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A Break in the Clouds
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A Break in the Clouds

by Benjamin Olson

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 24, 2012303 views16 comments
For me, it's been an incredibly slow winter here in northern Minnesota. The lack of snow and abnormally warm temperatures have definitely been uninspiring. Nonetheless, it has presented some interesting opportunities. This image was created back in late December when, normally, there is more snow and more ice along the shore of Lake Superior. The night before we received a little dusting of snow that barely coated the tops of these honey-dew sized boulders, but as the morning unfolded the opportunity to use these seemed grim. Two hours after the sun rose, the sky began to break up, and create an amazing show of clouds and light.

I appreciate all the critiques on my last post.

Thanks,

Ben

I forgot to add, this edited from a single double processed raw file. One adjusted for the foreground and the other for the sky.

5D Mark II - 16-35mm @ 25 mm
f/16 - ISO 50 - 1/6th of a second

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on February 24, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Sweet comp -- the clouds really make the image for me. It is a bit on the uber-contrasty side, but nothing that is too big a distraction. The rock in the middle with the water bouncing off is the cherry on top.
Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on February 24, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Kory,

I wish I would've posted it on a black background, the original isn't nearly this contrasty, I'll post a more subdued version sometime today.
Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on February 24, 2012 at 3:43 PM
I echo Kory's comments Benjamin. I would tone down those highlights just a bit, but the comp is very dynamic.
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on February 24, 2012 at 4:08 PM
I like the high contrast, but I understand the other's feedback. Highlights could be toned down a bit. The composition is very well made and like Joe has mentioned - that rock in the center is a nice eye catcher. I even think it is necessary, but that's why it is here, right? :wink:
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on February 24, 2012 at 4:33 PM
I like this a lot Ben. Not too contrasty for my taste, but that's subjective, of course. Like the composition and chosen shutter speed, and the clouds are great. No nits from me.

EDIT: Ben, you mentioned that you wish you had posted this with a black BG. That's easy to change if you wish. Just choose the Edit button and change the Background Hex Code to 6 zeros (000000). If you have a problem with it just let me know and I'll be happy to change it for you.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on February 24, 2012 at 6:48 PM
Sweet! I love the action the rock is getting from the waves. And the clouds are nice and dramatic.
Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 24, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Contrast is always a matter of taste but this works well for me. As others have mentioned Ben, I think the central large rock acts as a cohesive element for the entire scene.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 24, 2012 at 7:50 PM
Pretty dramatic. Gotta love that sky. Slight tilt to the CW...centered horizon I think works. And the little splash is great. Nice work

aF
Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 24, 2012 at 9:08 PM
Very different, but this works great. :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Miller on February 24, 2012 at 11:00 PM
I am loving this. I wish I could get those clouds to just follow me around everywhere I went.
Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Fricke on February 24, 2012 at 11:04 PM
Really nice composition, you achieved a real 3-D look to this image, it almost feels like I'm there.
Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on February 24, 2012 at 11:36 PM
I love the tremendous depth that you achieved with this image; the clouds, the rocks, and that centered rock give this an almost 3 dimensional look. Maybe tone down the highlights just a bit, although perhaps in print the highlights work just fine. An outstanding b/w image.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 25, 2012 at 12:30 AM
Stunning comp and light. I just love the balance and contrast here. Tension and repetition very nicely combined.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on February 25, 2012 at 1:00 AM
Thank for all the feedback, the highlights were actually one of my concerns, but given that the sun was near the upper quarter of the image I thought it was appropriate to leave them as is. But I may have to try toning them down.

Thanks for the input Bill!

Aaron,

The reason the horizon looks tilted is due to the apostle islands out in the distance protruding from the Wisconsin shoreline. They are closer to the right and further away towards the left. Thanks for pointing it out though!
Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 25, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Ben,

Dynamic comp and excellent choice for the b&w. This will be repetitive as I just went through some of the comments, but even before that my suggestion was going to be to tone down the highlights, especially in the rock. Otherwise, I love this. The clouds are wonderful and pull the eye deep in to the seascape to pick up the horizon. Excellent.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Kris Johnson on May 23, 2012 at 2:56 AM
Great work
Registered on March 6, 2010, 26 Posts, 299 Comments