These images are from a trip to Badlands National Park in September of 2017.

We went to the Yellow Mounds Overlook area on two occasions. After Pinnacles, it is my next favorite overlook. There are opportunities on both sides of the road if you wander around a bit.

Feature Image Details

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• Canon 11-24 F4.0 L lens at 18mm, F13, 1/100 second, ISO 200.

This image and two that follow are stacked images. That means I took multiple images, each focused on a different spot. I used Lightroom to adjust the exposures and color, the same for each image in the stack. Then I manually blended them in Photoshop using layer masks.

With four images, I blend two images. Then blend the next. Then the next. I find starting with the foreground the easiest.

Here are more Yellow Mounds images.

The final image above was not focus stacked. It was taken at 28mm with a Canon 24-105MM F4 L Lens

There was little need to stack. Everything was in focus because this was a distant shot. When you are very close to the subject and want every part of the image, you need to focus stack.

Big Badlands Overlook

Big Badlands Overlook is an excellent location at sunrise. At sunrise, it’s my favorite overlook.

I went to this overlook five times at sunrise and had good clouds only once. The best light was before sunrise. Compare the above two images. I prefer the first. It was 10 minutes or so before sunrise.

Big Badlands Panorama Stitch

That’s a crop from an even wider sequence of five images stitched together. I took that sequence one morning when there was decent light but no clouds.

Lightroom usually does a good job of stitching automatically as was the case here. I use Photoshop merge on occasion, but Lightroom is easier to work with.

Equipment

Those interested in my equipment and recommendations can find it here: Mish’s Equipment List.

Additional Badlands Articles

1. Badlands National Park Pinnacles Overlook: Sunset, Panorama, and Milky Way Images
2. Badlands National Park – Double Rainbow at Pinnacles Overlook
3. Badlands National Park – Castle Trail and Notch Trail Images

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I will wrap up the Badlands in my next article. It has an image of me reflected in a Meadowlark’s eye.  Stay tuned!

Much more coming: Click to Subscribe by Email.

Mike “Mish” Shedlock