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Devastation and Revival
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Devastation and Revival

by Eva McDermott

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 2, 2011604 views12 comments
After devastation, there is a revival, a rebirth of life. This was taken in 1985 on Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii, Devastation Trail. I know it does not have the drama and visual impact of the lava scenes we have seen lately here on this site, but it means a lot to me on several, many levels. I know technically, it needs some focus adjustment with the scan of this 26 year old Ektachrome medium format transparency. I scanned it with a Epson V750-M flatbed and recently ordered a fixture to help with those focus issue adjustments. As with my last, post, I am asking for feedback on visual and emotional impact. So take your reading glasses off and tell me what ya think. I remember being here and thinking I must be on the moon or alien planet. I always wanted to visit the moon and be a space traveler. Guess this is as close as I will ever get. Amazing landscape in any case, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park,.

Thanks for looking. Thanks for any comments and critiques.

Bronica ETR (square format) Waist Level Finder
Manual focus and manual metering
Ektachrome Professional 100 (Medium Format)

Please view the Larger Version.

Comments

12 comments
Comment posted by Enrique Vizcarra on May 2, 2011 at 8:55 PM


The short version is not good enough, but large version is amazing, lot of details that seems to be lost in the shortest version

Registered on September 10, 2009, 223 Posts, 393 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Duval on May 2, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Large version definitely has more detail and thus more impact. The bare dead trees are echoed in the cracks of the lava in the background. The slate sky adds a moody brooding feeling to the image.


Paul
Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on May 2, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Definitely the large version has great impact of how an area like this is recovering from the sterility of lava flow. Emotionally you have done a splendid job of conveying desolation or the recovery from it.
Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 2, 2011 at 10:19 PM
I like it, definitely conveys the mood well! well balanced comp too. :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on May 2, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Hey, this has a dark side of Eva mood in it. I like it!
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Boris Pophristov on May 3, 2011 at 4:54 AM
This is something special indeed! I like the mood and the story-telling qualities of this image. The featureless sky works very well here too. Being shot on film makes it even more adorable to me. Delightful work!
Registered on February 1, 2011, 15 Posts, 73 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on May 3, 2011 at 6:12 AM
The larger version is outstanding, Eva! You show us an unique and specific atmosphere, the composition is striking.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 3, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Devastation and Revival is just what you captured here Eva. Excellent work telling a story and capturing the mood.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on May 3, 2011 at 11:58 AM
This is a well balanced composition. The large version is amazing
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Luis Argerich on May 3, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Beautiful composition Eva, the sky looks dull but it probably is much better in a print I guess the framing will be important for this one.
Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 3, 2011 at 6:36 PM
This brought back memories for me as well, since I was in the Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor and went over to the Big Island several times and the Volcanoes NP was one of my favorite places. The scan has worked very well. There is a wonderful mood to this with the black sand, bare trees and a hint of clouds in the background. I might take a little off the top just above tree line. The only other place I have hiked in black volcanic soil is Sunset Crater NM just outside of Flagstaff, AZ. Very cool Eva, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy Aron on May 4, 2011 at 5:08 PM
Stark. The branches seem to be beseeching the heavens for renewal
Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments