Lower Antelope Canyon - Hue/Saturation Adventure

The creative murmurs - I had been stalled for a while, but I found my way out of my thoughts about the grand debate of faithful representation of subject vs. artistic expression in photography. I've become more assertive and clear about my visual outcome and creative decisions. After all, these works are all defined by my perception and no one else's. The wondering wanderer has learned to embrace the ambiguity wholeheartedly.

Here are some snapshots of her journey on this grand creative adventure...

I hope you'll enjoy them.

Pre-Adventure FYI:

Sat. - Saturation

Hue

Map of Elevation:

"Campground" - 0

"Base" - Selective, Sat. +45

Refer to notes for others.

Lower Antelope Canyon colorful Landscape antelope canyon Photography pictures Aurora Borealis

^ Campground - [Raw] (0,0)

I appreciate the raw data as some kind of "truth". Even with the un-healed imperfections, the white and black streaks dripping down on these formations, I enjoy and appreciate the "faithfulness" I see.

^ Base: (Selective, Sat. +45)
After some spot healing process, the canyon's surfaces look enhanced. This becomes a new form of accepted "truth" (perceptive bias) of what I choose to see.

^ Coordinates: (Base + Hue+19)

As adjustments increase, I now enter a realm of "Ps truths" while knowing this "artificial" looking color is taking me into a "fantasy" field.

Here, I enjoy the diverse light purple, brownish pink, sandy-orange, yellow, somewhat light golden, and every other color / gradation lost and/or indescribable by words...

^ Coordinates: (Base + Hue -90)

Immersed in color... I no longer think about how much this deviates from "The Campground" (raw) and "Base" images. It's becoming surreal and my focus is fixed on observing the color gradations......
I enjoy the mix of purple/lake green/lost-for-words colors in the blend...

^ Coordinates: (Base + Hue -110)

I enjoy the periwinkle/purple/neon green color blend...

^ Coordinates: (Base + Hue -144)

I enjoy the minty green/orange-yellow softness here.

^ Coordinates: (Base + Sat +20)

And this gives me the revelation that those "impressively looking" images of the Lower Antelope Canyon were all tweaked to many degrees to yield the effects they have... and knowing that centers me. Our creative decisions are different and that's ok.