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Craftsmanship #4
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Craftsmanship #4

by Kent Mearig

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 18, 2011303 views23 comments
I made this photo a few weeks ago (before my trip south that included two awesome days in Yosemite). It is not easy to iron out a composition from a canoe, especially when the lake has a considerable current where you are. I took several passes at this iceberg (click here for a sense of scale) while my friend Corey tried to maneuver the canoe just where I wanted it.

5D2, 27mm, f/10, 1/200th sec

Comments

23 comments
Comment posted by Jeffry Oonk on June 18, 2011 at 2:46 AM
Beautiful texture, colors and composition. Well done from your canoe.
Registered on February 5, 2011, 21 Posts, 122 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 18, 2011 at 3:11 AM
Kent,

About all I can say is wow. And thanks for including the video link - I just spent the last 10-15 watching your videos! Cool stuff, and a great idea to help us gain some perspective and context to your ice images.

this one here is just fantastic. I never would have guessed the scale or circumstance either, but the reference video sure gives us that perspective. And even if you hadn't included the video, the mystery would be even that much more.

Colors and processing in general are excellent too. Love this. A great addition to your collection.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 18, 2011 at 4:53 AM
Fantastic abstract Kent. I especially like the turquoise portion at the bottom of the frame.It acts as a good anchor to an otherwise disorienting view (in a good sense). I have seen Mendenhall Glacier in the early 80's, but never from your perspective. Fantastic videos too!
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 18, 2011 at 5:39 AM
Excellent abstract, Kent. Watched some of your videos too - I wish I had that kind of "playground" near me :)
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on June 18, 2011 at 5:58 AM
Kent, already without viewing the surroundings, I admired the mystery of this formation. I keep exploring all the shapes and shades for a long time. Thanks for sharing this outstanding image!

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 18, 2011 at 9:07 AM
Kent, This is awesome! The colors and texture are beautiful, really well done. I also enjoyed the video...Wow!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM
That is an amazing comp and incredible light, Kent. Loved the vids, but actually like the ambiguous scale in this frame and the mystery it conjures.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Kent Mearig on June 18, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Thanks everyone, and a special thanks to all who have taken the time to watch a few of my videos as well. As you may have noticed, they have not received a great deal of attention over the years, but I do still enjoy (most parts of) working on them.

I'm curious which way the ambiguous scale of this plays for most people (or anyone in particular). How big was this in your first guess? Or if you watched the video, does the image make you think "bigger" or "smaller" than the impression you get with more context?

Lon - Thanks a bunch for your continual support of my local "ice" projects.
Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments
Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on June 18, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Very nice ice abstract here Kent. The colors and textures are fantastic, and it made me realize I have missed your ice work, so keep posting them. :biggrin:
Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 18, 2011 at 1:48 PM
I thought it might be like 5 or 6 feet.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 18, 2011 at 2:06 PM
So you were in Yosemite and didn't tell anyone, eh? Well maybe you did, just not me!!!!! Hope you had a great trip, it's an amzing place. This is a sweet imtimate abstract. Love the blues and the form. Video was cool too.

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 18, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Kent,

You're welcome - I've always loved and enjoyed your ice work. I thought it was getting old to keep mentioning a book, so I won't mention a book this time. Don't worry about a book, I won't mention a book any more. :biggrin:

To your question, I was thinking even smaller than Andreas, say 2-3 feet. My only non-video reference is previous ice cave images that may have been in tighter quarters. Had no clue this was out in open water, well, except for the water at the bottom.

Oh, and the video does the scene justice and validates the colors and translucence for me. Just amazing nature.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Sarah Marino on June 18, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Kent - wow - this is a beautiful image! The colors and textures are wonderful and quite interesting. The video helps give a lot of contrast, but I agree with Tony - I like the mystery of not knowing quite what I am looking at. I would have guessed that the size is a bit smaller than what it actually is.
Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments
Comment posted by Kent Mearig on June 18, 2011 at 2:56 PM
I thought something Lon said about the added validity (I'm paraphrasing too much maybe) based on reference with the video was really interesting. It was actually quite enjoyable to have a standard with which to evaluate the work I had done on the photo. I didn't use the video as a guide or anything. I just checked in at the end to see whether I had maintained a solid connection to "reality" or not, and I liked what I saw. It helped me understand how other photographers might get a great deal of satisfaction out of working off a transparency, and I also wondered whether it would be nice to use JPEG capture in a similar way on some occasions.
Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Myers on June 18, 2011 at 11:07 PM
I didn't need a video to admire this excellent image, but I did enjoy watching it. It was fun to see the actual scale of the iceberg, yet I think Tony's comment regarding the mystery of ambiguity is well taken. A really beautiful result, especially given the difficulty of shooting from a canoe.
Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 19, 2011 at 5:05 AM
superb - i like everything about this and it is this sort of abstract image that I enjoy from you from these locations.

I thought that it was bigger before i watched the vid (which i enjoyed!). i've got some playgrounds near me but that looks quite fabulous!
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on June 19, 2011 at 7:07 AM
This is a little bit different from your usual fare. The scale is harder to make out and it is even more abstract that most of your images. I have not looked at the scale info via the link - so not to spoil my immediate reaction to this image. What I wonder is if this image would unfold its full strength when knowing the scale. That's not to say this has not full strength.. :wink: The gradient of light from bottom to top is highly appealing. I love the clarity, particularly at the top. A print collection of all your iceworks, well hung and lit, must be awesome.

And I followed the link. WOW. The wow is related to the adventurous conditions (which mean dedication) surrounding the making of your images. This is the first time I realized the length you go to create your work. I feel humbled.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on June 19, 2011 at 8:43 AM
Fantastic formations Kent. I always love a good study of ice and this one is terrific.
The color and play of light make all the nuances of the ice stand out.
Seems like you really have fun exploring and shooting these types of scenes.
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 19, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Cool (literally)! I like the vid too. You need to get yourself a dry suit and get down in there, man! :wink:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Alister Benn on June 19, 2011 at 3:08 PM
This is really fabulous... wonderfully abstract and mysterious.. great work, and liked the youtube too..
Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on June 19, 2011 at 3:24 PM
I love this very much. Great textures and colors. :toast:
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on June 20, 2011 at 12:38 AM
Brilliant image, Kent. What a fantastic way to show off this wall of ice.

The video does put things in perspective and it was interesting to see the environment in which you go about making your fabulous art.
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 21, 2011 at 4:25 PM
Wow!!

very cool & cold :toast:
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments