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Sound of Thunder
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Sound of Thunder

by Marc Adamus

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 4, 20111,898 views42 comments
While camped at the edge of an unnamed glacier in the Pacific mountains of BC I had some of the best mountain views and summer weather I've ever seen. It actually snowed on 3 out of 4 days at one point in early August and the light was ever-changing with the storms. The power of the huge peaks surrounding me was immense and I sought to capture something of the mood at the time. I made this image near sunset as skies were cracking open again and for me it is quite evocative of my experience there. I other words, the ol' patch of flowers at sunrise just wasn't going to do it.:wink: I regret this is being viewed at small size and against such a bright background, so please take a moment to view it in darker environs. The misty peaks in the background, some rising a vertical mile off the glacier, are brought out as much as possible without compromising the intentionally mysterious feel. This is one of my favorite mountain shots in awhile but I also think it's probably going to have a more selective appeal than some of my other work.

1Ds III, 70-200 at 200mm, no filters, 1/100 second at f/8, ISO 100.

Note that a larger version is included.

Comments

42 comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on September 4, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Moody and mysterious; I love it Marc. The fleeting light breaking up the darkness is very striking. :toast:

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 4, 2011 at 8:07 PM
I thought this was a wave cresting when I saw the thumbnail, and it still resembles such. But in a most astonishing way!
Glad you posted the larger version, where one can see the hint of mountains that you note.
This may be one of the finest landscape images I've ever seen. No suggestions from me!
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Duval on September 4, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Very mysterious, and the larger image is a must view. The smaller is darker and thusly has much less impact.


Paul
Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments
Comment posted by Art Escobado on September 4, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Mountain Tsunami -
Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments
Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on September 4, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Marc,
Very strong emotional feeling in this image. The light on the clouds gives the feeling of a tidal wave, engulfing everything below. The slope of the mountain creates a nice line into the image. Best Regards.
Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments
Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 4, 2011 at 10:35 PM
This is a face of the world you don't see without being there in the sense that you are doing more than just passing through. Not many people have ever taken the time to BE in this specific place, and most of us (through our own choice of priorities) will never have the opportunity. It's been years that I've been longing for an extended stay in the Coastal Range, a very similar landscape to the one featured in this image, and my desire grows even stronger after seeing this.
Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 4, 2011 at 10:57 PM
Wow, gorgeous light Marc! Absolutely fantastic composition and great processing too.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on September 4, 2011 at 11:51 PM
This is quite different than what we're used to seeing from you Marc, still a powerful shot though. I really like the shapes formed by the mountain below and the cloud up above, framing those looming peaks in the distance perfectly. Nice work man.
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Smorra on September 5, 2011 at 12:51 AM
This is an amazing image Marc. The dark and moody atmosphere you captured here is excellent. What I like most about this image is the background with the cloud shrouded mountains...very mysterious. There is just enough detail back there to keep my eye engaged. Can't wait to see more from your travels this summer.
Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 5, 2011 at 12:55 AM
This just rocks, Marc!
If there are any critics out there left who still think your range is limited, this ought to shut them up for good. :biggrin:
The light and atmosphere are just outstanding here.
I have one suggestion, which is just my personal preference--it looks like you left the darks on the blue side here to contrast with the warm highlites, but im wondering if it might be better to neutralize the blues a bit by warming it over all--i think its the highlites that drive this shot more so than the shadows, so warmer highlites and less competition from the shadows color might be stronger. Another way to put it is that i think it might work better as 'color contrasting with monochrome' rather than 'warm contrasting with cool'.
Great shot! :toast:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 5, 2011 at 12:56 AM
Thanks, Scott. This is it for a long time though....gotta go back out there tomorrow! Be back briefly in late October, then late December. I've hardly scratched the surface of processing the new stuff yet.

Hey Stan, I know what you mean and I hope this doesn't look too blue on some monitors. I do want the dark and cool because I think blue is an important part of mood, but it should be a slate blue, just a hint of the cool.
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on September 5, 2011 at 2:41 AM
Marc,

I've been in similar situations and so I think I can visualize what you're going for... But I'm just not seeing enough detail in the background peaks for my tastes. Perhaps it's my monitor?

Very much looking forwards to the other work from this area, though.
Registered on August 14, 2010, 3 Posts, 61 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on September 5, 2011 at 8:32 AM
This image has mood, perfect light and a great perspective. Viewers must view the larger version in a darkened room! This is what photography is all about! TFS
Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments
Comment posted by INGOMA on September 5, 2011 at 8:58 AM
Hi Marc,

Stunning light and use of shapes. This is outstanding but I do wish that I could see more of the mountain in the background. It is a little too dark and it would make an absolutely incredible backdrop. Looking forward to seeing more!
Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 5, 2011 at 9:21 AM
Thanks for the comments, folks. I was fully expecting some people to want more detail in the background mountains and it is there, of course, but I do want them mostly hidden. I believe the mood of darkness is more important to my connection with this piece. It is also one of those images, however, where if your monitor is not calibrated exactly for brightness and contrasts like mine, something of the effect will be lost.
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on September 5, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Marc,

I've been in similar situations and so I think I can visualize what you're going for... But I'm just not seeing enough detail in the background peaks for my tastes. Perhaps it's my monitor?

Very much looking forwards to the other work from this area, though.
Registered on August 14, 2010, 3 Posts, 61 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Tal on September 5, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Marc, this is easily one of the top 3 best images I have seen this year. I'm in awe.

Guy
Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 5, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Thanks, Guy. It means a lot to me that you enjoy it. The work of guys like Alexandre Deschaumes and Tristan Campbell inspired this type of rendition, which captured the mood at the time I spent here. Wish I saw either one of them on the forum more these days.
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 5, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Oh My GOD :eek:

Nothing more :confused:
Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on September 5, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Love that "hint of granduer" thing you have going on here Marc. Must have been overwhelming to witness!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Marc,

This is epic. I can feel the power of the mountains in this. Sometimes I do long to experience these places in person, but reality sets in for me I I have to settle for the photos you bring back. Thanks.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 5, 2011 at 1:48 PM
A stunning photograph, Marc. One of your very best in my opinion.

The barely visible moutain peaks in the background add so much to this image and perfectly comlement the highlights.
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on September 5, 2011 at 1:51 PM
This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Anderson on September 5, 2011 at 3:23 PM
I saw this on Guys computer monitor a couple hours ago and we both remarked how stunning it is! I echo his comment. Wish you could have joined us, what an amazing time we had.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on September 5, 2011 at 3:36 PM
The larger view is a must view. I really like the light.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 5, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Mysterious, majestic, and I feel humbled and dwarfed. This is what true landscape art is supposed to be!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on September 5, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Marc, surely this does justice to the great experiences you had there and I see it like something that shows who you are. It's personal, it's epic, it's what we were expecting and at the same time didn't expect from you. Simply amazing!
Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 5, 2011 at 5:31 PM
This is awesome! The large view is amazing Marc. I love the light and colors. :toast: :toast:

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on September 5, 2011 at 6:19 PM
other worldly Marc :toast:

great imagination and sure the blue always give a strong feel not only in art work but in a whole life :wink:

Hamed
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Lundh on September 5, 2011 at 9:35 PM
I love this. Obviously, it is beautiful... I can see why you are proud of it. It's got its own uniqueness, and it is jam packed with a perfect blend of solitude and drama. Great image Marc!
Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 5, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Wow, is this ever moody! Elegant, fierce, and beautiful. Certainly one of your very best. I think the light balance is just perfect. This inspires me to get out in some stormy conditions again... I can't actually remember when the last storm I weathered was! I need to change that!

Loved that ice abstract too!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Yiming Hu on September 5, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Marc, this is very dramatic and moody.
Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments
Comment posted by Jesse Estes on September 6, 2011 at 1:39 AM
Very nice Marc. I like the dark mood and feel to this. Sounds like you had quite the adventure out there, and I look forward to seeing some more images from your trip! :toast:
Registered on April 13, 2011, 20 Posts, 174 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 6, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Gorgeous light and lines Marc!
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Jared Atencio on September 6, 2011 at 11:35 AM
When you witness the power of a storm firsthand in the high country, or maybe it's a giant swell on a remote beach, these are humbling experiences as human beings and it's rare if not entirely impossible for an image to conjure those same emotions, but this comes damn close. You've managed to give a sense of scale to this that makes the peaks immense, the darks are ominous and somewhat terrifying, but the light adds just enough mystery and wonder that takes this over the top. Don't know how you continue to outdo yourself, but you do. Can't wait to see the rest of your work from the past few months!
Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on September 6, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Extraordinary, spectacular light. You have truly captured the ominous beauty of the storms that have shaped these mountains for untold centuries. Fantastic.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on September 6, 2011 at 9:59 PM
The middle could be black for all I care, the slope is that amazing! :eek: I love this!
Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on September 7, 2011 at 12:19 AM
What a scene and opportunity, Marc! This is a superb capture with a remarkable presence and mood. Definitely one of your best in my opinion, partly because I've been in similar scenes but unfortunately before I took up photography. The large size has far more presence and conveys the mass of the background mountains much better. I can imagine how impressive it would be sized for my 2560 x 1600 monitor!
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 7, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Awe-inspiring!
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by James Fougère on September 9, 2011 at 11:04 AM
As always Marc, you find the moments in time where light and landscape create a masterpiece :biggrin:

This is a very dramatic and bold capture! I wish I was there :cool:
Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments
Comment posted by Verdon on September 9, 2011 at 11:38 AM
another GREAT ONE!!! :toast:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 17, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Wow! Stunner Marc.
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments