Beauty In All Things

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 5, 2010357 views30 comments

Before I was interested in photography, I think this scene would have broken my heart! I would have viewed it as the destruction of something beautiful, never to retutn to that beauty again. When I came into this area in these conditions, the photographer in me became excited. In a sad way, I found these burned trees, with their charred black bodies and burnt orange needles to be beautiful. The contrasting white snow, and misty atmosphere adding to the effect. Before this day, in this moment, the presence of all the deadfall, and detritus would have annoyed me. I actually tried not to include it at first, stepping in front of it. But the comp didn't work, so I gave in and tried to use it to my advantage. I think this scene is beautiful. But in a sinister sort of devilish way that the dead branches actually help to convey. I know I am wordy sometimes, but I am interested in your thoughts, about the image, and my thoughts on the scene too! I hope you enjoy it. The road to Wawona, Yosemite.

D200,
18-70mm,
1.5sec, -.5stop exposure,
F/19,
Thanks,
Chris

Comments

30 comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on August 5, 2010 at 12:09 AM

Good eye on this one. I find the differing texture and color of the burnt trees to be fascinating. The orange needles nicely compliment the bark on the trees in the background. You also lucked out with the snow to further simplify the scene, and make the foreground a contributing element.

When I viewed the larger version, I noticed the fog in the background that really helps simplify the shot. No real nits from me. Nice work.

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on August 5, 2010 at 12:10 AM

dude, this is awesome! great shot.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on August 5, 2010 at 1:24 AM

Hi Chris, I don't have much time right now - so I just say that this is an amazing photograph. Beautiful, aesthetic and emotional. This invites me to view for a very look time. Art!

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

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 5, 2010 at 1:50 AM

Wow Chris, this is excellent. The trees have such character, such personality. An image that holds my attention. Well done.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Nielsen on August 5, 2010 at 1:51 AM

The dark vertical lines surrounded by the orange coloring make this very special. The varied textures and colors of the tree trunks are very cool! Beautiful Image!!

Registered on October 6, 2008, 137 Posts, 720 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on August 5, 2010 at 6:51 AM

Hey Chris, this is an awesome image. Love the color contrasts, stunning. Not sure about the FG branches, I think I realize why you used it in the comp, just scrolling down I'm feeling it may have been better without them IMHO. But who knows.

And I'm no forest expert, but I would think the burning is part of the natural cycle and will eventually lead to new-growth vegetation and trees, that may be even more spectacular than before.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 5, 2010 at 8:27 AM

Excellent find Chris, and I really like the contrast between the earth tones and the snow. Lovely image.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 5, 2010 at 9:03 AM

Well seen, Chris. This is really nice. The snow is a wonderful addition to this. The charred tree trunks and orange needles are a nice contrast. Very well done.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 5, 2010 at 9:48 AM

Top quality shot Chris, sharpness and detail throughout the shot is excellent.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on August 5, 2010 at 9:49 AM

This scene actually has me missing winter

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on August 5, 2010 at 9:58 AM

The deadfalls were distracting in the small version, but not so much in the large version. I guess the scale difference makes it look so - this is a feast for eyes. Warm orange tones always go very well with white tones - whcih you have a lot here with the mist and the snow

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 5, 2010 at 10:03 AM

I guess it's OK for me to say this is one of your best, Chris. I think I might have said that recently about one of your previous shots as well. Oh well, you're on a good time roll, what else can be said.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 5, 2010 at 11:14 AM

This is simply outstanding. The image is packed full of interesting details and colours all presented in a exceptional composition.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 5, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Wonderful contrast between the charred trunks and orange trunks and needles. This is very beautiful in a sad way Chris. I also find the composition works well.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 5, 2010 at 1:53 PM

Chris, I was there just last week, and the destruction really depressed me. I appreciate your vision here, as I didn't see anything I wanted to photograph. I was too short-sighted.
This is a very powerful image.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on August 5, 2010 at 2:56 PM

The scene is indeed beautiful. I'm glad that you saw it and made this beautiful image of it.

- Dan

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM

I like the shot and the vision here, Chris. Very nice work. It works for a lot of reasons, from the limited color palette to the strong vertical lines to the very nature of the subject matter, and I imagine your emotional response to the scene is shared by many others.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laureys on August 5, 2010 at 4:12 PM

This is Excellent, very well seen.

Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 5, 2010 at 4:17 PM

Chris,

Just now thought of this, how about "It's a Wonderful -Forest- Life." Ok, corny. You're getting great responses and connections with this and I don't have much to add since we've exchanged emails on this. I'll just say that one of the most difficult things to accomplish in photography is to bring your own emotional connection to an image and the viewer, and through your words and image, you've come pretty darn close to doing that. I say pretty darn close because only the photographer him/herself has that 100% connection.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on August 5, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Beautiful image Chris. The color and textures and your incredible composition just really resonate with your response to the scene. Like a solemn tribute in a way to this forest. Superbly done.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 5, 2010 at 6:46 PM

Chris, I love the light, the trees and the foggy background, but I will be the contrarian (and obviously the only one) and say the foreground branches are not really working for me. My eyes kind of stop when they get to that area first and I have to pull them away to get into the background. They do a good job for me of making the trees seem imprisoned, but aesthetically I am finding it less appealing.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 5, 2010 at 7:40 PM

Those big burned areas around Yosemite always break my heart--particularly since a number of them are human-caused. But this is an awesome shot--beautiful, and extremely well composed!

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 5, 2010 at 10:33 PM

Pure art, Chris.

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

Comment posted by Mike Bohlander on August 5, 2010 at 10:47 PM

The tones in this image really set the mood. Compositionally the tree in the middle of the image works really well. It almost seems a little sad. Very beautiful work, this one really made an I'mpression on me.

Registered on August 22, 2008, 14 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 5, 2010 at 11:08 PM

Beautiful image, Chris. I love the warm/cool color palette and the depth offered by the mist. Well seen!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on August 6, 2010 at 12:17 AM

Outstanding image Chris, great job on your processing. The gold and black colors work well together. I'm with Harley, the foreground branches are not working for me, crop the bottom maybe more of a pano. Either way great photo

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on August 6, 2010 at 1:48 AM

My honest thought, it's a shame that the composition from the other side of the fallen tree didn't work out. The charred forest has quite a wonderful character, but I can't handle the branches at the bottom. I'm too predictable and simpleminded.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 6, 2010 at 5:54 AM

This has so much wonderful texture and mood; it displays everything you saw and felt. Very well done! It is gorgeous and terribly poignant.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on August 6, 2010 at 12:05 PM

Hi Chris,

The large version is much nicer IMO; I am glad you included it. The composition is very well seen and your processing is up to your standard top-notch work. Overall, I like the image, but I can't honestly say its one of my favorites from you. Anyways, great work and congrats are in order!