Valley of Fire, Petroglyphs

Exposures

This section shows how using different methods we can see either nothing or some differences.

The first example exposes the images by removing all the color and then equalizing the image. The result is the all of the etched surfaces stand out.

This is good for showing all the images at Atl Atl Rock.

The steps:
- reduce to 1000px
- autolevels
- desaturate
- equalize
- reduce to 500px

Since we want to see the differences between the glyphs, this method will not work.

When we search for ways to articulate the differences between the shades of red in the etched areas of the images, we are rewarded

immediately using the 'posterize' feature in Photoshop.

For this example we accepted the default setting of 5 and this is the result.

It is readily apparent that certain images have characteristics which this process is able to articulate.

Both the inset and the background image were also sharpened to further bring out the images.

The inset shows the area most effected by posterizing. The inset is also 'shadowed' to contrast it from the background image.

This is a good example of how just a few simple steps taken with a digital image can tell us more than just the natural image.
The steps:
- reduce to 1000px
- posterize - accept default, 5
- reduce to 500px