Thanks, I greatly appreciate the compliments!
Not an easy one to answer
I edit each shot differently depending on the circumstances. But, I do try and do as little editing as possible. #1, #3, #4 & #5 are basic adjustments. Contrast, levels, shadows/highlights and a tiny bump in saturation. Honestly, no more than a couple of minutes on each shot. Oh and unsharp mask before I post to the web. After looking at #2, it needs some more work.
Most of the time, my landscapes have lots of one certain color...lots of red rocks, brown dirt or blue sky, etc. So I normally saturate/desaturate by individual color. It's important to understand what each color does. With a desert shot with lots of dirt, both red and yellow are going to greatly effect the outcome of the picture. So...if there's lots of green bushes and brown dirt, I might bump the yellow +10 and nock the red down about -20 or -25? I always underexpose my shots and then lighten them with PS. It gives me better control over the fg without blowing out the sky. I make a shadow/highlight adjustment in almost every shot. It gives me much better control than levels alone. And I don't have enough experience with curves yet. I never use curves?
Also, I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but I have my camera (350D) set up like this:
contrast = +1
sharpness = 0
saturation = +1
color tone = 0
This gives a pretty flat picture in really bright light, but it keeps everything under control. I've played with the saturation at 0 because sometimes the reds are too saturated. But I like it at +1 for the blues in the sky. Ummm...what else? I always use a good circular polarizer outside. And I try to only shoot when there is some type of cloud cover, but that's not always possible. Any time after a rain is a good time to shoot. It helps naturally enhance the colors.
Take lots of pictures and practice editing. They don't have to be great shots, just something that catches your eye every day. If it's something you notice every day, try and capture it just like you see it on film. sorry so long winded, hope all that helps :mrgreen: I've said it before, I'm no pro
(read my signature), so take the above lightly. But...if any of that helps...great!
Say, what are those large, rocky, pointy/lumpy things sticking up out of the ground in the background? 
Heh heh. If you had a nickel for every time I made that joke. I have never seen mountains like those, ever, except in photos. Thanks for taking me to them. Awesome shots.
What do you do to get a sky like in #2..... is it a photoshop trick?
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