What, No Tourists!

f18 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 01:51 PM

Photographers Comments
Its not so much that Stonehenge is a lot smaller in real life than you think its going to be (I can take that), or that it costs an arm & a leg to get into the place (my employer has corporate membership of the EH & NT), its just that you can never get any shots without masses of tourists in the frame!

**Eos1nrs** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 02:29 PM

Cracking shot Dave,any HDR work on this..? really seems to leap of the screen at me. very vibrant...well done for keeping the masses to a minimum! i like the horizon being low. sky looks great..pity about trees growing behind as this would look amazing with just pure sky behind and from this angle

artroie · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 05:10 PM

Great shot Dave. I love the low horizon as the sky really adds drama. Did you just use one picture as the source? One technique for de-touristing ancient sites is to take a series of pictures from a fixed vantage point. Between them, you should be able to find any given spot of the background without people getting in the way. Even if you can clone most of the people out easily, it is a trick worth bearing in mind in case you get a tricky spot that is a struggle to get right.
Art

Tedz · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 06:26 PM

Top Image ... the Druids would be pleased!

f18 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 06:37 PM

Thanks for your comments guys, appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eos1nrs

Cracking shot Dave, any HDR work on this .... pity about trees growing behind

No HDR. It’s two extractions on two layers from the RAW file, one for the stones and one for the sky, then just erased the relevant area on the top later and flattened …. Then a laborious session of cloning out those pesky tourists.

The trees, hmmmmmm, good point, perhaps the cloning tool will be brought out again. I’m working on a dark & broody mono version for a friend who wants it framed up. TVM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artroie

One technique for de-touristing ancient sites is to take a series of pictures ….. etc

I wouldn’t have thought of that one Art but I can see exactly what you mean. It would get rid of the majority at least. Thanks for the suggestion.

Of course there is always the ‘Kalashnikov’ approach

but would I be able to bag the shot before the police arrived? Still, I’d get plenty of time at ‘Her Majesty’s Pleasure’ honing my PS skills afterwards

Cheers, Dave.

f18 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 06:39 PM

Cheers Brian

cyclone · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f18

Of course there is always the ‘Kalashnikov’ approach

Cheers, Dave.

PMSL, that's a great phrase, mental note taken for future use.
Great pic too...

Mello · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 09:38 PM

EY UP Dave,
i like this but a bit to much sky,have you thought about a letterbox crop??? which i think would look good with youe B&W version.

Also now you've mentioned the size and the punters, i want one so i can see gauge the height for myself (bugger).....

f18 · #9 (**permalink**) 13-04-2008, 07:17 PM

[quote=Mello;25300have you thought about a letterbox crop??? [/QUOTE]
I didn't but looking at it again, a crop down to a bit above that patch of blue sky on the LH side might be worth a try ... cheers.

Dave.

whatt · #10 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 05:37 AM

Hi Dave .. this is something that I have always wanted to see Stonehenge ..it just boggles the mind how did these stones get to the standing position .... and why the formation ... Thanks for sharing .. and yes . think that a crop would be good ..
Cheers
Else