#azimuth 48

[johnnyslittleanimalblog]

Searching for Salmon in the Brooks River (Katmai National Park & Preserve) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: One can see the red hints in the river waters of sockeye salmon.

[thorsenmark]

Sky Replacement of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: It was as I began working on the image in post-production that I then decided to once again try out the sky replacement setting in Photoshop with this image. I captured this while on a boat cruise of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The day had somewhat overcast skies as we enjoyed views along the shoreline of Lake Superior with Upper Michigan. The blue skies and clouds definitely seemed appropriate for this NPS site setting in what I had wanted to experience in person. The skies are from an image I captured with my Nikon D850 SLR camera in west Texas several years ago but all else was captured with my Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera that day. I later worked with control points in DxO PhotoLab 9 and then made some adjustments to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted for the final image.

[thorsenmark]

The Mountains Speak to Me in a Way That Moves My Spirit (Lassen Volcanic National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around the summit of Lassen Peak with a view looking to the northeast and main or true peak. This is in Lassen Volcanic National Park around the false summit area. I decided to place the peak a little above center in the image and include foreground interest with the nearby volcanic remnants, as well as using the trail as a leading line. One can see a few other things present, including the snowfield that that I read can be much more of an obstacle in crossing as well as some equipment on the main summit.

[thorsenmark]

I’ll Just Stand Here and Soak in the Mountain Views by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the northwest while taking in views across the Mojave Desert setting at a roadside pullout along California State Route 127. Nopah Peak and the Nopah Range are off in the distance.

[thorsenmark]

Nature Wants to Invite You Back to the Family! (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: I captured this image while walking a portion of the Boardwalk Loop Trail in Congaree National Park. I thought of this image as ”another postcard" type image with the bald cypress trees and knees in the still floodplain waters. The sun was coming in and out of the partly cloudy skies above and through the tree canopy, so it added that little bit of vibrant colors to both the waters and plant life. I maneuvered myself here and there along the trail at this spot in order to best find that angle where I could include the cypress trees and knees, along with reflections of both of them in the waters. I found that angling my Nikon SLR camera slightly downward also helped to bring out that feel of a more sweeping view across this national park setting.

[thorsenmark]

A Dream or Not Dream of Wildflowers (Cuyahoga Valley National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Yellow Wildflowers Around the Indigo Lake area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. After doing some post-production work in Capture NX2 where I was able to create a more sunny day with a Foliage and Sunshine CEP filter, I cropped portions of the foreground to create a more panoramic feel for this section of goldenrods.