Forest in Fog

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 6, 2010287 views35 comments

Made this image on the same day this June when I made the image of the Rhododendrons I posted a few weeks ago. Wanted to simply have the shapes of the trees silhouetted against the fog with minimal detail. The light levels were getting a bit low and slightly blue. Would like your opinion on this image.
4x5, 210mm, no filters, Provia 100F, f22.6, 1/8sec. M1 scan, TK masks and others.

Large image provided for better evaluation.

Your thoughts and ideas, suggestions and comments are all appreciated. Thanks.

Comments

35 comments

Comment posted by Barry Vangrov on August 6, 2010 at 1:15 PM

It's well composed and nicely processed and I'm a sucker for any good fog picture. I'm ambivalent about the blue cast, though. Personally I do a lot of B&W and this would work perfectly.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 148 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on August 6, 2010 at 1:43 PM

I am really digging the low contrast, layered look for this one. I'm curious how you metered for this one? Did you spot meter the fog so it would be neutral for the moody look? I've never shot in such conditions, so I'm curious about your method.

Also, I have to say that 210mm is my favorite focal length on 4x5. I always enjoy seeing the shots that other photographers shoot with this focal length.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 6, 2010 at 1:45 PM

Fog is a magical thing.. lovely image! Personally, I love blue, so the blue works for me.. I think it adds to the serenity.

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

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on August 6, 2010 at 1:49 PM

This has gotta be one of my new fav's of yours. The blue tones are superb. Way to go!

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 6, 2010 at 1:49 PM

Real nice Vance. Love the blue fog for the mystery and the vertical trunks of the trees for symmetry. A very simple but effective image. Well done.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 6, 2010 at 1:58 PM

Vance, I really like the mood and comp here. The bluish tones don't bother me at all, but I admit I'm curious about a B&W image of this peaceful scene.
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on August 6, 2010 at 2:20 PM

Very surreal. I can only image how cool it must be to be in a forest like that. Amazing film work Vance.

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

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on August 6, 2010 at 2:42 PM

Oh ya, just marvelous Vance. Im sure this was pre-sunrise/post sunset light and combined with the fog make for some nice conditions. Love the lines of the trees that add some subtle detail throughout.
Wonderful Job
Great image

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

Comment posted by Ron Richins on August 6, 2010 at 2:53 PM

Great mood. The fog and trees work well.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on August 6, 2010 at 4:06 PM

Truley stunning image Vance. Very mystic, love the color and everything about this image. Great work!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 6, 2010 at 5:11 PM

Another amazing image, Vance. The large version is a must see in imo. I really like the blue tone and your composition is perfect. I think this would be a beautiful large print.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on August 6, 2010 at 5:30 PM

Vance, This one definitely gives the feeling of evening setting in. The repeating vertical forms of the forest definitely work well with the horizontal frame here to form a classic composition. Well done.

Mel-

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 6, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Wonderful mood image! The blue is working for me nicely.

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on August 6, 2010 at 7:07 PM

Man I want some images like this. Wonderful stuff as usual Vance. The comp works very well!

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 6, 2010 at 7:11 PM

You do these kind of shots so well, Vance. Love the mood in this one, and the structure of the trunks is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on August 6, 2010 at 8:37 PM

Very nice, from the X-files to my screen! Great color and the composition works very well for me.

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

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on August 6, 2010 at 8:43 PM

I like this a lot. Just wonderful.

- Dan.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 6, 2010 at 9:08 PM

I love the cool blues and ghostly silhouettes here Vance. Very ethereal, very beautiful, very simple, very magical indeed.

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on August 6, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Simply stunning Vance! A fantastic image. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 6, 2010 at 10:01 PM

All I have is my laptop, Vance, but even on it this is quite spectacular. This really captures the feel of the NW forest perfectly. I like this at least as well as the rhodie image, maybe more. When it moves into the abstract, like this, I start to get excited.

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

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on August 6, 2010 at 10:23 PM

I love the mood and the tone. The comp is not too inspiring for me, but everything else make this image IMHO

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on August 6, 2010 at 10:59 PM

Yeah, spooky! I love walking in the redwoods during this kind of atmoshpere. never have really got a good shot of it though. The mood here is fantastic! I don't mind the blue, but also wouldn't mind if it was a little less blue too.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 7, 2010 at 1:34 AM

perfect vance - love the mood and forms here. well done.

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on August 7, 2010 at 8:31 AM

I'm diggin' the aspect on this shot.
Beautiful soft tones and shapes.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Lou on August 7, 2010 at 11:52 AM

Very mysterious photo. Bluish tint provide a sense of coolness and peace of a morning. I can almost imagining breathe in the fresh air.

Jim

Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on August 7, 2010 at 11:59 AM

Vance's signature written all over it! Depth in the image is tremendous and I just can't take my eyes off.

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Ant on August 7, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Spendid picture, I like the repetition of the vertical lines and the blue cast - I think the cold color tone adds to the image. Interesting, and quite right, decision of not increasing the contrast... Very nice.

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 7, 2010 at 1:23 PM

That's an awesome shot and the details must be nice in a big version here.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 7, 2010 at 3:09 PM

Simply outstanding Vance! Many different ways you could take this with color and brightness, but the mild blue works very well for me here. This is just gorgeous - don't even need the larger view to appreciate this one.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on August 7, 2010 at 11:41 PM

Vance,
Such a pleasing image. Really has the chill of the fog and subtle light. Nicely done. Best Regards.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on August 8, 2010 at 1:08 AM

Thank you everyone for the great feedback on this image. Really appreciate your encouraging words.

Ben, I meter the fog in between the trees about midway in the image, with the spot meter. Gives me a nice midtone. Sometime the fog can vary by +/- 1 EV from top to bottom (not with this image though) so have found the middle areas to work out fairly well.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 8, 2010 at 9:53 AM

Well up with your best work. Moody, beautiful and evocative.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 8, 2010 at 11:45 AM

Fantastic!

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

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on August 8, 2010 at 6:54 PM

Vanceroooo!!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on August 8, 2010 at 7:21 PM

Fnatstic depth and mood!!! I'm partial to blue....so color is fine for me but you may want to look at the suggested tweaks. Overall....very nicely composed!!!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments