Mono Mono Mono

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 4, 2009393 views30 comments

Mono, Mono, Mono, because this is a 3-image 4x5 pano stitch from film! Actually, this posted image is a crop of that pano because a 720px pano isn't really worth posting...

Please see the 1600px pan version.

This was captured on the eve of the NPN Nature Appreciation Day on 10/3 at Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra. We had a strong gathering of nearly 20 California NPN'ers the next day on Sunday - it was a nice gathering and great to meet and make some new friends.

This is only the second panorama I've attempted to stitch from 4x5 and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I'm not quite settled on the colors and processing, so it's a work in progress, but wanted to post and get your comments.

Where's Waldo? Ok, there's 1 photog fairly visible in this image that I didn't clone out. In the original file I think I counted about 15 other photogs down among the Tufa - but you won't see them in this web version. Also, the original stitch is wider, but contains the parking lot to South Tufa, which I promptly cropped out.

Anyway, just for fun. Your comments and critiques are always appreciated.

4x5 times 3, Nikkor 300mm, V100f stitched/merged in CS3.

Lon

ps. What looks like a line below the moon is the actual cloud formation and not a stitch line.

Comments

30 comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on November 4, 2009 at 3:17 AM

Nice!
I like the layers in this the full version is a treat. Great composition.

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on November 4, 2009 at 3:21 AM

A 3-stitch pano from a 4x5 camera. That sound like a lot of work for your PC. The shot is wonderful and I like how one gets a feeling fro that place that you otherwise don't have, when people focus into the single formations.
Great shot with a wonderful moonlight mood.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Kartik Venkatarama on November 4, 2009 at 3:48 AM

Love the layered comp and colors here....sure would be nice to see a mammoth print!

Registered on July 27, 2007, 197 Posts, 830 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on November 4, 2009 at 3:59 AM

Nice work on that merge, Lon. A friend of mine specializes in 4x5 panos, and he has told me how frustrating and difficult it can be to get the sky matching up perfectly. Both images look great. A very unique take I would say. Love the color combos.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on November 4, 2009 at 4:13 AM

THE PANO!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on November 4, 2009 at 6:12 AM

Both of them are very spectacular, Lon!
As Andreas said, this picture gives more a general view of the place.

gio

Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on November 4, 2009 at 6:14 AM

Beautiful work Lon, excellent color and composition, I would say, you nailed this one.

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

Comment posted by Doug Roane on November 4, 2009 at 6:56 AM

the crop is good, but the full pano rocks! Those are some wierd clouds. For me, the fg and water looks, perhaps, just a little 'overcooked' processing wise - i.e. a little too contrasty. Maybe it's the web compression. Toning it down, IMO would fit better with the softer pastel look of the sky - something to try anyways.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 4, 2009 at 7:03 AM

The pano is unbelievable Lon! I can just image what it looks like in an extra large, wall size print. I thought this version was great until I saw the pano. Colorwise, they look good to me. I like the pinks, violet, and blue in the sky as well as the grays and ambers of the ground cover. Beautiful work.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Gordon on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 AM

That pano would make one hell of a print. Not your usual style IMO but beautiful work...

Registered on May 31, 2007, 224 Posts, 1490 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on November 4, 2009 at 7:29 AM

Wow 3 4x5's must be some amazing detail. Very nice layout Lon. What's particularly interesting is the sweeping curves throughout. The land, water and clouds all flow together nicely. Your really making me want to get a LF soon. Ahhh getting married probably have to sell the camera I got, lol.
Wonderful shot

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on November 4, 2009 at 8:10 AM

Wow, Lon. I can only imagine what a print this will make, but more than that I bet it was a moving experience to be there to see it. What a scene.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on November 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM

Hi Lon,

Really interesting composition. You captured the moon wonderfully and the colors are very pleasing. Personally, I'd be tempted to crop a bit off the right side of the pano - right where the ridge goes from flat to jagged, but that's a subjective call. Excellent work. Great colors. Thanks for sharing! Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on November 4, 2009 at 10:33 AM

WONDERFUL. And you know i loved panos, arent you? :)

Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 4, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Pano is sweet, Lon!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on November 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM

Awesome, Lon. They're both wonderful! I agree about the slightly processed look, but that looks to be web sharpening to me. I'm sure the full quality file is breathtaking!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on November 4, 2009 at 11:51 AM

This really came out excellent, Lon. Although as you pointed out you might still do some slight color adjustments overall, the main stitch view seems to be very seamless. As many folks were out there for this event, it was still a very peaceful time overall.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on November 4, 2009 at 1:46 PM

The pano rocks, Lon! The colors and clouds around the moon are insane.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on November 4, 2009 at 2:10 PM

Both are impressive but the pano is really quite something Lon. I'm loving the sky, killer clouds and the moon is awesome.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM

This is phenomenal Lon. The pano version is exquisite. Love the palette of colors in the FG, those awesome clouds and moon, everything. Stitching three 4x5's must have resulted in a monster file. Superb work as always.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 4, 2009 at 4:40 PM

First of all, super photo of the Mono lake location! I like the "overview" character of the composition. The comp. works more on an abstract level for me, due to its forms, patterns and shapes. The subject as such takes the back seat. That's why I think it is a very creative and different image of this place. I prefer the traditional aspect ratio, maybe just because I can enjoy the image as a whole without having to "scan" it from one side to the other.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 4, 2009 at 7:26 PM

That seriously is reminiscent in mood and effect to me of something from Ansel Adams, but in color. Superb work!

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 4, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Lon,

Very daring with a 4x5 pano, but it worked wonderfully. I think the colors are sopt on. Just a great image.

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

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on November 4, 2009 at 8:54 PM

The pano is awesome, Lon. What wonderful conditions you have captured here. Good work on assembling this.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 4, 2009 at 8:59 PM

You know my feelings relative to this one!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 4, 2009 at 9:04 PM

Very cool, Lon.

- Dan.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on November 4, 2009 at 10:04 PM

Hi Lon A remarkable panorama

The range of colors is amazing. This fabulous composition has geometric form and mood to die for.

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on November 4, 2009 at 11:05 PM

A magical place, a magical time, a magical moment.....Glad i wa sthere to share, but not at this spot.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 5, 2009 at 5:20 AM

Real pretty, Lon--love the layers here!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on November 5, 2009 at 6:42 AM

Fantastic image, Lon! It has a strong sense of serenity. Must have been a rewarding experience.

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