More bridges. Finally.
 

I got some serious picture taking done on my vacation to the Oregon Coast.

Here's a pic of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, Oregon. I took this at 1/15 sec and f/5.6. My tripod wasn't tall enough to get the angle I needed, so I used it as a monopod and rested it on the railing of the overlook. I blended the final photo to reduce noise and increase the definition lost from the slight camera movement.

Here's what I did:
1) Opened the Layers dialog in Gimp (or Photoshop) and made a duplicate layer.
2) Set the new layer to "Difference".
3) Selected the Move tool and clicked once on the new layer.
4) Used the arrow keys to move the new layer one pixel at a time until I could just barely see an outline of the details.
5) Changed the new layer to "Screen".
6) Adjusted the opacity down until I reached the desired effect. I wanted to reduce noise, increase the sharpness of the bridge, and balance the detail in the foreground and background.
7) Finally, I used the blur tool to tone down the really bright light in the center left of the picture.

http://www.pbase.com/image/20898924.jpg

Another view of the Yaquina bridge:
http://www.pbase.com/image/20896123/original.jpg

Here is the Alsea Bay bridge in Waldport, Oregon.
http://www.pbase.com/image/20896112/original.jpg

That 2nd picture, with the fog across the water, is simply amazing. It looks so surreal - it looks almost like CG. Excellent.

I agree the second picture is really good.

I thought the first one was great until I scrolled down and saw the second. The way the wooden rail on the left seems to meet the bridge just beyond the edge of the frame is cool. And the reflection, and the fog... Did you GIMP this one at all?

enjoy the work...good job...

Thanks. I think I just adjusted the contrast to bring out the fog a bit more, but not much other than that.

yea they are all really good, the second one especially... it really does look computer generated

I like the second one.. its really cool - like the reflection in the water...

I vote for two also.

I've got the same opinion as a2k. I thought the lights in the first one were amazing, and then I scrolled down and it was like WHAM.

I love the 2nd one, but the third one is stunning too!

Wow, amazing stuff.
The first one is cool, but feels like it could use a little more something.. but I dont know what.
Second pic is just amazing. I love the reflection on the small ripples, and the light fog, the arches, and the sky, GREAT pic.
Third pic I just think the bridge is ugly, and theres not enough going on in the sky to make it very interesting.

Cool pics though, keep them coming.:cool:

oregon has so many wonderful bridges.

i concur, that 2nd one is seriously fabulous. :D

Badass reflections.. really like the last bridge.

yes that second picture almost looks surreal.

Very pretty.