Here are a few Cloudscapes and sunsets that I photographed in the summer and fall of 2007. No artistic changes (such as digital airbrushing, texture filters, etc.) were made to these photographs (with the exception of photograph no. 2 -- I removed an ugly power box for a streetlight, which ruined the shot -- cloning another part of the lake and flipping it vertically 180 degrees to cover that part of the shot fixed it).
The limitations of man-made optics and digital imaging devices still fall short of what the human eye can perceive, and the dwindling light of sunsets makes it hard for the camera to pick up what the human eye sees, so digital photographs often need a nudge in the right direction to bring them to life. Increased color saturation, warming and cooling photo light filters, under/over exposure correction, and adjustments to hue, contrast, and brightness were applied to bring the photos to life. In other words, a little simple image enhancement allows the viewer to see what the photographer saw when snapping the picture. Also, any digital flaws have been corrected, such as empty pixels, dark and light spots.
Private collectors may download all of my photographs for your own photo albums and viewing pleasure. Redistribution for commercial resale in either print or electronic form without permission is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. All photographs Copyright 2008 Gregory Paul Hatfield
Hope
Just about the same framing as Golden and Silver Majesties, but with completely different results due to the rapidly changing cloud formations and the Earth's rotation. Taken about a half hour after Golden Majesty. Notice how much the storm clouds overhead have dissipated in just thirty minutes. Also, a few raindrops are present. No attempt was made to form a faux silhouette, so a few of the houses are visible on the other side of the lake. Also, no filter was applied, so what you see is what you get, unlike "Golden Majesty," which was intended to look larger than life. It also came out of the camera a little on the dull side, so it needed a boost to bring it to life, unlike this shot. I think this is the result of inferior optics in the Pentax Optio X camera.
