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Stormy Balsam Sunset
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Stormy Balsam Sunset

by Alex Mody

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 2, 2010274 views16 comments
I spent the majority of yesterday afternoon and evening cruising and hiking around the Black Balsam area of the the Blue Ridge Parkway, through intense storms and fog. It didn't look like it'd break for sunset, but I picked a spot, waited it out, and had a great fifteen minute window to photograph this scene. I shot a bunch of compositions, but I've processed this one first.

I'd be lying if I said I knew exactly where this was taken... Maybe somebody could help with that? It was somewhere around MP 430.

This is laptop processed, and I blended three exposures, so please excuse any less than great color or contrast issues. :biggrin:

Thank you for looking and commenting!

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Ian Plant on June 2, 2010 at 10:21 AM
the dark processing perfectly captures the stormy mood, a very evocative piece, nicely done!
Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Anderson on June 2, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Alex I love the dark nature of this image.
Great colors and dramatic skies.
Well done. :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments
Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on June 2, 2010 at 10:44 AM
I thought it was to dark looking at the thumbnail, but i was wrong, there are still a lot of detail on the shadows. Wonderful scene Alex, very moody.
Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on June 2, 2010 at 11:28 AM
I also love the dark moody interpretation of this scene, Alex. Can't place where it is, however.
Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments
Comment posted by Michael VanBeber on June 2, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Like, Ricardo I wasn’t to sure about this image when I seen the dark thumbnail, but you did an excellent job at capturing just enough light to express the mood here. Nice shot Alex!
Registered on February 27, 2009, 34 Posts, 183 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on June 2, 2010 at 12:13 PM
What a great set of dark, moody photos right now on NPN. And this one is no exception. The FG for me is all about the primordial fear of darkness- just standing there, facing the elements.
I know it has nothing to do with the photo, and you probably can't control it at all, but the huge black frame around it is a bit distracting.
Very good shot.
Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on June 2, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Love the stormy atmosphere here Alex, great mood with very nice light and colors. Well captured and processed.
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on June 2, 2010 at 2:00 PM
I like the dark mood! It's also really neat to have to peer into the image to really see the details. :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on June 2, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Beautiful sunset. Well done.

- Dan.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on June 2, 2010 at 4:13 PM
Stormy indeed Alex. Very moody image.
Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 2, 2010 at 4:26 PM
i love the exposure here - or the darkness retained in processing. the pink flushes also are wonderful.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce King on June 2, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Reading through half the comments I'd already decided I would use the word primordial in my comment, but reading further I see Nicolas has beaten me to it. Yes it has a very promordial feel to it. Yeah, it's time to embrace the darkness! :cool:
Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on June 2, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Awesome mood Mody :biggrin:
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 3, 2010 at 12:37 AM
Alex,

The semi-darkness of this image really helps emphasize the mood and timing of the image. I'd like to recommend lightening this up a tad, but I think that would take away from the mood and your intent. I'd say this captures the moment perfectly - even though I wasn't even there.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Bruno Silva on June 3, 2010 at 9:39 AM
love the mood here and drama!! great colors top to bottom. fabulous capture, Alex!!!
Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 3, 2010 at 2:29 PM
I think you nailed everything from the composition to the processing. You would want to, the conditions are pretty special.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments