Moon Dance

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 12, 2011254 views21 comments

After visiting Mount Assiniboine provincial Park, I headed down to Glacier National Park for a 7 day visit on Marc A's week long Glacier tour! It was a great week. One night we were up on a dome shaped mountain checking out these really old dead trees and doing some night photography. With the moon rising, these trees began to show off there interesting characteristics

I have to give some compositional credit to Jason Denham on this shot, because he first discovered this particular spot to shoot. This is my take on a similar composition. My only nit on this, is that I wish I had captured this image before the moon was touching the tree on the right in the far distance. Please feel free to comment

15sec @f5.6, 20mm, ISO800

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 12, 2011 at 1:09 AM

I like the comp James, and the stars are an added bonus. My only nit would be the moon touching the tree, but that's minor. I also noticed some of the branches on the trees looked soft, perhaps due to compression or noise reduction in post processing?

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 12, 2011 at 1:14 AM

Yes Zack, I missed the opportunity to have the moon not touching the tree by only a few minutes!! As for the tree branches, you are right the noise reduction in the post processing had a play here. I had to buy a cheaper camera on my trip because a better one died !! The higher ISO was terrible.

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 12, 2011 at 1:42 AM

Not sure what you're using for NR but Noise Ninja is what I use. I like it because you can go back and "brush out" the effects on certain parts of the image where you don't want the NR applied. I just checked out your site, you have some awesome shots man.

Was this shot taken near Many Glacier by any chance? Those trees look very familiar.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 12, 2011 at 1:51 AM

Thanks for the information Zack! I am glad you liked my photo galleries on my website

The dome shaped mountain we were on was outside of the park south of the Saint Mary's entrance about 15min drive. You have to "off-road" up a hill to get to it just off the main highway.

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Stough on January 12, 2011 at 6:48 AM

Very nice work James. I like this composition a lot and the exposure is perfect for the scene. The moon touching the tree doesn't really bother me but even if its considered a negative its not significant to the emotional impact of the shot.

Registered on November 20, 2010, 26 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 12, 2011 at 11:59 AM

I think Marc mentioned ferrying folks up to this spot in his article . . . quite a spectacular scene! The moon touching the tree is not a significant issue for me and I think it's one of those issues that only photographers would notice. It should be quite minor even for the pickiest among us, I believe. Very nice capture all around.

Just one question on the techs . . . you must have shot this at 200mm, not 20mm, right? I don't really care but it just kind of jumped out at me as I read your comments.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on January 12, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Beautifully done. Did you try this with the moon behind the tree?

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on January 12, 2011 at 2:46 PM

very nice

i really like it

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 12, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Bet it was wonderful up there. I might have preferred the moon up higher to bring some height to the image.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on January 12, 2011 at 2:59 PM

Fantastic night shot James, the moon catching the tree doesn't bother me at all. Is this one shot or is it a blend?

Gary.

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 12, 2011 at 5:00 PM

Yes Phil, Marc did mention it in his article

Very cool spot! And to clarify, this shot was at 20mm!! My chin was on the ground !! The large tree was very close to me

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 12, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Hi Paul, once the moon got higher in the sky, it would be more difficult to get the same shadow/silhouette effect.

Gary, it is a single image, no blend

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on January 12, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Love the silhouetted trees and the night sky! Not liking the moon as much - maybe if it was a blend where the moon still had some texture but the bright moon kind of detracts from the rest of the beautiful scene for me. The comp without the moon is outstanding!

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 12, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Hi Rick, In some ways I agree with you. I have done composite images with the moon before, where I have exposed the moon for better detail, in this case I would have had to switch lens and get the moon a bit larger. In this case I liked the overexposed moon with the halo. I would have liked to see it with your suggestion as well. Thanks for the comment, something to keep in the back of my mind when I am in a similar situation.

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 12, 2011 at 10:21 PM

There's probably a few different approaches you could have taken here, but I definately like the way you handled this. If you were to convert it, it would remind me of a scene from The Nightmare Before Christmas or something like that. Those old dead trees have great character.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Bruce Omori on January 13, 2011 at 1:25 AM

Ooohhh, love those spooky trees!! Lots of character in their branches, and the moon and stars add wonderfully. Very nice composition, James!

Registered on December 6, 2010, 6 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on January 13, 2011 at 8:41 AM

really interesting scene, James, and nicely composed. For me, the blown out, detail-less moon ruins it and commands all the attention.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on January 13, 2011 at 8:53 AM

I just overall like this image. Those trees are incredible and for me, the attraction, followed closely by the stars. The moon doesn't bother me in either position or lack of detail. I think it just fits into the scene. I think you did a fine job here.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 13, 2011 at 1:08 PM

I love those twisted silhouettes and the blue sky. The moon's position doesn't bother me at all. Lovely image!

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 14, 2011 at 11:42 PM

I agree as well with the moon comments, It would have been nice to get the moon with details with a telephoto lens, and make this image a composite with a larger detailed moon.

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on January 15, 2011 at 12:50 AM

Powerful comp and great mood. What a ripper!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments