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Tufa Sage
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Tufa Sage

by Youssef Ismail

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 16, 2012198 views3 comments
During my trip to Yosemite in late October 2010 I gave my two clients the option of going to Mono Lake for one sunset as the Tioga Road was still open, as it still is today. It was also the last day the Whoa Nellie Deli was Open so it was not a hard choice. The sunset was lackluster but Mono Lake never disappoints.

One thing I love about that lake and the surrounding are is the sage. The aroma that wafts through the ari is mesmerizing and in some way intoxicating. While my clients focused on the tufa reflections on the lake I turned to the sage and tufa on the shore. It was also nice that the crescent moon was out to play that evening as well. As we made our way back in the dark to the cars, I stopped for a few sprigs of sage which now freshen my studio and keep the memory even that more alive for me.

Your feedback much appreciated.

4x5, Nikon 75mm f/4.5, f32.5, 4sec, 2 stop GND on Fuji Provia 100F
Full Disclosure: In spite of the GND the sky near the horizon was still a little too hot for my tastes. I used a TK mask with a color gradient to bring a little density and color back in to the sky. I hope it looks natural. Please do let me know.

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 16, 2012 at 12:13 PM
I am not finding this one resonates with me. I really like the foreground, with its rich shades of earth tones. I have looked at this several times trying to figure out what is throwing me off. I think the centering of the higher vegetation with the centered tufa is not working for me. I also am finding the tufa too dark for the much brighter foreground (grad filter?).
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 16, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Youssef,

In all honesty, I'm with Harley on this one. I don't think this one stands up to much of your work. The grad and subsequent ps work did well for the sky, but the tufa is just too dark for me. And other than the main brush up front, the midground vegetation gets kinda lost.

I know your deep connection the moon, but the moon isn't doing much for me either. You know, have you considered a vertical crop of the center portion here? I'm wondering if that might make this a stronger image? Just thinking....

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 16, 2012 at 11:12 PM
This is really nice, Youssef. The layers here are fantastic, and even the tiny little moon works, well, at least for me. I guess I disagree with Harley and Lon on this one. Anyway, I think Lon might not be feeling well. He missed the specks in the sky. Sure is a lot of them in the larger version. Am wondering if they are artifacts of some type. A lum mask to add color. Neat idea.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments