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Beautiful Fury
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Beautiful Fury

by Anthony Vincent

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 9, 2009401 views29 comments
I don't quite know what it is but I find myself wanting to be out albeit the weather gets inhospitable. We received our first wave of winter storms here in the midwest and today was something. 50+ mph winds and rapidly decreasing temperatures I headed out with the pooch in a nearby vast field. A simple image but I find a lot of beauty in simplicity.

Like most winter images and especially today a +1.5 stop increase was correct exposure. Here I only pushed a further +0.5 to further convey the near white out conditions and extreme wind. Leaning toward high key but this is how the scene looked and felt.
The temperature was 16 deg at the time and coupled with 50+ winds, it was cold.
Totally fun though

Thanks for your time and comments

Include a LARGE VIEW

Canon 40D
No filters
95mm
1/8 sec. @ f 14
iso 200

Comments

29 comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 9, 2009 at 6:48 PM
I like the high key treatment, although it doesn't sound like a treatment, but the way it was. It is a beautiful tree and works really well in this scene. Looking good.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 9, 2009 at 6:55 PM
This is a real beauty Anthony - wonderful comp and great processing.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on December 9, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Thanks Harley and Bill,

I forgot to mention that this is pretty much a raw file. I adjusted brightness and clarity in LR2. Then sharpening and downsizing in ps, thats it.
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by David Cobb on December 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Frame filling fantastic Anthony!

David M. Cobb
Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on December 9, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Awesome shot Anthony! I really like how the branches go right out of the frame, it just keeps my eye exploring every little tendril. :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 9, 2009 at 7:42 PM
This is absolutely beautiful Anthony! The white out condition give this magnificent, graceful tree life if that makes any sense). Nice work.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Fricke on December 9, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Beautiful composition Anthony. I especially like how the snow blown into the tree highlights the texture in the trunk.
Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on December 9, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Wow, very cool shot Anthony! I love the white on white look but have never been able to pull it off myself... you sure did here! If I had one nit, it would be that I wish there was just a bit more showing below the tree trunk. It just seems a tiny bit crowded in the bottom for me. Regardless, I love this shot!

Wayne
Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on December 9, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Nice work Anthony, wonderful comp and exposure. Very fitting for the conditions we are having today. I give you credit for heading out and taking a look around.
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on December 9, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Fabulous! I love the treatment, but especially the way you framed this.
Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on December 9, 2009 at 8:38 PM
I love the graphic beauty in this winter scene, Anthony. The details in the large image are particularly striking. :toast:

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by Gabi Lach on December 9, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Beautiful, Anthony. Very creative. Love it! :toast:
Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments
Comment posted by Jay Patel on December 9, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Very artistic B/W photograph. I love the high key processing.
Registered on August 28, 2008, 87 Posts, 566 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 9, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Well done. I like the way you framed the tree. :toast:
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on December 9, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Much thanks again everyone,

To answer a few Q's. Wayne, thanks for the observation which is more than welcome. Funny, I did try one with more sky and another with equal sky and ground. This ended up being more graphic for me, which I liked.

Also this shot was not converted as saturation was naturally void due to conditions.

Thanks again to all
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on December 9, 2009 at 8:55 PM
:toast: This a real beauty
Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on December 9, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Dramatic effect because of your presentation, comp and technical skills. Would sure make a great print. :toast:
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on December 9, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Very unique idea, like the shot very much. Very simple composition, great image.
Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on December 9, 2009 at 9:57 PM
An outstanding and creative composition! Just a little more room at the bottom would have been my choice.
Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 9, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Great concept and capture. Beautiful lines in the tree and the high key is perfect for the conditions. Way to not only brave the elements, but apparently revel in them! :biggrin:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 9, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Awesome! :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 10, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Beautiful Anthony, it looks so delicate.. ironic given the conditions :smile:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 10, 2009 at 2:55 AM
I never do not comment on a shot that i spend more than a minute looking at :wink:
So, i have to confess this doesnt really work for me. It doesnt convey a sense of the conditions, just feels like a high-key version of a tree shot, unfortunately too much exposure to PS probably influences my impression. The comp feels a bit confined too, id prefer it more open. Ive shot similar scenes like this and never got results i liked, so maybe its just the subject that doesnt appeal to me. Sorry! :frown:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on December 10, 2009 at 4:00 AM
Fantastic tree, a very artistic comp. Great work Vincent
Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on December 10, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Hey Stan, no biggie I know what to get you for Christmas now a 40X60 print :biggrin: JK. I know images aren't for everyone so let me explain the situation which might bring the image to light. I know it seems like a straight high key image which in some ways it is. If I would have taken this the other day with no snow and over exposed the image would have been really bright and funky looking. I used the conditions (e.i. 50+ winds and hard blowing snow) to capture this. It brought substance to the bg yet still displaying the contrasting elements of the tree. Of course if I listened to my meter the snow would have been gray, right. I pushed a half a stop over +1.5 to give it a more natural feel to what I saw. I also waited for a huge gust to blow which I believed helped soften parts as well. The raw file is exactly like this but unsharpened. Lastly I chose the frame filling comp because it best suited the scene. Too much fg was distracting as was too much sky. Hope this better explains my means of capturing this.

I completely am thankful for all your comments liked or not :smile:
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Nathan Buck on December 10, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Wow Anthony. Quite a stunning, beautiful shot.

Nathan
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments
Comment posted by Art Escobado on December 10, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Great image!
Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments
Comment posted by Bruno Silva on December 10, 2009 at 6:47 PM
impressive work vincent. very artistic comp. not a surprise from you though...:wink:! magical!
Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 10, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Excellent! The high-key presentation is perfect for conveying nasty weather and the comp for conveying the endurance of the tree.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments