This an experiment using only linear operations, no curves, no filmic. Nearly everything happens in a Colour Adjustment layer which uses only the slope and offset controls. I cheated a bit on the sky because the clipped area had some nasty colour shifts: the sky uses a gradient mask and desaturates and tints using a pair of colour adjustment layers.
Here is my edit. I didn’t like the bright rays on the bottom. I found them distracting so I cut them out. It looks like a cold day. Which means crisp air. Added some blue to the highlights and sharpened a bit to make transitions a bit harsher.
Son and I have camped here twice since this first visit, and none of those subsequent visits yielded a morning quite like this first one. Goes to show you - Get Out There, and Frequently!
I’ve been honing my RawTherapee skills and was looking for a quality shot that presented some challenges. Always thought this one to fit that category.
I think that I’m finally at a point that I’m feeling somewhat comfortable using RT. There are still the occasional duds though…
Looking at the other edits here I don’t think I created anything especially outstanding, but I do think it is worth sharing. I did try to emphasize that early morning ground chill/frost together with the early morning suns rays warming up the trees. The balance between haze and detail/contrast is interesting to play with in this one.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this one!
EDIT: Noticed a small spot that still needed removing.
I have felt unconfident about trying on this beautiful image, but after my recent ELI5 on Filmic post, here is my stab at it. As usual for me, I try to imagine actually seeing the scene and going for that look.
Ha! I bet it was in the sky, left-hand side. Whatever it is, it’s on the D7000’s sensor, will eventually get to cleaning it as my kid-glove angst transfers from it to the Z 6…
Right now, staring at the other side of Pikes Peak, from a cabin at Mueller state park. Had three snowfalls during our stay, about 12 inches total. Would post a picture, but dodgy internet…