Misty Hoh

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 9, 2011441 views17 comments

I moved to Olympia, Washington at the end of September to begin studies at the Evergreen State College. This image was taken on a day hike along the Hoh River trail with fellow recent PNW transplant and NPN superstar Floris van Breugel. We hiked around the ridiculously lush and green forests of the Hoh for a day.

This is my take on the maple we took a lunch break next to while light mist moved in and out of the grove. I can't believe how fresh and green everything remains, even in the middle of winter! I kind of wish I had shot this composition when the fog was a bit thicker--oh well...

I can't wait to get back and photograph more around this general area.

Comments and critique appreciated as always.

Thanks for looking.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 9, 2011 at 2:18 AM

Good work making this complex scene Alex. I really like the primeval feel here.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 9, 2011 at 3:19 AM

As i told Floris, im still waiting for someone to show a killer comp from the Hoh. This is a good attempt, i think its a strong comp, good balance between fg/bg and the bg here is cleaner than in Floris' post, so its more palatable to me. The only problem is the washing out in the top portion due to the lack of fog--im not sure that could be tamed although Floris did a good job controlling the hihglites.

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

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on February 9, 2011 at 3:26 AM

It is amazing how this forest stays so green through the winter, like you stated. I love the comp and processing, but it seems that the recent snow had packed down the ferns...so come back to this spot in May on a rainy day and you have yourself a keeper!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 9, 2011 at 3:29 AM

1 vote for thicker fog to obscure the bg more...but killer comp and processing

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on February 9, 2011 at 3:43 AM

Nice, I like how you took advantage of the beautiful carpet of ferns with this wider comp. Personally, I think the flattened ferns are less chaotic and thus maybe more photogenic than when they're all over the place. I find the shadows in the tree a little strong - but I guess that helps the tree stand out (and is probably why Stan thinks the background is cleaner in this comp than mine... seeing as it's the same background). Always nice how people can come away from the same tree with such different takes

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 9, 2011 at 5:21 AM

I think you captured the lushness of the area well.

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

Comment posted by Guy Tal on February 9, 2011 at 7:12 AM

I love this place and seeing images of it only makes me want to head back sooner. I also like your composition and the placement of the fern in the foreground.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Balcken on February 9, 2011 at 8:04 AM

One of the best Hoh compositions I've seen in a while, Alex. I'll be out there in July with my family. Seeing images like this make the wait very difficult.

Registered on November 29, 2009, 48 Posts, 249 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on February 9, 2011 at 10:22 AM

I just love the lush greens and moss. Someday I want to visit there.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on February 9, 2011 at 10:35 AM

Looks like a monumental job of trying to find some kind of order in a scene like this Alex. I think you have done a great job at that, the blown high lights have a nice glow to them and the colours look great not overly done. A splendid capture and looking forward to more from here from you and Floris. Cheers

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on February 9, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Composition-wise this one is wonderful, Alex. No nits about that. As far as colors and mood, I prefer Floris' version to be honest. His warmer palette and lighter shadows create a mood that is more to my liking than here. Compared to his web version yours looks a bit soft too.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 9, 2011 at 12:37 PM

Sweeeeet! Those greens are so freakin vibrant...gotta love em.

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

Comment posted by Jason Kim on February 9, 2011 at 1:05 PM

I think this composition works pretty well, I like how the tree limbs leave the frame and there is a very 3-D sense to this. Overall, the contrast looks a bit high on my screen and I might try toning down the sky a bit.

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

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on February 9, 2011 at 1:54 PM

I really like this composition. Beautiful rainforest capture. Maybe 5-10% crop from the top to decrease the amount of sky would be an improvement - hard to say because I'd hate to lose any of that tree!

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on February 10, 2011 at 2:07 AM

Great composition, Alex. The stellate pattern of the fern in the foreground provides a nice draw into the image, and the trees in the background have a really elegant form and pattern. I think you made a really nice image in this forest that is anything but easy to find good compositions in. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 10, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Comps like this are so hard for me to see. This is excellent. I really like the perspective.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 11, 2011 at 10:18 AM

Very orderly for such a chaotic place. Very well done and a gorgeous image.

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