Aspen Forest, Alaska

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 21, 20081,841 views54 comments

Hope folks aren't getting tired of aspen shots. Image of an aspen forest south of Fairbanks made a few years ago.
4x5, Rodenstock 210mm, Velvia, f32.3 15secs.

Comments and suggestions appreciated.
Thank you, Vance

Comments

54 comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on November 21, 2008 at 12:42 PM

Nice mood. Excellent overall shot.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on November 21, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Beautiful photo. I'd like to see a bit more of the bottom.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Truckenbrod on November 21, 2008 at 12:55 PM

Aspen shots oftentimes seem a dime-a-dozen, but this has a very distinct mood and feel. The light has an amazing presence. Stunning image!

Registered on January 27, 2006, 17 Posts, 751 Comments

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on November 21, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Fantastic Vance! The vertical nature of this shot is great. The density of the grove is surprising given the apparent height of the canopy.

Mel-

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 21, 2008 at 12:58 PM

Not tired of shots like this one, that's for sure. Gorgeous!

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Jesse Speer on November 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM

I'd never tire of special images like this. This certainly stands out from the crowd. What a wonderful moment.

Registered on September 18, 2004, 19 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 21, 2008 at 1:11 PM

This is really neat! This has great mood and color, and your comp is very nice.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Jirka on November 21, 2008 at 1:14 PM

Vance,
Another winner in my book. A deep forest view, but it has a luminosity to it that is perfect. I would not want more FG, since the light at the top is what it is all about. Without the top, it would just be another aspen forest scene.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 254 Posts, 1620 Comments

Comment posted by Erik Stensland on November 21, 2008 at 1:20 PM

This is inviting and mysterious! I really like it. The fog, the lone tree covered in leaves and the arrow straight aspen really make this something special!!!

Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on November 21, 2008 at 1:27 PM

Great capture Vance, that light mist is killer.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on November 21, 2008 at 1:33 PM

beautiful shot, great colors and I love the mood of this image. Kind of wish the pine wasn't cut off, but thats a small nit.

Very nice.

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on November 21, 2008 at 1:42 PM

Absolutely incredible lighting and atmosphere in this one simplifies the scene enough that the vertical lines really stand out and the background has so much depth. Reminds me of some of my favorite Charles Cramer images. Those couple evergreens are the perfect compliment here.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Mohsen Al-Dajani on November 21, 2008 at 2:08 PM

"Original Art"

Registered on August 23, 2007, 160 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on November 21, 2008 at 2:19 PM

This is beautiful, I love it!

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on November 21, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Marvelous scene, Vance! The light is magical, really emphasizing every detail front to back! Dreamy, moody and exquisite!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Perkins on November 21, 2008 at 2:35 PM

What a wonderful image this is!! Very beautifully done.

Registered on January 7, 2008, 7 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on November 21, 2008 at 3:44 PM

Well done, Vance, beautiful light and comp, love all the verticles

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on November 21, 2008 at 3:49 PM

This is flat out beautiful Vance, Love the light.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on November 21, 2008 at 3:53 PM

Well done! That soft light is something!

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 21, 2008 at 4:34 PM

Vance,

I never tire of aspen images - especially as ones as magical as this one! I'm assuming that's fog that's diffusing the background and wow, does that really make this scene beautiful. The lone pine/fir with the sprinkling of yellow leaves makes for a perfect focal point in the scene, but the uniformity and denseness of the apsen trunks just make for a spectacular backdrop.

Now if I had to nitpick anything, I would wish for a bit more on the bottom. I could go with cutting off the evergreen in exchange for more at the bottom. But guess what? We don't have zoom lenses on 4x5, so I can perfectly understand.

It's an outstanding image Vance. Whew!

Ln

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Nevesely on November 21, 2008 at 5:18 PM

Really nice Vance! I like this a lot.

Registered on June 14, 2005, 147 Posts, 1550 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on November 21, 2008 at 5:26 PM

Great image, Vance! The two Evergreens receding softly into the background do a nice job of mimicking the major one front left. It looks like this composition was well thought out. The light is outstanding. It's a lovely fall scenic.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 21, 2008 at 5:56 PM

How could one get tired of THIS shot? For me one of the most unique I have ever seen. Amazing how unlimited photography, is even given the same main subject. Excellent!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Sean Bagshaw on November 21, 2008 at 6:29 PM

So nice in every respect!

Registered on February 14, 2007, 99 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on November 21, 2008 at 7:24 PM

You just can''t get tired of them when they're this good. The subtle light, when filtered through the fog, just gives this image a ridiculously awesome mood.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on November 21, 2008 at 7:52 PM

I love the glow from the diffused light in this scene, Vance. A stunning image IMO.

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM

The fog and your comp make this a stand alone image of aspens. Just fantastic capture of light and mood.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Cliff Dodge on November 21, 2008 at 8:29 PM

Can never get tired of shots like this!

Registered on March 25, 2006, 125 Posts, 507 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on November 21, 2008 at 9:54 PM

Really, really good Vance. The background light really sets this photo apart.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Dolde on November 21, 2008 at 10:33 PM

Love the soft mood of this. A very fine image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 305 Posts, 3900 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on November 21, 2008 at 11:24 PM

Awesome. I really like this shot, Vance. The light in the forest is amazing.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Hudon on November 22, 2008 at 12:59 AM

How about a less literal version by not including the foreground? It's nice but you've stuck me in a place. Without the foreground, I'm floating, imagining my surroundings.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 315 Posts, 2246 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 22, 2008 at 1:12 AM

Vance,

Just awesome. Every once in a while a photograph comes by that just moves you, and this is one of them. Wonderful work.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Steve France on November 22, 2008 at 6:54 AM

stunning. The light and mood of this is awesome. there is a lot going on here, the combination of 3's is great!

Registered on September 26, 2007, 89 Posts, 1477 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 22, 2008 at 10:45 AM

Beautiful color, composition and mood.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on November 22, 2008 at 11:26 AM

This is a beautiful photo. The lighting at the top of the aspens, along with the mist, makes the layers very interesting. I also like the aspen leaves on the pine tree - gives the viewer a sense of the time of year that the photo was taken. Thank you for sharing!

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Dilley on November 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM

The thumb really doesn't do your shot justice at all. When the full size image came up, I thought "Wow!". With the subtle mist and sweet light from above, this is a new vision of aspens. Perfect exposure, great comp, creative idea - nice work, Vance.

Registered on November 21, 2007, 57 Posts, 1494 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 22, 2008 at 11:45 AM

Wow, easily one of the best treescapes I have seen posted here on NPN. That light is simply gorgeous.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on November 22, 2008 at 1:21 PM

I have to pile on here,,,,,simply a fantastic image, just dripping with atmosphere.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on November 22, 2008 at 1:33 PM

This is definitely one of the most original and dramatic aspen images I've ever seen. Wonderful.

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on November 22, 2008 at 2:13 PM

Vance,
Fantasice scene. Who needs apen leaves in a photo. The few you have accentuates them.

PERFECT!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 22, 2008 at 9:32 PM

Want to thank everyone for your kind comments. The aspens in this area were really amazing. When fog greeted me one morning, well.....Quite a special day.
Vance

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on November 22, 2008 at 10:52 PM

Wow, that golden mist! It's a little bit disappointing for the main tree to leave the top of the frame, but everything else is so sweet, I almost don't care at all.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on November 22, 2008 at 11:31 PM

I did not read all the comments here but I am sure my words will be redudent! Simply perfect lighting with an excellent comp!

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Dyar on November 23, 2008 at 12:23 AM

This really is just perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. One of the best Aspen shots I've seen all year!

Registered on November 8, 2008, 22 Posts, 129 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 23, 2008 at 12:48 AM

Awesome! This is really good. The atmosphere in this makes the shot. I really, really want to find a stand of aspen this dense, and symmetrical.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Mitch Moraski on November 23, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Great shot Vance. Great light, great mood. The conifer with a touch of yellow leaves adds a nice element. Very clean image.

Registered on August 3, 2008, 105 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Stacey on November 23, 2008 at 9:29 PM

Brilliant Vance. I would even like it without the pine. Beautiful light, comp and treatment make for an inspiring and uplifting image.

Registered on February 7, 2007, 93 Posts, 297 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on November 25, 2008 at 5:10 AM

this is a beautiful and peaceful image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 25, 2008 at 11:59 PM

I just chuckled and shook my head when I saw this, man this is too good!!! Wonderful ethereal feel.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on November 26, 2008 at 3:07 AM

Not your average aspen shot. Absolutely magical light! The fallen leaves on the small spruce add a lot to the shot. As wonderful as this shot is, I could only imagine the feeling of actually being there!