Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Old witnesses
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

Old witnesses

by Ricardo La Piettra

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 25, 2010402 views30 comments
Just a group of icebergs against a stormy sky.
Taken at Lago Argentino, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina.

5D / 70-200 @200mm / Singh-ray polarizer. Hand-held

Thanks in advance for the critiques and comments

Please view the large version

Comments

30 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 25, 2010 at 9:44 PM
I really love the look of this - the colors in the ice are great with the big scary sky. However, the water in the foreground is visually confusing and it looks like either HDR was done or some very selective coloration - not bad things but the water looks very unnatural to me.

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on August 25, 2010 at 9:53 PM
Maybe a bit supernatural, but wickedly awesome just the same!
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Sulaiman Al-Riyami on August 25, 2010 at 10:03 PM
Excellent Work Ricardo, you've merged the monochrome with the ice colour in a beautiful way . thanks for sharing

Sulaiman, www.alriyamilens.com
Registered on July 19, 2010, 4 Posts, 24 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lou on August 25, 2010 at 10:06 PM
The blue color of the iceberg really pop against ominous clouds.

Jim
Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on August 25, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Wonderful and unique

The clean light on the blue ice really contrasts nicely with the dark background.
Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Smorra on August 26, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Wow Ricardo! This is really nice. The blue color of the ice is beautiful and I really like how it contrasts with the ominous black skies. Well done.
Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on August 26, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Very nice! The light really sets off the blue ice here.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 26, 2010 at 1:51 AM
Love the contrsts Ricardo. Definately surreal..... definately beautiful!
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Matthew Goldsmith on August 26, 2010 at 1:58 AM
Amazing light on the ice. I agree with Luke though...something about the water looks odd. For me I think it's that it appears so smooth.
Registered on June 29, 2010, 37 Posts, 286 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 26, 2010 at 3:15 AM
great contrasts and colours here. did you get another shot (may not have been possible) of a slightly higher perspective with the black BG framing the iceberg completely? still lovely moody shot.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on August 26, 2010 at 4:54 AM
Damn...what epic conditions...b/w just for kicks? :)
Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Anderson on August 26, 2010 at 8:42 AM
I can't get enough of these. I like the way the luminescent blues stand out from the drab background.
The dramatic sky is icing on the cake. Intriguing.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments
Comment posted by Gabi Lach on August 26, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Nice! Love the contrast and your composition. Skies look very cool, almost scary. :wink: Well done, Ricardo.
Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments
Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on August 26, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Thanks for the posts!

@ Luke / Matthew: I underexposed almost one stop and a half because the icebergs were extremely bright compared to the rest of the elements that moment, i suspect due to filtered light from a hole in the clouds plus the ice reflects more light than the milky turquoise glaciar waters. So, the dark, textureless water is a result of the intentional underexposure, no HDR and no selective color at all. I did some layered curves adjustements to enhance the highlight on the sky and keep the brighter areas of the ice under control.

@ Stuart: Thanks man. No, that wasn´t possible because this one was taken from a boat, but i got your point.

@ Aaron: Thanks, no BW this time mate, i couldn´t kill those blue icebergs.



Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on August 26, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Ricardo,
The selective blue works so well here. Composition and exposure are well controlled. Best Regards.
Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments
Comment posted by Lance Warley on August 26, 2010 at 10:47 AM
"Just" stunning light on the icebergs. Wonderfully dramatic sky, Roberto.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 52 Posts, 459 Comments
Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on August 26, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Stunning light Ricardo - I like it very much. The highlights in the sky look especially nice; I do agree with Luke's comments about the water in the foreground; I guess it is just matching the light in the sky. Honestly, I wish the large iceberg in the middle wasn't so centered. For me, I makes the image feel a bit contrived. That being said, I still think it is an incredible capture and I do think the image is well balanced, very well exectued, and professinally crafted. Great work.

Michael
Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments
Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on August 26, 2010 at 12:29 PM
FANTASTIC!

:toast: :toast: :toast:

Paolo
Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments
Comment posted by Derek Yow on August 26, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Super moody and dramatic image. Well done!
Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on August 26, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Shooting @200MM, hand held from a boat and it looks so crisp…? You are a sharp shooter!

Got “IS” on that 70-200MM?
Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments
Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on August 26, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Thanks guys

@Richard: Yes, this was taken with the 70-200 f2.8L IS, great lens but to heavy for mountain photography, backpacking, etc. Now im using the 70-200 f4L, for its weight (half of the f2.8) and its price too.
It´s a big boat, very stable, you can take tack sharp shots without a problem and it stops occasionally to let tourists take photos. ( http://www.fernandezcampbell.com/nuestraflota.html )
Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on August 26, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Wow, magical.

- Dan.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments
Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on August 26, 2010 at 2:53 PM
wonderful light and what a fantastic sky... awesome shot, Ricardo :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments
Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on August 26, 2010 at 4:08 PM
This is dramatic amigo...I love the central position of the big chunk, the textures of the clouds and the light glow on the icy subject. Really well done...it reminds me you are getting out of winter down there...well done Ricardo!
Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 26, 2010 at 5:45 PM
I really like the drama and vivid blue color in the icebergs. :toast:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 26, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Amazing combination of sea, ice and sky, a stunning image that takes me back to view the larger image each time, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on August 26, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Thanks again guys

@Rafael: Gracias my friend. Yes, winter is about to end here, really really cold this year.
Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on August 26, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Looks from a different world ..well done

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Anderson on August 27, 2010 at 1:36 AM
AWESOME Ricardo! One of my all time favorites from your Patagonia collection. Perfect!
Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on August 27, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Love th mix of dark clouds and blue ice, great contrasts!
Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments