Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 3: Haleakala National Park.
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station: Comparison of HDR Image Processing Programs. I used images taken at sunset last year to do a comparison of HDR (high dynamic range) processing programs. The first image is the original image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). The next three images are HDR composites from 5 exposures (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2 EV) using Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro, Photomatix Pro, and Nik HDR Efex Pro. The final image was processed using DxO Optics Pro 6 using a “single-shot” HDR technique. All of the new HDR programs have multiple, if not many presets as well as many controls to optimize the image. The HDR programs have come a long way over the last 3-4 years, where the HDR effects were often overboard. But then again, HDR can recover an uninteresting image i.e. “A derelict fishing boat along the Alaska Canada Highway”
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Original image, no HDR (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photoshop CS5 HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). NIK HDR Pro (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Single shot HDR with Dx0 Pro (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). HDR with Photomatix Pro (5 images) (David J Mathre)Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)
After the Thunderstorm. View looking south after a late spring thunderstorm in New Jersey. The sky cleared and there was a view of the moon over a thunderhead being lit up by the setting sun.
Moon over Thunderhead at Sundown. Last Day of Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/11, 1/50 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Color Efex (Tonal Contrast), Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5.
Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 5: Rainbow then Moon from the Beach.
This was my last day in Maui. Not much time for photography while I attended talks and a poster session at the meeting. I definitely want to return to Hawaii. I saw a great rainbow from the balcony in my room at the Maui Westin Hotel. The rooms with a view inland didn’t cost as much as the rooms with a view of the ocean. My final image is a post sunset view of the moon from the beach. Did I say I want to return to Hawaii.
Rainbow over Maui. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/16, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)Hawaii Day 5 (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 1: Haleakala National Park.
While attending a scientific meeting in Hawaii, I had the afternoons free. For the first day I decided to drive to Haleakala National Park to check out a good location for a sunrise or sunset photo shoot on top of the volcano for later in the week. It is amazing going from sea level to Pu’U’Ula’Ula (Red Hill) the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet. There were not many bicycles riding up, but many riding down. It looks like the tour operations bring you up the mountain and then let you ride a bicycle down. Up at the summit, I got some images of the rare Haleakala Silversword plant (one in bloom), and the Haleakala US Air Force Satellite Observatory Station. Going down the mountain, I stopped at the Kalahaku Overlook to take a panorama of the volcano crater. Further down, near the visitor center there were a pair of Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose) at the side of the road. The Nēnē is the state bird of Hawaii. I had previously seen Nēnē on the Big Island of Hawaii during a photography workshop with Thom Hogan.
Haleakala Silversword Plant. Image taken in Haleakala National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 220 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
The main road on the east side of the park was open so I spent the day. It was cold and windy, and a new storm appeared to be building. It has been interesting to watch the seasons in the National Park.
Winter in Rocky Mountain NP. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) .Winter in Rocky Mountain NP. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 25 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec)Winter in Rocky Mountain NP. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 25 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec)Winter in Rocky Mountain NP. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec)
