Blueberry in Ice

Gallery: FloraPosted February 19, 2011235 views26 comments

Don't know if this meets the criteria for flora in the winter, but it was definitely cold on this day out in western Alaska. Melted snow from a warming spell had created little pools between the tussocks out on the tundra, which promptly froze during the night, creating wonderful ice patterns with blueberry plants and moss underneath. Made this image a few years ago when I lived in this area. Hope you don't mind my sharing this. Any suggestions, comments, thoughts, or ideas would be very much appreciated.
Nikon F3, 105mm macro, Kodachrome 25. Flatbed scan, Tony Kuyper's invaluable masks.

Large image provided.
Thanks.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on February 19, 2011 at 10:18 PM

I don't mind you sharing this at all Vance. Love the intricate patterns, fine detail and color palette. Looking at this, it's also easy for me to believe I'm looking up at the sky. Beautiful mood. I like this a lot.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on February 19, 2011 at 10:18 PM

Fascinating, fabulous image.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on February 19, 2011 at 11:35 PM

What a great find this was! The swirling blue lines intermingled with the warm colors of the vegetation is outstanding. Nice work!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 20, 2011 at 12:27 AM

Kodachrome 25!

Vance: What a blast from the past. This is a FANTASTIC find and a great capture. The larger version is especially captivating. Really good photography. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on February 20, 2011 at 2:42 AM

What a beautiful art this is Vance! Absolutely fabulous!!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on February 20, 2011 at 6:59 AM

Vance this is excellent. Really like how the ice frames the blueberry bush. Only nit is, if it were mine, I would clone out the green bit of moss in the ULC.

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on February 20, 2011 at 8:10 AM

Very very beautiful ! Nice seeing Vance.
Beautifully coloured leaves amidst the frozen water.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on February 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Very interesting patterns, Vance! I like the comp you chose and the colorful leavea are great!

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on February 20, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Awesome.

Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on February 20, 2011 at 2:09 PM

This i quite nice Vance. The colors really pop in this - looks like stained glass.

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

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on February 20, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Hi Vance,

Lovely intricate design. The colors and patterns are just beautiful.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 20, 2011 at 5:05 PM

So, I get it. Alaska paid you not to publish a book about their state because they don't want all of us photographers trampling about trying to copy all of your outstanding work. Right?
Simply unbelievable, Vance.

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

Comment posted by Brigitte Lorenz on February 20, 2011 at 5:21 PM

very interesting work,Vance... a colorful winter image, I like this a lot!

Brigitte

Registered on January 10, 2009, 187 Posts, 1507 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 20, 2011 at 8:32 PM

Wow this is fantastic Vance! The ice patterns and colored plants are delightful.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on February 20, 2011 at 8:43 PM

There's a lot to look at here and I like it all very much, Great colors and patterns. Nice.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on February 21, 2011 at 1:23 AM

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.
Bill, I knew someone would pick up on the ol' kodachrome; sort of dates me I suppose but it was a great film in its day.
Bob, thanks for mentioning that bit of moss in the upper left as it does pull the eye a bit; will clone it out in the master file.
Morris, someday I'll do that book. Still learning this digital darkroom stuff. This image actually did appear in a book called "Seasons of Alaska" published by Greatland Graphics in 2001.

Thanks again for all your encouraging words.

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

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on February 21, 2011 at 2:37 AM

What a beautiful Vance! The warm spots of the leaves framed by the cold patterns are very impressive. Splendid composition and editing work.
Take care.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on February 21, 2011 at 8:30 AM

Vance, this is a stunningly beautiful image to me. Amazing in subject matter, detail, colors, clarity, comp, light, everything. Thank you for sharing this.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on February 21, 2011 at 3:25 PM

I really like this image Vance. I love the blues in the ice contrasting with the colors in the leaves. I also like the comp where you have a center of interest in the upper portion of the image but still lots to study as you move around the frame. Wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM

HI Vance

I was shocked to see my comment did not go through. yesterday, sometimes us old gezzers forget to push :Add Comment"

better late than never. This is simply a marvelous capture. how the ice formed those patterns. with the plants below, is wonderous. This is something very special

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 21, 2011 at 9:05 PM

This is so lovely ,wonderful colours and processing!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on February 22, 2011 at 4:42 AM

Wow Vance what a great find!!
Looks like fireworks have been frozen in the sky

Great shot

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 22, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Way cool! I missed this one earlier - great mix of color and patterns one of the more unique ice photos I seen. Great find and capture.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on February 23, 2011 at 8:28 AM

Vance,

Venture into the Flora gallery you'll find the community erudite and welcoming, I certainly did. This is definitely a winter floral scene, I like it better than the ( Landscape ) ESS post because there is more intimate detail under the ice. I can't find anything to critique on this image, it's just so unusual in an interesting way, has a calm reflective mood, moves nicely with the ice flow lines and bubbles and has the little miniature landscape beneath the clear window pane of frozen water.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 23, 2011 at 1:20 PM

Wonderful shot- superb chromatic contrast and details- a beauty, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 28, 2011 at 10:06 AM

This is stunning! Incredible image

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments