May Surprise

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 6, 2010252 views24 comments

So, the day I arrived in Yosemite for my spring shoot, it was raining. Just like last year. Thing is, I was camped near the park entrance on hwy120. When I decided to get going back to camp, I didn't make it more that 1000ft. in elevation before the rain had turned to snow! After a few miles, it was 4-6inches thick on the road, and I wasn't sure if I would make it all the way back over the summit, and to my campsite. But a mile or so from the turn off to the site, it had stopped snowing. The forest was covered in a fresh new coat, and I had to stop and check it out. I hope you enjoy it, and thank you for your thoughts. A large version is included as well.

D200,
1-2second camera movement exposure.

Thanks,
Chris

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 6, 2010 at 8:47 PM

Enjoy it immensely Chris - very artistic in every aspect.

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 6, 2010 at 8:55 PM

Wonderful abstract, Chris. This is very graphic, very appealing. Looks like a pencil etching.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 6, 2010 at 9:46 PM

Spring in Yosemite never looked better, Chris. What a great take on some surprisingly extreme conditions.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 6, 2010 at 10:14 PM

Beautifully abstract but the preservation of detail in the trees brings it to another level. This will look FANTASTIC printed on thick textured cotton paper!

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on June 6, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Wonderful shot, Chris.
Great use of motion blur.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on June 6, 2010 at 11:54 PM

This is a great abstract, Crhis. Beautiful.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on June 7, 2010 at 12:22 AM

Wonderful abstract Chris. A seriously unique shot.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 7, 2010 at 3:10 AM

Im not quite sure what im looking at...but it sure is cool! Like an odd sketch, as one of the other comments noted.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on June 7, 2010 at 3:46 AM

Absolutely wonderful shot Chris, the movement has worked very well.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on June 7, 2010 at 4:27 AM

That's a lovely evocative shot that encapsulates driving snow. Love the vertical slide I often think they are a little overdone but this one works extremely well.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Leann Greene on June 7, 2010 at 6:06 AM

You kept just the right amount of branch detail in your movement to make it recognizable and yet different in it's presentation.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on June 7, 2010 at 7:19 AM

very graphical and dreamy, chris!! love these images, great work here!!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on June 7, 2010 at 7:47 AM

Reall cool Chris, very artistic. The blurs for me don't always do it but this one is great. The sharpness along with the blur lends some graphic elements still visible. This will be a great print for ya.
Nicely done

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

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on June 7, 2010 at 9:07 AM

I like the artistic presention here Chris, but part of me really wants to see the scene sharp. Looks like some wonderful elements to enjoy. not saying I don't enjoy this presentation though, very creative and works well with the scene. Nice work.

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

Comment posted by Jason Woerly on June 7, 2010 at 9:52 AM

What a wonderful graphically abstract capture. I absolutely love it.

Registered on May 4, 2006, 8 Posts, 101 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on June 7, 2010 at 1:23 PM

Looks like an artists rendering of Yosemite. I love it.

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

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on June 7, 2010 at 3:59 PM

I'm enjoying the artistic touch you've added Chris. The ending vertical lines make a nice comp!

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on June 7, 2010 at 4:38 PM

This is another super strong image! Very artsy and graphic. High key and blur work great here. Congrats on another winner!

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on June 7, 2010 at 5:21 PM

Really really liking this one. Perfect motion. Just enough to get the abstract feel w/o going overboard. Kudos!

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 7, 2010 at 6:45 PM

I am with Stan, I am not sure what I am looking at, but it is cool.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 7, 2010 at 6:51 PM

Looks like an etching. Cool!

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 7, 2010 at 8:44 PM

Chris,

This is wonderful. I think you've got not only the in-camera technique down, I know your processing work is excellent as well in envisioning and producing these abstract nature scenes. This one is done especially well both in the capture, ie. recognizing a great subject matter, and of course in your processing.

My only nit with this one would be the vertical gaps at the bottom of the trunks. For me anyway, they leave the obvious mark of the vertical motion. as an alternative, if you were to crop some of the bottom to eliminate that evidence, I think this becomes a much stronger abstract. What do you think? Of course you lose some of the openness at the bottom, so it's trade off...

Lon

ps. We've had the discussion before.... I personally feel this belongs in the Photo Art gallery - but no hand of man to disqualify it....

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on June 8, 2010 at 11:25 AM

Very creative work, Chris. The motion blur is just sufficient to arouse interest without becoming overbearing. The processing/presentation is top-notch and does justice to this photograph. Way to go!

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 8, 2010 at 1:05 PM

This is lovely Chris. It looks like a pencil or charcoal drawing Christmas card. I like the delicate lines and features in the large version. They give the image a 3-dimensional feel.

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