Patterns - RT Treasure

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 23, 2011261 views27 comments

From earlier this year along the Northern California coast. I was not particularly in the mood to make photos, and went out to see if I could jump start my desire to photograph. I was not sure of this image at the time I made it, questioning myself why I was hauling out the 4x5 for such a simple scene.

But there was something about it that just grabbed my imagination and the light was so rich as it neared the end of the day that I pushed through to make this. I am glad I did now that I have processed it.

4x5, Nikon 150mm, f? (never wrote it down), 1/2 sec, Fuji Provia 100F, PS CS3 with TK Masks.

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on September 23, 2011 at 3:02 PM

WOW!!! Awesome work! Love the textures in this one a lot!!!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 23, 2011 at 3:14 PM

Excellent! The texture and the mix of dark and light sand is eye grabbing. What is causing the cascade?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on September 23, 2011 at 3:22 PM

What a beauty Youssef! Nice diagonal lines, great contrasting colors and awesome texture. Well done.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on September 23, 2011 at 3:59 PM

Gorgeous. The lines, patterns and textures are all wonderful, but I really, really like the metallic gold sheen.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 23, 2011 at 4:08 PM

A most unusual abstract, Youssef. Your detail is fantastic! That's
what 4x5 will do for you, I imagine. I like the movement in the picture
from the spill of sand or water runoff. You're certainly right about rich
light. Thanks for sharing, Youssef.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 23, 2011 at 5:27 PM

Phil - the run of is from a small creek outlet onto the beach. Waves also reach up to the portion of the beach and helped in sculpting the sand the leaving behind the dark sand patterns. Thanks for the feedback.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 23, 2011 at 8:45 PM

I absolutely love the patterns in the sand, Youssef. The water motion straight through the diagonal throws me off a bit though, I think it would work better for me if that were slightly off center.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on September 23, 2011 at 9:31 PM

A fabulous sand abstract, Youssef. Wonderful light and golden colors. An intriguing shot to explore.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 23, 2011 at 11:09 PM

Not quite sure what I'm looking at, but I sure like it. Don't think "simple" is the right adjective here. There is a complexity here that very much engages my attention.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 24, 2011 at 3:05 AM

Brilliant! in one word.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on September 24, 2011 at 9:31 AM

Youssef, this is an intriguing abstract for me, and the sense of motion just makes the difference to my eye.

I think positioning the flowing element not exactly as diagonal might work even better. Nevertheless, your image has great impact on me.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 24, 2011 at 9:39 AM

Fantastic patterns and light Ismail.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 24, 2011 at 9:59 AM

Beautiful abstract! The colors, textures and detail in this are all fantastic. I think his comp works really well.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on September 24, 2011 at 12:23 PM

I thought this was a typical sand abstract at first but that motion you caught really makes this special, well done

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 24, 2011 at 2:04 PM

Youssef,

Copper, bronze, gold... you've found a jackpot! I love this Youssef. Literally a river of metallic tones. I really like the diagonal presentation too - very dynamic. Just beautiful.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 24, 2011 at 3:04 PM

Lon,

Thanks for the feedback and I was struggling with what to title this and you nailed it for me. " Treasure"

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on September 24, 2011 at 4:22 PM

very strange shot Youssef, but wonderful abstract indeed

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 24, 2011 at 6:26 PM

Beautiful, Youssef! Great colors, textures, tones and abstract composition

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

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on September 25, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Youssef,
Great light and interesting abstract composition. I like it. Best Regards.

Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on September 25, 2011 at 12:38 AM

A superb abstract close-up shot, Youssef! The gold sand makes me want to break out the gold pan and start mining! I like the contrast of the flowing water/sand with the sharp detail and textures of the static sand. Very, very nice!

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 25, 2011 at 10:33 AM

Youssef,

Fabulous! The color, tones, and textuers are right on. The diagonal composition is very dynamic. I think the water flow should be placed a little off the corner-to-corner diagonal, though. Nice use of tilts and swings to get this sharp throughout. Nicely done!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 25, 2011 at 1:02 PM

Sick abstract, Youssef--print it huge!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on September 25, 2011 at 11:13 PM

Stunning abstract Youssef! I was thinking at first what Floris noted. But upon further thought I believe that would have made the flowing water too short. You chose right in the end to me. Super work.

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 26, 2011 at 1:06 AM

So well seen! The motion adds a very neat dynamic, and the patterns are very intriguing.

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 26, 2011 at 1:38 AM

Very lovely, Yoseef. There is a great sense of design to the composition and the flowing water makes it all the more special.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on September 26, 2011 at 7:15 PM

Awesome abstract! The patterns in the sand almost look like feathers. The black in the sand may be iron and it would be interesting to see if it sticks to a magnet. Great image.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 26, 2011 at 8:36 PM

Wow, great shot!!!

Love the contrast of movement and stillness.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments