Tunnel of Forgiveness

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 15, 2011233 views22 comments

Hi All,

This image was from a recent trip to Lower Antelope Canyon. It was there I met up with fellow NPN member Justin Reznick and we had a great time for a few days with one another.

The best story from the trip involved our first morning together. It was a somewhat cold and very windy night and we were staying on a beach at Lake Powell called Lone Rock. Justin opted to sleep in his rental car and I set up my tent behind the vehicle to help shield the wind.

We were traveling together in the same vehicle and I had a ton of gear with me - so sleeping in the vehicle for Justin meant re-arranging its entire contents and moving most of my belongings to the front seat. He was in the process of moving stuff back in the morning when I attempted to get out of my tent. I unzipped it, leaned forward, and split my head right open on the side of the open car door just inches away.

Luckily, we didn't miss sunrise and I didn't need stitches, although I did use about 3 paper towels soaking up the blood and I still have a large scab on my even now. (I eventually cleaned it up inside the bathroom at the Super Wal-Mart in Page). Anyways, it was great hanging out with Justin. He is an awesome guy and I think I talked his ear off most of the time.

This is my one black and white from the trip and the one I am interested in getting your initial feedback on. I'm calling it The Tunnel of Forgiveness - "Sometimes life isn't always black and white". That means it's not cool to judge people, because most of the time we ending judging them for the same things we do ourselves. (I am mostly talking to myself here).

I am interested in any editing advice in ways of improving the image. If you like the way it is...I am down with that too. Anyways, thanks for your time and feedback.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on April 15, 2011 at 12:57 AM

It's hard to go wrong, and it's hard to break the mold in this location. I like that there is so much to see in here, and the monochrome helps keep if from feeling like a visual overload, I think. I've spent a fair amount of time soaking this in, and I believe that says a lot.

One minor suggestion: there are many places where the shadows are dark and featureless (which is working), and I feel the shadow along the upper edge on the left should also be an inky black. It's slightly lighter tone is awkward.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on April 15, 2011 at 1:30 AM

Your comp is perfect, and I like your refreshing black and white conversion. No nits here!

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

Comment posted by Tom Dobrzanski on April 15, 2011 at 1:45 AM

Sounds like you had a great trip Michael :) A bit fainful but well worth the effort..I hope :)

I very much like the BW effect you presented here and the intention behind it! I see where Kent is coming from and I agree with it.The slightly lighter tone doesnt add to the impression. Also, and this would be only sibjective, to increase its effect I think I would play a bit with contrast. Smooth lines, shapes of those rocks with a not to much added contrast of the lines, creases on the rocks flowing through the scene would (in my eyes) increase its feeling a bit. Am I explaining it understandably? Sometimes it is hard to explain what is see in my head hahaa

Registered on September 27, 2010, 17 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 15, 2011 at 8:08 AM

Very nice Michael. I like the comp a lot, as well as the B&W conversion. Great tones.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 15, 2011 at 9:07 AM

Hi Michael, Sounds like a fun trip, except for the head thing! I like the comp you came up with here, and it really does seem to be a tunnel. I also like the b/w here alot, and it does have nice tones. I can see the shadow suggestions working here too, but I actually like the way you have them and think I would prefer them this way. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 15, 2011 at 9:55 AM

B&W works well with this, Michael. It heightens the abstract quality of this place.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 15, 2011 at 10:03 AM

Texture, tone, light and shadow all working nicely. A fascinating image

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on April 15, 2011 at 10:35 AM

Amazing composition. Compelling conversion!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on April 15, 2011 at 12:12 PM

I like the sense of moving through this image. I might open up the shadow of the lower area to allow a smoother transition.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 15, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Terrific composition and mix of light and dark elements. I am fine with the exposure, my only compositional & minor nit might be where the upper dark shadow edge touches the curve of the lighter sandstone edge. Meetings edges like this detract a little for me - placing the darker edge a little above or overlapping the lighter rock below seems more harmonious. Sounds like a great time you had out there.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 15, 2011 at 1:48 PM

Very compelling.. I could get lost in the visual delights here for a long time.
Love the textures and BW treatment.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 15, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Very cool composition and conversion. Must be intimidating to shoot a place that has been covered so thoroughly, and so well, in so many other shots. But it's always enjoyable to see shots of Antelope and you've added something different with the conversion.

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

Comment posted by Gary Crabbe on April 15, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Very nicely done. Given the B&W treatment alone tends to make this more unique than the now-so-very-familiar traditional color shots of the same location. Bravo.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 182 Posts, 1840 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on April 15, 2011 at 6:11 PM

I like it a lot! Excellent comp and great range of tones. Works for me as is.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on April 15, 2011 at 6:26 PM

A really cool shot, Michael. It has the feeling that you've fallen down a big hole and are looking up at the way out. I like the strong rock textures and curving lines. My tastes would be to push the darks a lot deeper to really accentuate the textures and lines further, especially in the middle section of the image.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 15, 2011 at 11:03 PM

This is wonderful Michael. I actually prefer B&W's of Antelope Canyon. Nice tonal range with rich blacks and strong whites. Classic B&W well done.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 15, 2011 at 11:41 PM

I like it a lot! The perspective is great as is your guttsy choice to take this to B&W! Nice.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 16, 2011 at 2:43 AM

We normally see stunning color images of this location here, but B&W seems to work just as well! Excellent conversion and a very strong composition Michael.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laureys on April 16, 2011 at 3:27 AM

Great B&W conversion, very well done

Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on April 16, 2011 at 8:04 AM

I am glad you were able to use your Tunnel of Forgiveness to forgive Justin for busting your head open with a car door

In all seriousness though the b&w looks really sharp here!

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on April 16, 2011 at 10:09 AM

Thanks for your comments everyone.
@ Kent - thanks, will do.
@ David - the middle portion of the image seemed to have the least amount of contrast and I have continuously added more. I appreciate your comment and I might add more in the future.
@ Daniel - thanks for reading the story and commenting on it!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Jung on August 24, 2011 at 2:22 AM

We usually see this shot in colors. I must say the N&B rendering is a good surprise, with more focus on the fantastic curves and lines. Superb.

Registered on March 2, 2011, 8 Posts, 72 Comments