The Red Giants

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 26, 2011216 views10 comments

I've got a bunch of Sequoia images and figured I should post a couple of them here for all us CANP folk!

The light isn't particularly special, but the fog helped tone the contrast down and contributes to the mood, I think. I struggled to find a composition that showed the front-to-back depth of the forest, without being too chaotic.

If I may be honest, I made many failed attempts to shoot this image with flurries of snow in the air. I threw handfuls of powder in front of the lens using different shutter speeds. None of these images came out, and most of them look "manufactured" since it was obvious that the snow was only in the very foreground. Alas, I suppose we must rely on Mother Nature for these things.

It does raise the question - had this little trick worked, would it be unethical to post the image in ES&S and not disclose it? Is it akin to throwing chalk into the air of a slot canyon? I know there is no right or wrong answer here - but I am curious in your opinion.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on February 26, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Jason,
I like the image. Nice colors, depth of field, and the mood of the fog. As to your question about throwing snow in the air: if it was done to simulate a natural condition that wasn't present, to me it is deceiving the viewer if that information isn't offered.

Peter

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Siciliano on February 26, 2011 at 11:41 PM

In my opinion, fine art nature photography is just that....it's art and anything is fair game as long as you don't harm the subject matter. How is throwing snow in the air different than moving sliders in Photoshop to change color saturation, contrast, or luminosity? On the other hand, if some one asks if you did this or that to the photo, and you lie, then that is a personal ethical issue beyond the scope of this forum. If a contest has rules prohibiting certain actions and you break those rules, then obviously that is wrong. I do think photojournalism should be held to a higher standard, so throwing snow or chalk would be unethical in that situation.

By the way, nice photo!! Photographing redwoods and sequoias is not easy. In my experience there is so much activity that it it very hard to find a good composition.

Registered on May 21, 2007, 48 Posts, 33 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on February 27, 2011 at 9:51 AM

Beautiful, Jason! I like the colors and the manner in which you've
composed. I have no feelings really regarding the snow throwing.

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

Comment posted by Jim Lou on February 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM

I like the spatial composition here.

Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on February 28, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Outstanding Jason, I just love the contrast and comp.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on February 28, 2011 at 11:57 PM

Thanks all for your comments and thoughts.

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

Comment posted by Paul Duval on March 2, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Honesty is the best policy.......Nature photography, implies just by the title that it is natural, and while throwing snow is a natural extension of our abilities it's not a mother nature supplied part of the original unrecorded image. What makes the great images so special so treasured is that skill, preparation and creativity meets in a coalescing incredible moment crafted by mother nature which your planning and luck placed you there to record. Your posted image is special enough with out the "thrown" snow Jason. Great feeling of winter among the giants fading out to the left of center into the fog shrouded forest in the distance gives this image a feeling of space, this is not a closed tight crowded overgrown tropical rainforest but a grove of silent ancient trees sleeping in the snow waiting for the first breath of spring.

Paul

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

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on March 6, 2011 at 10:36 PM

I think you DO have the special light here. Very nice image, Jason.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Myers on March 6, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Great sharpness, throughout. You made the most of the limited color palette. I really like how the clarity established by the foreground trees gradually diminshes into the fog. I know there are many powerful images of forest shot through falling snow, but i appreciate how this image reverses that formula.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on May 9, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Very nice take of these gorgeous trees, except looks oversharp, particularly the foliage.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments