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Melethia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2007-11 (Advanced Editing V)
Collection: Challenges 2007
Camera: Sony DSC-W200
Location: Afghanistan
Date: Nov 3, 2007
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 125
Shutter: 1/640
Date Uploaded: Nov 27, 2007

Taken while flying in a Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) plane in Afghanistan. Processing includes levels and curves to bring out color I didn't even know was there, and add some contrast that is hard to come by in this region. The "boxes" are walled compounds with homes, probably some livestock. It was a pretty day to fly!

__________

Wow! I'm rather surprised, but pleased. Glad I had the chance to show off Afghanistan - it really is a pretty country. And it is not tone-mapped (neither the photograph nor the country). Just simple editing (adjustment layers and some blending modes) with a wee bit of dodging/burning in parts.

The original:

Statistics
Place: 10 out of 393
Avg (all users): 6.9464
Avg (commenters): 8.2105
Avg (participants): 6.9756
Avg (non-participants): 6.8667
Views since voting: 5621
Views during voting: 311
Votes: 168
Comments: 98
Favorites: 34 (view)


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AuthorThread
03/02/2013 07:03:55 PM
Wow. You've certainly managed to pull so much out of this... I would not have even tried because I wouldn't have thought this was possible. Excellent treatment of the colours and tones. The more I look the more I see.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/22/2012 12:38:50 AM
IS IT A PHOTO OR A PAINTING... IT COULD BE BOTH BUT I KNOW IT IS A PHOTOGRAPH BY YOU AND A BEAUTIFUL ONE AT THAT... I HAVE DECIDED THIS IMPRESSIVE AERIAL LANDSCAPE IMAGE DESERVES A SPECIAL SHERPET JEWEL AWARD FROM ME... IT HAS MOVED ME RE THE AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IN LIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY. IT IS ALREADY FAVORITE AND NOW ONLY THE SECOND PERSON TO RECEIVE THIS SHERPET JEWEL STAR AWARD. THANK YOU MY DEAR FOR BEING YOU AND SHARING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH US...FROM SHEZ

  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/29/2012 02:37:26 AM
WOW AWESOME I JUST TAKING A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE RE PHOTOS I LOVED AND MADE FAVORITE... FROM SHEZ XOX
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/08/2009 04:45:41 AM
heck of a shot. I just love the broad swath of colors. I keep coming back to this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/12/2009 10:46:41 PM
Awesome view, rare to get such color and tonal range from inside a plane, should be a ribbon winner !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/07/2009 03:21:44 PM
i love the colors you captured, quite the stunning shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/04/2009 01:41:46 PM
Oh my... was an astounding image. Albeit this image did really well in the challenge, I personally believe that it should have done even better. Very nicely done.

Ray
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/01/2009 04:18:53 PM
This is phenomenal, the colors are really neat, great perspective too, really well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/22/2008 08:41:59 AM
I agree with what everyone has said about this shot. From the air like this, you have captured the feel of the landscape and geography without being able to see the grit, stress, and garbage that must surely accompany the scene at street level. This is a rare and beautiful snapshot of a very unforgiving landscape.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/04/2008 12:53:49 PM
This is a gorgeous shot, I love the way the light falls. Looking at the original makes this shot even more amazing. Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/29/2008 04:45:05 AM
Wow this shot is just lovely, great colours!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/20/2008 06:17:36 AM
another amazing photograph ... i thought i'd commented on this but apparently i hadnt .. BRILLIANT and very beautiful .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/31/2008 08:56:06 PM
Wow you did a great job with pp. Love seeing the mountains as individual objects, they don't look so humongous. Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/11/2008 02:32:41 AM
A fantastic shot, of some rarely seen scenery, that could only have been captured in this frozen moment. The noise from the saturated blues in the mountains, and greens in the foothills are all that stand between a a 9 and a 10 here, and I would have went with a 9. My preference would have been to try to de-saturate the noise some, and level the color down overall. Also would have liked to see this slightly sharper.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/06/2008 09:38:24 AM
I have never seen a picture taken from a plane that is THIS GOOD! This is really wonderful. I love the boxes. The processing - without being tonemapped? AMAZING. It looks phenomenal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2008 10:17:45 PM
wow. excellent view from a plane but what amazes me are the compariosn between the finished photo and the original. great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2008 08:26:33 AM
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/04/2008 01:53:04 AM
Oh, how lovely. Congrats on top ten :-D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/22/2007 06:14:56 PM
Just Perfect!!!!!!!!! a fav for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/17/2007 09:30:06 PM
Amazing. Nice touch on the editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/12/2007 03:26:27 PM
I absolutely love this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/11/2007 12:48:09 AM
omg deb i cant believe i am just now seeing this. dern internet is too slow. absolutely amazing!!!

great finish! congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/10/2007 10:23:51 AM
WTG Deb! Beautiful image. I'm glad we get to see Afghanistan in such a positive light too. Wonderful shot - congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/10/2007 04:44:56 AM
Top ten in a Free Study baby!!! AWESOME! Very cool shot Deb. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/09/2007 08:31:09 PM
Woohoo Deb! This is awesome! Congrats on a fantastic finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/09/2007 04:23:48 PM
Wow, Deb, what am amazing job you did with the editing! The light and shadows create this underwater feel - it's very cool. Love the color gradient too. Congrats on your new 3rd best and a top 10 in the Free Study!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/09/2007 02:56:37 PM
Deb, this is a stunning image! What a beautiful place...thanks for sharing this far-off part of the world with us. I love your wonderful editing on this!! You know it's hard to believe hardships exist in such a lovely spot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 09:35:51 PM
Thats beautiful country. Congrats on your placement. Sweet capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 07:14:41 PM
Terrific photo! Amazing post processing -- thanks for sharing your original. It's really interesting to know what can be done. Congrats on your top ten -- I had you pegged as best in show! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 07:03:20 PM
awww, 11th!! So close to a star for a FS. Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 05:55:06 PM
A really great shot! Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 05:43:20 PM
Great shot. Congrats on your high finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 04:55:22 PM
Congrats on the top ten! Was this shot through a window or was it a clear shot? I took something similar from a commercial plane over the Rockies and had a similar color effect, although it was stronger in the orignal so I assumed it was just the glass causing it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 03:29:58 PM
Amazing image and amazing finish in a Free Study challenge. Congratulation on the top ten placement!!! I'm particularly impressed with your post processing skill. There doesn't seem to be much hope for the original when I look at it, but lo and behold, with your magic you produced a real winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:54:02 PM
Oh, Deb! This is stunning. I am so impressed with your Middle East photography! Congratulations on a well-deserved top 10 spot for this beautiful work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:49:09 PM
Wow what fantatsic work to get that much from the original. Congrats on your top 10 in a free study
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:38:44 PM
WTG Deb!!!! Great photo and a great finish for a great gal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 01:18:10 PM
Congrats on the finish here, Mel. The transformation from the original image is superb.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 11:39:31 AM
Amazing work to create this fantastic image from your original. Excellent image, Deb. Congrats on top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 11:22:56 AM
The hotest travel spot next to VietNam.
The world does look nice from above.
Nature is naturally beautiful, if we respect it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:59:40 AM
Hey Deb, excellent! You've managed to show us the beautiful Afghanistan you've been seeing. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:56:43 AM
Fantastic processing - it's really great how you teased so much detail and color from the original shot. The square format just nails it. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:28:37 AM
Wow Deb - this is really engaging - and your processing is perfect. Congratulations on great placing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:20:09 AM
Woohoo! Congrats on the top 10! It really is an awesome, fantastic, spectacular, beautiful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:14:44 AM
Deb, a VERY hearty congratulations on your TOP 10!!! Brilliant!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:08:41 AM
Wow, what a place! (In photo and in challenge.) Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 10:06:03 AM
Wonderful shot Deb - and congrats on the HM :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 09:50:30 AM
Just for the effort of capturing this image and having enough time to post-process it during your deployment is worth the Top 10. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 09:15:57 AM
TOP 10! WOOHOO!! Gorgeous image Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 09:03:54 AM
OMG, another top 10 among the Critical Massers! Wonderful job, Deb! I knew this would bring you a big score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 08:46:28 AM
WOW Deb, this is truly outstanding. You got a little ol TEN 10 X from me on this beauty. I'm so glad you've been able to adjust to the hot country and flourish photographically. It sure has been a good experience for us in the DPC community. THANK YOU.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 07:42:50 AM
WHoo Hoo , Deb !!! I had a feeling this was yours cause of those gorgeous mountains---amazing shot & well deserved ten spot (should be higher IMO)-congrats & big hug :) -P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 06:50:00 AM
You hit the jackpot with this one. Love the gradient of colors & textures. Fabulous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 06:44:31 AM
WOW! Awesome shot! Congrats Deb!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 06:38:00 AM
Does this mean you need to be shipped off to Afghanistan more often? Well done Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 06:30:27 AM
Wow! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 04:13:49 AM
Great job in the processing department, and well done with your high place/score ;-Þ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 03:31:38 AM
Congrats on your top10 finish, Deb, who had thougt you'd find such images over there
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 03:30:03 AM
Good finish deb, pity that 7 slipped away from you, same with my shot.. well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:51:39 AM
Congrats, Deb, on a fine image and finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:11:52 AM
Attractive, complementary blue/orange, very good colour edit.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 02:10:33 AM
eeeeeeeeexcellent! Congrats on the top 10 Deb!
I remember reading somewhere you said you were tired of the birds on your profile page. Just one more to go! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 01:59:30 AM
WOW - great finish, Deb.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 01:49:19 AM
wow deb .. this is amazing .. it makes me think of a fairy tale land, which of course seeing where you've been it most definitely is not !!
the lighting, the colours, everything is just brilliant and so beautiful .. well done on an excellent score and a wonderful finish in the free study . :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 01:41:33 AM
Triffic image here, and what a deserving result for this awesome image from you Deb..... I am just so proud of you and this result.....Way to go gitl.....

Message edited by author 2007-12-08 01:42:44.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:57:57 AM
Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable how you turned the original into this. This is fantastic..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:56:48 AM
Very nice Deb. The tones of light and dark throughout the image are incredible. Very pleasing shapes, espeically that circle patch. Congrats on the wonderful score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:54:49 AM
Way to go Deb! This is gorgeous. the square crop works very well on this. You go girl!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:36:38 AM
Congrats, Deb! This is magnificent and got a 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:31:19 AM
beautiful, congrats on high score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:30:05 AM
Congratulations. Very compelling and intriguing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:18:48 AM
WOW, Deb. Did you show us the original in our team thread? I'm amazed at the color and contrast you got in there. Congrats on the top 10, esp. in a free study! And a new personal 3rd-best. I'd say that's worth the editing time. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:14:18 AM
Big congrats on your top 10 finish, Deb! What a sight, great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:12:37 AM
Congrat's on top 10 Deb! Great score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:10:40 AM
Your distinctive processing has turned this into a masterpiece. Congratulations on the high finish Deb.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:10:16 AM
Oh wow! God's eye view by Melethia, top ten! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:04:41 AM
WTG Deb!! Gorgeous photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2007 12:03:00 AM
Fantastic shot!!!
Congrats on the top 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/07/2007 11:52:27 PM
gorgeous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/06/2007 07:22:31 PM
I flew for the first time a few months in over two decades a few months ago, and I didn't like it! This is, perhaps, one of the best aerial photos I have seen: really well composed, and an almost orther-worldly colour palette. Intriguing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/06/2007 01:35:01 PM
Top class a very rare 10 from me, this shot deserves the blue, good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/05/2007 02:29:25 PM
love the perspective and also the fade of the colors from orange to blue.. great photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/05/2007 12:37:35 PM
a very artistic aerial! I love the color gradients. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/03/2007 10:24:16 PM
Incredible. Lucky bugger. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/03/2007 04:19:53 AM
looks like its underwater. nice effect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 10:56:21 PM
I like plane shots, the color balance seems a little strange to me but I love all those squares. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 10:48:05 PM
Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 06:27:39 PM
Lately I've been getting sick and tired of this style of shot but this one is fantastic. This one is so unique. Excellent job. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 04:34:34 PM
wow, what a powerful image. great composotion and great use of light.

good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 12:59:31 PM
wow what a shot. Great landscape 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 12:02:42 PM
Spectacular! Awesome colors and processing! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 08:26:55 AM
Aerial shots often look flattened, this doesn't and that makes for a great image, well done :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 05:35:06 AM
What ay viewwwwwww!! Wish it was super, ultra wide angle I just want to see more, more, more
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2007 12:32:43 AM
nice view there...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2007 11:26:10 PM
Awesome lighting. What an angle! What a place! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2007 05:34:37 PM
Wow. This looks like a painting. Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2007 03:09:59 AM
has a wonderful abstract quality about it...nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2007 01:06:49 AM
Wow! I really like the variation in tones between the flats and the mountains. Looks like wild country and you did a heck of a job keeping the camera still in the plane/chopper! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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