Arik Gorban
October 2026 - Badlands National Park
Original
About the Image(s)
I just came back from a road trip to South Dakota. My main focus was to visit Badlands and a few abandoned towns. I also wanted to photograph an area with similar rock formations outside the national park, where drone operation is legal.
It was a hazy day with soft light and almost no color in the scene, so I processed the picture in B&W. While it doesn’t have the common elements of most IR images, I liked the way it revealed the shapes and textures in the rock formations. I made global tonal adjustments in ACR, followed by channel swapping, B&W conversion (Using NIK Silver Efex Pro), and minor tonal adjustments in Photoshop. The Canon G10 was set to ISO 100, f6.3, 1/60 sec, EV -0.33.
9 comments posted
Arik, I really like and enjoy the results of your post processing work. With Ansel Adams sitting on your shoulder, you increased the tonality and contrast making this image so rich in texture and energy. I'm curious, why did you channel swap before B&W conversion? Posted: 10/01/2026 14:11:56
Thank you. I created a few NIK Silver Efex presets, for IR conversion to B&W, that work best after channel swapping. I often create color and B&W versions, so I follow the workflow, even when I don't save the color version. Otherwise, there's no need to swap channels for B&W. Posted: 10/01/2026 14:20:29
Arik,
I love the Badlands NP. I have been there several times, it is small, not heavy tourist traffic like Yellowstone so it feels like it is your space.
Your image captures the texture of the terrain there so well, it seems other worldly.
Well thanks
Emil Posted: 10/02/2026 15:21:30
I love the Badlands NP. I have been there several times, it is small, not heavy tourist traffic like Yellowstone so it feels like it is your space.
Your image captures the texture of the terrain there so well, it seems other worldly.
Well thanks
Emil Posted: 10/02/2026 15:21:30
I hope to one day visit Badlands SD and your image makes the desire stronger. I love the texture you have in your image, I can also feel the roughness of the rocks. So desolate. Posted: 10/02/2026 18:22:04
Hi Arik, Your image made me go back and look at my collection from the Badlands. I had the same problem you have with haze and not much contrast. You have encouraged me to go back are work on some from there.
I think you have captured exactly what the Badlands is all about. It is stark with wonderful rock formations. My initial reaction was to want more contrast, but then you would not be conveying the story. Good processing and well presented.
Posted: 10/04/2026 17:36:30
I think you have captured exactly what the Badlands is all about. It is stark with wonderful rock formations. My initial reaction was to want more contrast, but then you would not be conveying the story. Good processing and well presented.
Posted: 10/04/2026 17:36:30
Marvelous, Arik! I love the Badlands and other similar places in IR. While you don't get the usual rock/foliage contrast, you do get more depth, especially on hazy days. Your composition is excellent and your processing is spot on for the subject. Posted: 10/14/2026 16:50:17
Such a beautiful area, Arik, and although without trees, its rather low contrast, as others have mentioned it still works due to the other-worldly feel, plus a nice sky. Posted: 10/14/2026 17:26:13
Yuo can't go wrong in the Badlands! I love that area have a wonderful visible panorama image.
I would not have thought about taking an IR image in the Badlands because I would not expect a lot of IR light/contrast in the image. You did a very nice job with the composition and post processing.
It wasn't clear to me....does your drone have an IR sensor? If yes, is it a 3rd party add-on? I have a DJI drone that I haven't used in awhile but it would be interesting to put an IR sensor on it. Posted: 10/19/2026 02:01:07
I would not have thought about taking an IR image in the Badlands because I would not expect a lot of IR light/contrast in the image. You did a very nice job with the composition and post processing.
It wasn't clear to me....does your drone have an IR sensor? If yes, is it a 3rd party add-on? I have a DJI drone that I haven't used in awhile but it would be interesting to put an IR sensor on it. Posted: 10/19/2026 02:01:07
My drones are not converted to IR. There are conversions available for some drone cameras, but they are limited to a few models. Posted: 10/19/2026 17:06:06