Forces of Nature

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 27, 2011417 views16 comments

The title is still in the cheesy phase... I really don't know what I'm going to call this yet, but it's a shot from my recent trip to Zion. This was taken on day 2 with my 8x10 view camera. It's so dark back in there that I could hardly see the image on the ground glass. It's very dim, and difficult to focus, let alone see the entire composition at once.

I used color negative film because of the high contrast. Velvia has a tendency to do weird things with long exposures, but I knew Kodak Portra 160vc would do well and provide natural color. This was 7 minutes @ f/45. I used a polarizer to help show some detail below the surface.

I really haven't spent much time editing this one. I flat bed scanned the film, then adjusted the levels a bit to make sure the shadow tone was rich. You'll notice some little marks here and there -- it's mostly just a bit of dust on the scanner. I have more detail in the deep shadows, but sometimes it's best not to show everything. If I decide to use this shot in my portfolio, it will eventually be drum scanned then worked over with a fine toothed comb.

For the entire story behind this shot, including the HD daily video journals I create, be sure to check out my Adventure Blog.

Ebony RW810 | Nikkor SW 150mm | Kodak Portra 160vc (8x10) | 7 minutes @ f/45

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on November 27, 2011 at 2:08 PM

I like this composition a lot. really love the light and the color. the shadows are a bit too dark for my personal taste.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 27, 2011 at 8:49 PM

I like the comp, especially the repeating pattern of the wall in the background. Hope you can maybe pull some details out of these shadows.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 27, 2011 at 9:06 PM

This image has a wonderful feel to me. I think the light, shadow and color are beautiful here. Perfect use of the polarizer for the water, I just like the look! The light on the canyon walls adds so much feeling to this beautiful image! I really think it would be great to see this in a large final print!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on November 27, 2011 at 9:42 PM

I like the contrast between the warm light on the rocks and the somewhat colder water color. Nice too to be able to see some detail below the river. My one nit is that I would like a little more detail in the dark areas.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 27, 2011 at 9:59 PM

I have only ever seen one artist's prints, that shoot an 8x10. They are amazingly detailed and rich. I've only ever seen one person in the field with one as well. Must be too big and heavy for most folks. I can imagine the detail in this. I think the shadows are a little heavy, but don't bother me at all really. Though, I wouldn't say no to a little more detail in the largest shadow areas.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 27, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Ben,

Nice to see a post from you here in Landscape. I guess it's just that time of year for images from Zion and the narrows. I think with the dark shadows this one is a bit different than most and I think it happens to work quite well. For me, the shadows are creating shapes and mood in the canyon walls that I find very intriguing; in fact, I see faces in those cliffs.... And just enough balance with the stream.

My only nit/suggestion is to work the LLC a little bit. There's a bit of purple in that corner and also a couple of white dashes that you might want to clone out. Otherwise, this works really well and I find the mood almost haunting.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Ben Horne on November 27, 2011 at 10:56 PM

Thanks everyone for the feedback. The deepest shadows metered at nearly -5 on my spot meter, so I can tell you that they are in fact VERY dark in real life. For a sense of context -3 is, for all intensive purposes, pure black on slide film. Color neg gives just a hint of detail in those regions.

Lon - Thanks for the feedback! The haunting look you mention is exactly what I felt when I shot this image. I think the look of color neg film adds to that feeling. The lower left corner, and the left side in general is definitely an area I will work with on this image when it sees a proper drum scan. The more I use color negative film, the more I love it over slide. It has a much different look.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 27, 2011 at 11:37 PM

Incredible image, Ben. The shadows and the play of light on the walls create a tremendous sense of mystery that I think is superb, and with the river, almost like a beckoning portal to the unknown. Fantastic work in my opinion.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on November 28, 2011 at 12:06 AM

The shades of light, shadow, and color on those repeating walls is excellent. Love the angle you took on this and can imagine how killer it will look when you're finished with it!

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on November 28, 2011 at 3:38 AM

Ben, this is indeed a strong composition to me. The deep shadows are a consistent element to my eye. I just try to imagine the exceptional result as a large print, revealing stunning details of the rocks. Great work in my opinion.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 28, 2011 at 10:51 AM

Great work, Ben. I really like your point of view, the texture in the rocks and how the shadows playing with the lights make the mood.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on November 28, 2011 at 12:05 PM

Excellent shot, Ben. The dark shadows are not much of an issue in my opinion, and overall the exposure is excellent. I also like the composition. I'll have to check out your adventure blog . . . I was in the Narrows in mid-November and the flow was a bit over 120cfs. It was quite a challenge to hike and I barely attempted any shots, partly because I was enjoying the hike too much to go through the exercise of stopping to shoot and partly because it would have been a challenge to keep things dry!

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 28, 2011 at 6:38 PM

A mysterious feel to this image. The stream and rock colors are really beautiful. The dark band on the left side of the image, maybe shadow, are a little dark for me. A slight crop off the left would still allow you to keep a dark boarder, but eliminate the dark band on the edge of the water. Nice timeing on this.

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

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on November 28, 2011 at 8:55 PM

Very nice, Ben. It was nice meeting you (I was next to you on the bridge when you were doing your time lapse video). I have a shot from here too and the shadows most definitely are very dark. I love the way that film picks up the subtle light on the rocks.

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

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on November 28, 2011 at 10:50 PM

amazing; love the combo of dark tones and sunlight, and then the lightness and detail of the water.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on November 28, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Ben, I really like this and would love to see it finished as you mention above. I like the shadows and really enjoy true blacks(my background was in film for 15 years or so before I switched to digital) and mainly b&w I still use blacks and shadows to shape compositions. What I really like about this is the way the film transitions into the shadows, its just different and nice. The overall mood this creates is dark and I clearly see a skull in about a 1/3 over from the left.

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments