Growth on Mill Creek

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 3, 2010350 views39 comments

Lame title... that's Mill Creek of Lundy Canyon, Eastern Sierra. Captured this past fall. Reachin' in to the archives again.

Posting two versions for comparison. I'm partial to the vertical crop, but would like your honest critique and feedback. The original horizontal is actually a blend of two 4x5's - yep, a film blend. One of the exposures I made the water in the URC got blown, so I blended just a little to take the heat off so to speak. It's cropped out anyway in the vertical.

4x5, Nikkor 210mm, V100F, f/16 @ 1/2s. Sorry, no large version.

Thanks folks!

Lon

Comments

39 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on July 3, 2010 at 8:52 PM

Original frame.

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on July 3, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Hi Lon,

Pretty amazing the grass stayed that still considering the velocity of the water. I prefer the original over your cropped version myself; if you like the cropped version better I think you can crop down on it just a bit and take off the top corner of that other rapid. Have a wonderful fourth of July - Michael

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 3, 2010 at 9:06 PM

These are awesome! I like both versions, but especially like the vert. The water motion looks great and I like the looks of the rocks and grass alot. Wonderful color and detail in those. I keep going back and forth between these...its gets harder to decide for me. Both are really nice. I'm in the middle of spraying a protective coating on a big print so I will come back and look at this again. Maybe then I can decide what I like best. Beautiful!

Nick Bristol
lone Rock, Wi

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on July 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM

Wow, really glad I'm not forced to choose between the two. Each has elements that really work. I kinda like the water over the grass on the left center of the horizontal. What an incredibly crafted image. I've seen this scene in the Sierra but never been able to come close to this quality in an image.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 3, 2010 at 10:08 PM

I like the horizontal version best Lon. In general, I am partial to horizontal as opposed to verticles. I also like the prescence of the whole of each of the rocks as opposed to hsving them cut off.. Both have wonderful motion none the less.

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on July 3, 2010 at 10:22 PM

I like the flow in the vertical crop, though the original has its own flow too

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on July 3, 2010 at 10:26 PM

Lon, You always come up with these fantastic water images. To my eye, the vertical crop works better because it gives a better feel for the movement of the water. The detail in the grass really contrasts so well with the movement in the water. Best Regards.

Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 3, 2010 at 11:21 PM

I came back to look at these again. First impression after looking at both is that I like the vert better. I just seem to like the feel with it and it seems to do something for me that the horz does not. Pretty minor, but enough for me. As good as they are you can't go wrong either way. Really nice work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on July 4, 2010 at 12:06 AM

I like both, but I prefer the horizontal . I like the flow and the arrangement you provided. Very nice.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on July 4, 2010 at 12:14 AM

Some might find it hard to get excited about these, because they are not exotic. I think both are excellent! Amazing detail in the grasses, and very nice wet luster reflecting some nice soft light. I agree, you can't go wrong with either one.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Ben Horne on July 4, 2010 at 1:10 AM

Very nice choice of shutter speed on this one. The color is very natural. I definitely prefer the crop over the original composition. The flow is enhanced with the crop.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on July 4, 2010 at 1:52 AM

i much prefer the vertical. the composition is much more harmonious. i like this very much. being me, i would have shot it in b&w film ...

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on July 4, 2010 at 2:11 AM

Both look amazing but if I had to choose one, it would be the horizontal.
If I imagine a large print on my wall, the horizontal looks more 'complete'.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 4, 2010 at 2:27 AM

Lon,

I like the vertical crop better as well. It feels more focused on the subject.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 4, 2010 at 2:28 AM

Simple, effective, beautiful and pleasing.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on July 4, 2010 at 4:33 AM

I like the vertical version more. The lines of the flowing water and the grass are perfectly composed!

Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 4, 2010 at 8:34 AM

Lon,

I like both very much. i think the vertical is a stronger composition but I prefer the horizontal. I like being able to see more of the scene in it and I also like the larger surface area of dark stone against the white water. I'd be pleased to hang either on my wall.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on July 4, 2010 at 10:28 AM

simple and very effective, Lon! love these intimate scenes. I´ll vote for the vertical version. the flow is awsome there and the texture od the rocks and moss. well done!!

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on July 4, 2010 at 10:35 AM

Wow, amazing detail in these Lon!! The rocks and grasses just pop, the water soft but not too "fluffy". I definitely like the horizontal better, as it more completely shows the motion of the water in and around the rocks. That being said, I would like to see that little patch of grass on the top of the RHS rock cropped. Nothing major, but it keeps pulling my eye away from the awesome action.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on July 4, 2010 at 10:37 AM

Not as creative as your usual stuff Lon, and for that reason it doesn't excite me all that much. I don't dislike it either. We see a lot of water/rock combos up here in the NW.

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

Comment posted by Bill Dark on July 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM

I love the scene here, so either one works for me, Lon. I do tend to gravitate more toward the vertical composition - maybe because there seems to be more focus on the rocks and grass, and the image just seems cleaner. Beautiful color and detail, and the water motion is perfect. Lovely.

Registered on May 27, 2005, 148 Posts, 1121 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on July 4, 2010 at 12:11 PM

Hi Lon,
I like the first version more, it makes more sense in my mind to think about water flowing top-down in the frame. The patches of grass make this photo stand out from a million similar photos I've seen with a similar composition.

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on July 4, 2010 at 12:34 PM

The design in the first is simpler but I like the second more. Maybe more to look at I guess.
Happy fourth!

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

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on July 4, 2010 at 12:38 PM

Mmmm, sweet!

Prefer version 2 as the vertical feels a tad cramped...

Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Marlow on July 4, 2010 at 12:51 PM

Lon,
Nice version here the colors seem quite true to the image and the longer shutter speed works great with this image. A very peaceful and serene scene that has me wanting to go out to nature and do some shooting. Great work and a nice find

Registered on October 15, 2008, 158 Posts, 531 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Keech on July 4, 2010 at 1:28 PM

Both of these versions are fantastic. I think I'm preferring the vertical crop version although I sure like the extra color tones in the water on the horiz. as well. I don't think I can decide. As I said...both are equally wonderful.

Registered on June 30, 2010, 12 Posts, 28 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on July 4, 2010 at 2:20 PM

Vertical version for me without a doubt, it looks more balanced. Stunning scene Lon.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on July 4, 2010 at 3:17 PM

I like them both equally well and don't have a preference. The colors
are great, and I Iike the shutter speed for the rapids.

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

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on July 4, 2010 at 7:09 PM

Hey Lon,

Excellent shot. Love the comp. and lighting. I like the horizontal with the water flowing around the rocks. nice work.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on July 4, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Lon, it seems as though I have recall on this one for some reason. And, if I'm right, I liked & still prefer the first cropped version. It must be the tight convergence effect of the sight and seeing the rocks guiding the water along it's path, or something to that effect. It makes for an excellent capture IMO.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on July 4, 2010 at 10:17 PM

I was going to say I prefer the horizontal, but with a little right crop to eliminate the clump of grass and maybe a clone out of the piece of grass on the edge of the rock, but I also like the vertical's emphasis on the water flow. The more I look at both, the more I like the vertical. Very nice image, Lon.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on July 5, 2010 at 1:03 AM

Both are nice--i prefer the original frame, like the water action a bit more. Great stuff as usual, Lon!

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

Comment posted by Ed Cooley on July 5, 2010 at 3:07 AM

Lon the vertical is my choice, I really like the water flow and change in direction between the two rocks. Great color and exposure too, nicely done.

Registered on August 22, 2007, 45 Posts, 547 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on July 5, 2010 at 11:18 AM

It's the second image for me Lon, although they are both great.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 5, 2010 at 3:34 PM

I think both work equally well. The more intimate crop in the first one emphasizes the lines of the flow, whereas the horizontal has more space for the rocks and has a more calming effect.

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

Comment posted by Eric Good on July 5, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Keep reaching into the archives because this definitely works for me... especially the vertical. I like the overall comp and the way my eye is allowed to focus on the essential elements without any distractions of the water near the edge of the frame. The vertical strips away all the unnecessary elements without losing any sense of place, subject or main characters IMO. Good stuff!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Winnie Ho on July 6, 2010 at 8:07 AM

Hey Lon. I'm going to write my first impressions without reading the other comments. Both great compositionally, but I favor the horizontal. seems to have the yin -yang thing going for it, better balanced maybe, or maybe our brains prefer left to right movement than vertical.

Registered on January 6, 2008, 93 Posts, 1788 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 6, 2010 at 11:56 AM

I prefer how the vertical version emphasizes the downward S flow of the water. The landscape version doesn't do much for me but the vert is quite nice, interestingly.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on July 8, 2010 at 4:10 PM

I actually like the vertical crop best, but both are very good. Love the texture of the water.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments