Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Can you tell which has fake fog and which is real? Please be sure to tell me how you determined, in as much detail as you can. Thanks very much!

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AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Purely a guess, but the delineation between the foggy and clear areas seems more distinct in the second image. Whichever it is, you’ve done an excellent job.

Andy

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Does the delineation suggest #2 is the fake?

rleonetti Loc: Portland, Oregon

Second one is real: shows sun low and to the right.
First one fake: the angles of sun coming through the fog are wrong and can find no sun illuminating things like the fence post where it should.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

That was my first thought, but I think the angle of the sun seems more natural in it. They really are indistinguishable in the way you’ve applied the effect. If forced to a choice, I’d go with #2 as the genuine effect.

I would love to see a tutorial from you on this effect in the PP section. You’ve mastered this technique!

Andy

carlysue Loc: Columbus

I'm thinking #1, Linda. Since fog is merely a cloud at the ground, its like water evaporating from the surface into the air. I think its the hills in the background with just a hint of fog covering them that gives the appearance of real. The heavier fog is more towards the ground. If it's the "fake" , its well done.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I think they both are real taken different times.

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

I'll give it my best shot with my limited knowledge of physics & meteorologic phenomena. Both are nicely done, but I think both are fake.

In the 1st one, I don't know what would cause fog to form the white # pattern in the lower left of the image.

In the 2nd one, the support structure & wires of the irrigation pipe seem to be "fogged out" which to me, does not look natural.

Just my guess, I could be completely wrong.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks very much everyone; the exercise was very informative and enjoyable!

#1 has the real fog, though the other had a little trace left at time of shooting. I am posting a wider view of each also so you can get a better sense of the light. 150 photos in 25 minutes of furious shooting (about 45 degrees of view, I guess: straight into sun, some to left, some to right) - and then the show was over

Andy, you asked about a tutorial. All I did was add two layers of Nik Color Efex fog filter, with selective adjustments to opacity and masking. In particular, I masked the foreground from the effects. When I realized that the fake fog was obscuring what little detail there was of the background, I took a chunk of first pic, inverted it (negative image), flipped it vertically, stretched it, and blended as new layer onto the other photo.

KT, what a great find! I hadn't noticed that criss-cross in lower left. As you'll see in the original, it is a combination of sun rays coming through the trees and a horizontal layer of fog. In the photos I posted here in 2017, you'll see lots of layers. Mother Nature can come up with some pretty special "special effects" at times!

Thanks again! The photos below are unedited dng files converted to jpg for posting.
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the difference in color: #1 WB = auto (in ACR), #2 "as shot."

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this is a wider view of #1 so you can understand the direction of light

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10 minutes later and to left of sunrise, the image to which I applied Nik fog and different background.

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wider view of #3

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Stephan G

The second one strikes me as the modified shot. The cows aren't carrying around their fog horns.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Good challenge Linda. The image with the Pigs appears to be the fake. The first image shows a low lighting fog base and that is more realistic to me. The Pigs are missing that fog level. I could be wrong and often are.
Don

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks, Don, you are correct about which has the real fog, but not about pigs - they're cows The originals are posted in the thread above your comments. Appreciate your time!

NikonGal Loc: Central Oregon

Linda, thanks for this exercise. I didn't get into the forum until after the replys and your explanation were posted. My choice was wrong though, as I picked the 2nd one as being real. I thought you wouldn't leave a heavy upper line of the fog cloud if you were adding a fog effect...it would be blended more. Thanks, Bev

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks so much for your interest! Those are two ridge lines (of hills) visible in background of #1 - hard to recognize as such for many people because they have few to no trees and are mostly in a straight line horizontally