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primordial  beginnings
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primordial beginnings

by Todd Liotine

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 20, 2010581 views12 comments
I wanted to get everyones thoughts on this comp. After reviewing at 100% I think I can reprocess with a little better in the dunes and reduce the hot spot in the sky if I decide to print this. I've always been attracted to these great shapes out of the hardened mud and sand. The soft light of the foreground against the heavy clouds just called out for a wide angle pov.

5dii
17-40L

Comments

12 comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 20, 2010 at 11:18 PM
I don't think it needs a lot done to it to be honest, the hot spot feels pretty natural where it is. A wonderful 'moonscape'. It doesn't translate so well to the web IMO, but would make a terrific large print.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on December 20, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Very intriguing scene. The foreground almost looks like something left behind by ancient civilizations. I will agree with everything Kah said... The hotspot doesn't seem to be an issue, and this would be a wonderful print.
Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments
Comment posted by Gino Cortez on December 21, 2010 at 2:31 AM
Stupendous foreground! Is there any way to double process the raw and bring some red/yellow into the sky?
Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Tal on December 21, 2010 at 9:07 AM
I love these cracked earth patterns and the background is hard to beat. I would recommend increasing the contrast in the mid tones a bit.

Guy
Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments
Comment posted by Julian Barkway on December 21, 2010 at 11:40 AM
I like the photo - it has a quietness about it which I find appealing. But what I'd really like to know is how you managed to get your camera onto the surface of Mars... :biggrin:
Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 21, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Really nice comp and scene. Primordial is a great description. Very well done.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Fricke on December 21, 2010 at 12:26 PM
I don't think you need to do anything with the hot spot, seems like a fairly natural occurrence and helps draw the eye up the image. The only nit I have is that the circular formation is cut off at the bottom a little. Regardless, it is a very fine image.
Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments
Comment posted by Lori Kincaid on December 21, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Fantastic foreground. If there's still detail to recover in the sky I'd give it a shot, but agree it works as is.

Lori
Registered on November 15, 2003, 90 Posts, 2033 Comments
Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on December 21, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Todd, this is a wonderful shot. Your presentation and processing work great. I too think it will look nice in print. nice job!
Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 21, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Todd,

Terrific and well crafted landscape. The geology of this is fascinating, but you've also done very well to compose and showcase this.

I would pretty much agree with the others that the processing looks pretty darn good to me and while you could perhaps slightly burn down the bright slice of sky, it's really not an issue for me. As Kah Kit put it, it's kind of expected given the SUN is over there somewhere.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Lawson on December 21, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Really interesting foreground and I like the choice to use the dunes in the background... works well with the circle of sand in the fg. Definitely not an average dune shot, so I'm liking that a lot too.
Registered on March 3, 2008, 29 Posts, 337 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 21, 2010 at 9:51 PM
Nice eye for the unusual pattern. I've walked these interdune areas and have always been impressed with the textures and shapes, but have not seen anything this good.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments