El Cap Meadow Cathedral

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 7, 2010821 views39 comments

Thank you so much for your comments on the previous image. Still have a couple dogwood images, but thought I would mix it up a bit with a little more straight forward landscape type image.

This grove of Black Oaks at the west end of El Cap Meadow are probably the most photographed set of oaks that I know of in the valley. Most anyone who's been to Yosemite more than twice probably has some version of these. I know have gobs of them, even posted here.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts about the processing here. While I certainly used some saturation adjustments, I tried to keep it somewhat muted and not overdone. How does it look to you? I should tell you also that this has a slight Orton application (about 12% opacity on that layer) and so that boosted the contrast slightly. I also darkened the foreground grasses quite a bit. Curious as to your thoughts.

All comments and critiques welcome.

Chamonix 4x5, V100, Nikkor 210mm f/32 @1s
Tony Kuypers masks and actions

Thanks!

Lon

BTW - the phenomenal image postings continue! What a great collection of imagery on display folks! Congrats!

EDIT: Changed the title thanks to Reno's comment. Seems perfect! Thanks Reno!

Comments

39 comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 7, 2010 at 7:36 PM

Very nice image, Lon. I like you how you framed this to see thru the black oaks into the distance. Also I like the saturation level.

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

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on December 7, 2010 at 7:40 PM

Excellent work Lon. The composition flows nicely and is well balanced. I think your processing is right on the money. Colors are as they were when we shot this scene. Great work as always.

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

Comment posted by Sean Bagshaw on December 7, 2010 at 7:43 PM

I think you nailed it Lon. I think this image is very graceful. The branch shapes are so nice.

Registered on February 14, 2007, 99 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 7, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Lon,

Believe it or not, but I do not have a photo of these trees - not one. I look at them every time and although initially they capture my imagination, once I go about trying to make a photo, everything escapes me.

What I really like about this photo is the depth that you sense due to the 'tunnel' through the trees, and the continuing color on the other side. I like how you processed it and I think it looks very natural. Great work as always.

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

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on December 7, 2010 at 7:56 PM

The color palette is very pleasing. Often it seems that small branches and leaves are oversharpened. That is not the case here. Well done and thanks for sharing.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 7, 2010 at 8:05 PM

This is a beauty, Lon! Great job on the composition, great tunnel effect. I see a bit of magenta on the darker tree trunks, but with the warm light throughout, it seems to work well. Excellent work!

These trees should be called Lon's Grove!

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

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 7, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Love it

reminds me of walking into an ancient cathedral.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on December 7, 2010 at 8:22 PM

No one does these shots better than you Lon. The processing looks spot on. The warm glow on the trees is awesome is that low angled light or reflected? Thank you also for welcoming me, it only took me about a year to post. Cheers

Registered on January 22, 2009, 12 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 7, 2010 at 8:38 PM

I really like the felling of this image. The color and comp. draw me into the scene.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 7, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Thanks for the comments so far.

I knew my title was a little lame and so thanks Reno for the idea! Cathedral! Of course! On the altar of Yosemite.... ok, sorry, too much religion here. But I will change the title!

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 7, 2010 at 9:21 PM

A really wonderful capture, as well as post processing work too, Lon. The arching trees make an excellent subject and they fill the entire frame perfectly.

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

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on December 7, 2010 at 9:50 PM

I've tried to photograph these trees any number of times but I never got anything like this. This is really a stunner.

- Dan.

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

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on December 7, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Lon, it looks like you managed the exposure very well through most of the scene. The subject matter itself is wonderful, although there doesn't appear to be any main subject here. I would love to see a whole gallery of these images from you on display somewhere. You really do a great job with these oaks in Yosemite.

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

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on December 7, 2010 at 10:29 PM

What a beautiful place. But not sure why did you opt for Orton here...lovely shot

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 7, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Arnab,

Actually, the Orton effect at 12% opacity is actually more like a curves adjustment with that slim "s" curve. I was not trying for the "glow" effect really, just a pinch of pop. If I hadn't already deleted the original I would post it and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Anyway, just one of tools in the shed so to speak. Thanks for the comment!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on December 7, 2010 at 11:09 PM

Beautiful image Lon.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Anish Desai on December 7, 2010 at 11:50 PM

I love the composition, Lon. In that regard, this is right up there with so many of your other wonderful images. But I must go against the grain on the processing. To me, the contrast looks strong for the subject matter and conditions, particularly the frontmost set of oaks. I do like how it softens up as the view stretches further and further back, though. I'm just wondering how this might look with slightly subdued processing.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 49 Posts, 410 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 7, 2010 at 11:58 PM

I think it looks perfect, Lon. The cathedral feeling is especially strong here. The colors are excellent too and the light looks perfect for this exposure.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 8, 2010 at 1:23 AM

Well, I'm a little late to the party, but I love this. It works on every level for me. I think this one of your best from the El Cap Meadow grove. What all of your shots from here tell me is that you have a deep attachment to these trees.

Beautiful work!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 8, 2010 at 1:53 AM

Lon,

Just call it Ancient Cathedral.

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

Comment posted by Justin Reznick on December 8, 2010 at 2:40 AM

Love the cathedral shape Lon, your tree images continue to be a great inspiration!

Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on December 8, 2010 at 7:23 AM

Works for me Lon, the colors don't seem overdone, and I like the evergreens in the bg adding deptht to the scene. Nice capture.

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

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on December 8, 2010 at 9:39 AM

Very nice, the processing looks spot on and I love the contrast between the trunks and the leaves. I moght like to see a comp that doesn't include any sky - the brightness seems to detract just a tad from the "walk in the forest" feel of this.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on December 8, 2010 at 9:52 AM

Perfection, Lon. I love your attention to detail in your compositions. This is again, very beautiful. An awesome autumn photograph that has it all!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 8, 2010 at 10:50 AM

You're certainly making the most of these great trees in Yosemite. The colors within the scene are delightful, so rich and deep. Another beauty.

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

Comment posted by Jason Kim on December 8, 2010 at 11:47 AM

The saturation looks good to me - doesn't appear muted at all, in fact. I wouldn't have noticed the Orton effect, but since you mention it I *think* I can see a bit of that. In this web version, there is something about the three large clumps of vegetation in the foreground that seems to look higher contrast or extra-saturated than the rest of the image, to my eye. A beautiful, peaceful scene.

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 8, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Nice Lon, no real strong focal point or subject, but the great detail and colors make the shot work for me.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 8, 2010 at 12:11 PM

I love the rich colors of this one, Lon. Definitely looks like a cathedral. Well done and in typical Lon style

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 8, 2010 at 12:28 PM

I really like the sense of being able to walk through this.Processing looks good to me.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on December 8, 2010 at 1:43 PM

Color, detail, and composition look great to me. I love these stately tree portraits!

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 8, 2010 at 3:14 PM

Indeed very much like a cathedral - the shapes resemble pillars and roof structures one would see in a gothic church. And of course one would stand in awe in this place. I think I could spend a lifetime in that spot with my camera! The colors look very believeable to me. I would not call them muted, still enough saturation and radiance, but in a controlled way.
A very fine image Lon!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 8, 2010 at 5:23 PM

Nothing I would change here Lon. The vague patches of blue in between the yellows is what makes it fit together so well.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on December 8, 2010 at 6:22 PM

Beautifully composed and lovely colors, Lon. I hope that you
make a print of this.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 8, 2010 at 6:35 PM

A Cathedral of trees indeed, Lon. I love the bits of blue evergreen and rock wall that show through as well; they add an incredible sense of depth that would only get better in a big print.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 8, 2010 at 8:21 PM

Wonderful. Just a fantastic image.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on December 8, 2010 at 9:28 PM

Lovely scene Lon. Looking through the tunnel of trees is a nice perspective.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on December 9, 2010 at 3:28 PM

This is phenomenal, Lon!

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 9, 2010 at 6:56 PM

Somehow, this looks familiar! While I have individual trees around the valley that I like better, this is probably my favorite stand of trees. Really nice!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Margo Pinkerton on March 11, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Lon, I love photographing here. The meadows are so rich in photograph material. I love the feel you captured. Beautiful!

Registered on October 18, 2007, 39 Posts, 214 Comments