image à
Magnifica foto! Por favor partilha-a connosco e envia para
Experimentation Group .
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

goofypikz says:

Jaw-droppingly fantastic!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Toni_V says:

Fantastic work!!!!!!!!
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

johopo (John) says:

Beautiful image, James! Wonderful work, as always!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

~Suemil~ says:

Beautiful!
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

hannes.steyn says:

Excellent HDR - Great treatment! & Tx for sharing the "how" as well

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Saurabh Sawant says:

outstanding image sir, thanks for all the info provided. :)
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Triuyoung says:

Wow. Cool photo
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Benoît J. Schecter says:

Oh Utah, Oh Arizona, when would I enough money to come see you ... -:)

Very beautiful, and great job !

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

akew says:

Georgeous image
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

StuffEyeSee says:

Thanks for the HDR tips and especially thanks for this wonderful image. One of the best HDRs I've ever seen. Beautful!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

smgallery says:

congrats on explore my friend! thank you for all the wonderful tutorials!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Michelle TX says:

fabulous shot! ...and thank you so much for the explanations/tutorials!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

francesco_p says:

large is F A N T A S T I C!
sincerely compliments!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Kaj Bjurman says:

Excellent. I always enjoy reading your description of the processing. Keep up the great work.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Life in the Pumpkin Shell says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Indy Pirates, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

7 (Miguel Angel) says:

I can really say you have one of the best landscapes galleries in whole Flickr. Congratulations James.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

le.communique says:

splendid composition. another splendid composition.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Linda JP says:

Amazing photo! Thanks so much for the tutorial too.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

@nt!x says:

Nicely done!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

vgm8383 says:

Absolutely perfect! Thanks for including your processing steps. Very helpful.
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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

sqbbe says:

Nice tutorial

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Lisa-S says:

Incredible image.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Erion C says:

WOW. Awesome James, truly awesome. Thx for the detail explanation of your technique.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Batram says:

Perfect work James!!!
Thx for sharing your settins of photomatix!!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

la_femme.milena says:

Absolutely stunning !
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

kedilee says:

Splendid shot! Thank you again for sharing your techniques...I am going to have to consider Photomatix
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

freelancevirtuoso (Away) says:

Pristine and beautiful...........!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

deljen says:

Oh yes what a fantastic capture and treatment!

Flickr has been having troubles with contacts images.
Your recent uploaded images have not been visible, sorry I could not comment before, hopefully it has been rectified now as I have many new images to comment upon.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

BarneyF says:

Great view. As always perfectly composed and processed. Not sure why I've missed so many of your photos over the last couple of days. Time for me to catch up.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

KayCpics says:

Front page of explore. Congrats.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

fexy01 (away for a while) says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Gold Seal of Quality (Invited Pictures Only)(1post:2Comment), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Beautiful image... wonderfully useful tutorial. Thanks again for sharing.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

sachman75 says:

love the sun! the tones and the colours of the rocks are amazing!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

DifferentWavePhotography says:

As always James, your treatment is just brilliant and outstanding!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

la_femme.milena says:

you have been invited to join
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Qualified Members Only
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Giuseppe Parisi says:

Simply great my friend, Love the star on the sun
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

velvia rules! says:

seems that i'll have to try HDR as well... you produce great photos using it!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

patricio33_mdp says:

simplemente ...espectacular!!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

judo_dad1953 says:

“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.” Well you my friend have captured the Beauty with this wonderful photo. Bravo!!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

tatyveli says:

Spectaculair capture and thank you for sharing how exactly it was done - very kind :) Congrats on #1 on Explore too :)

Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as a "Flickr Special". You are invited to add your wonderful picture to the Flickr Special Group. Please read the Group Rules and tag your photo Flickr Special.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

max tuta noronha says:

Definitely a winner!!!
You deserve another one.
Found in www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/
Thank you for the explanation..
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

cestmirbartak says:

fairy picture
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

TimboDon says:

Awesome shot and a great tutorial...Thanks for sharing
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Cascavel1 says:

Awesome photo and great information on technique. I need to give this HDR a try one day, the results are amazing.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

lachlansear says:

Cherry on top! Photography
Your photograph is the cherry on top! We would love for you
to show it off in our group Cherry on top! Photography

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

mauronascimento says:

Amazing shot .. beautiful HDR and kind to share it with us!! Thanks!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

JS Photoe says:

Great shot James! Yes, HDR is a wonderful process. I'm sure Ansel Adams would have fell in love with HDR! Love the star from the Sun!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Time Standing Still says:

Wow, thanks for sharing. You did a great job, I have to learn to do this
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

*hb19 says:

wow, James what you accomplished here is really impressive.....and thanks for sgaring your immense talent....

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Pisces Romance says:

excellent shot my friend~ so wonderful!
This is Perfect!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

NatalieBrokaw (hikergirl) says:

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing the tutorials!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

steadfast1898/(sORRY sO bUSY) says:

GOLD STAR AWARD (invite needed)

You are invited to add this exceptional image to
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please add the tag GoldStarAward
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Grazerin says:

Astonishing. And thanks for explaining how you went about getting this image.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

rob2655 says:

Wow, I'm really at a loss for words with this one. Stunning image.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Louis Laliberte says:

Bonjour, je suis un administrateur du groupe Phamtomapixel, et nous aimerions beaucoup que vous ajoutiez votre photo à notre groupe.

Wow!! Really great...

Seen in my contact photo's
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Christof In Oz says:

This is the type of imagery I aspire to create!!!!
James this is DYNAMITE!!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

NyToul says:

Beautiful picture ! And thanks a lot for your explanation !

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Howling Moose says:

Your work really inspires me. I think it's the intensity of colour you achieve that excites me most.
Thanks for sharing your workflow process with us!

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

``` N. Andonov ´´´ says:

Love the sun rays! Great work mate!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

brian doucette says:

The colours and tones are just perfect James. Excellent composition.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Massi1970 says:

Wonderful shot!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

PHOTOROLANDI says:

Now about that starburst.. was it really there or did you photoshop that in? Nice work.

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Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

AdamBaronPhoto says:

Fantastic work James. A great capture, perfectly rendered.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

NearDC says:

fantastic
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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Conquering the Light

Comments

James Neeley says:

usbdevice says:

usamabhatti says:

Montana Becky says:

bridgepix says:

M de Moss photography says:

the-father says:

Gógó says:

StuCkCaRBoy says:

bart ceuppens / www.bartceuppens.be says:

!!WaynePhotoGuy says:

Cesar R. says:

AlecsS says:

christopherdale says:

Sergio Parisi says:

Marco Sartori says:

Ragstatic says:

~jjjohn~ says:

DanielKHC says:

Bеn says:

Sandmania says:

Mariusz Petelicki says:

jack4pics says:

jeanneg. says:

KayCpics says:

Jocko B. says:

JimPix [Jean-Michel Priaux] says:

mischiru says:

J Duckworth says:

Salva del Saz says:

rodlewisphotography says:

macmir says:

scarbody says:

Emely [away working] says:

renschmensch says:

hotonpictures says:

lydia63 says:

goofypikz says:

Toni_V says:

johopo (John) says:

~Suemil~ says:

hannes.steyn says:

Saurabh Sawant says:

Triuyoung says:

Benoît J. Schecter says:

akew says:

StuffEyeSee says:

smgallery says:

Michelle TX says:

francesco_p says:

Kaj Bjurman says:

Life in the Pumpkin Shell says:

7 (Miguel Angel) says:

le.communique says:

Linda JP says:

@nt!x says:

vgm8383 says:

sqbbe says:

Lisa-S says:

Erion C says:

Batram says:

la_femme.milena says:

kedilee says:

freelancevirtuoso (Away) says:

deljen says:

BarneyF says:

KayCpics says:

fexy01 (away for a while) says:

sachman75 says:

Different*Wave*Photography says:

la_femme.milena says:

Giuseppe Parisi says:

velvia rules! says:

patricio33_mdp says:

judo_dad1953 says:

tatyveli says:

max tuta noronha says:

cestmirbartak says:

DifferentWavePhotography says: