Jökulsárlón Lagoon Sunrise

[Kyle Jones]

This is a complete rework of this image, which I captured several years ago during a beautiful sunrise in Iceland. This was after the sunrise colors had faded, but the light and clouds were still really nice. My previous attempts struggled with the bright area in the cloud and the darkness in the lagoon and icebergs. This edit feels more consistent with how I remember the scene.

Details of the process I'm working on below. Any thoughts are welcome.

Notes on processing:

I have been playing with using linear profiles in Lightroom as my starting point for landscape images. I used Adobe's DNG Profile Editor to generate a linear profile for each of the cameras I have used over the years. Linear profiles give you a darker and much flatter (less contrast) image than the more standard profiles in Lightroom. Since most of my workflow revolves around reducing contrasts and then bringing them back where I want them, this seems like a good idea for me.

Initial edits are made in Lightroom, including WB. The linear profile requires much higher exposure and contrast settings (my default was -1.0 exposure and -33 contrast, with the linear profile I am using +0.5 and +10, respectively) then I am used to using, which really showed my how much Adobe had been boosting these.

Once satisfied, I brought it into PhotoShop as a smart object. I used Topaz Denoise AI and Sharpen AI on the smart object (noise reduction and sharpening were turned off in Lightroom), and since these were applied to the smart object they adjust automatically when the object is updated. I used the camera RAW filter on the smart object as well, to insert luminance masks and apply curves within them. Since this is applied to the RAW smart object, it is non-destructive and I can go back and change them later. One curve boosted the brightness in the darker tones and the other added contrast to all except the brightest tones.

From there I adjusted to taste with my normal tools.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like your rework of this scene - looks quite natural.

Interesting to read through your workflow for processing this. I have been letting DxO handle the lens/sensor corrections prior to working with the file in LR and DxO leaves the file devoid of camera/sensor info to keep Adobe from trying to add it's own corrections on top.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Sounds like a pretty extensive workflow but the results are very good

 

[TimMc]

Great picture. The linear profile is interesting. I am forever dropping the highlights and raising the shadows. The results you have here really look good.

 

[JimFox]

First off, a great photo! And what a cool subject! A lagoon full of ice cubes.

Your Linear processing is really interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

One question. When you mentioned you used to do exposure at -1.0 but now do +0.5, are you referring to in LightRoom as you edit? Or are you referring to your camera and how you are exposing your images?

 

[Kyle Jones]

First off, a great photo! And what a cool subject! A lagoon full of ice cubes.

Your Linear processing is really interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

One question. When you mentioned you used to do exposure at -1.0 but now do +0.5, are you referring to in LightRoom as you edit? Or are you referring to your camera and how you are exposing your images?

That was my default in Lightroom when I imported them. I believe that the standard profiles and defaults in Lightroom are too bright and contrasty

 

[Jameel Hyder]

A very nice scene and your processing does it justice. I have read some others who have gone the linear profile route. It is something I'd like to try.

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Beautiful image. I imagine it was a wonderful experience to be in such an inspirational area. Regarding the processing, you might consider adding yellow to the brighter areas that, I'm assuming, are over exposed. With the blue in the sky as well as in the foreground this might give the image contrast by virtue of complementary colors vs. luminosity as it stands now. If you're using luminosity masks you could try painting in the areas of highest exposure first and move on from there. I don't think it will be easy but it's worth a try.

 

[Trent Watts]

Beautiful image Kyle. And wow do I ever have a lot to learn about landscape processing. Thanks so much for sharing your workflow.

 

[Bob Israel]

Jameel, this is a beauty. Not a bad idea to rework some old photos using a new technique. I've had an on again, off again affair with linear profiles. True, there's more flexibility but other times, I just can't get to where I want to go.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Jameel, this is a beauty. Not a bad idea to rework some old photos using a new technique. I've had an on again, off again affair with linear profiles. True, there's more flexibility but other times, I just can't get to where I want to go.

I completely agree with that. They are so flat starting out that it takes some work to bring them to life. I'll keep playing for a while.