Can you find... + rpst

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 17, 2012556 views24 comments

a winking cat, a mad eel, a flying face, a mask, ... This ice abstract comes from my backyard pond after an overnight hard freeze. The colors are as shot (vibrance +25, saturation 0) and were provided by last year's and this year's hardy lily leaves mostly below the surface. Taken with a polarizer set to maximize the iridescence caused by varying thickness in the ice. (5D, 70-200 f2.8 @ 180mm + 20mm ET for close focusing, f/29, 0.6 s, iso 200, polarizer, tripod and cable release) Hope folks enjoy this little Rorschach test.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on March 17, 2012 at 9:41 PM

Awesome!!! The large version...due not only to expansive view...but, the grey frame which accents the faint grey in the photo makes this come alive. ...ever more! The blending of colors, the swirling textures, and the ice dappling are exquisite. Most reflections don't have this many colors...and if they did ...it would be busy. But, not here. Congrats ...well done!

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 17, 2012 at 9:43 PM

Wow looks like a great painting!!!

I think minus the white specks this might be a masterpiece!

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on March 18, 2012 at 1:36 AM

What an incredible array of color, shapes, and textures. Simply spectacular. I would consider removing the white specular points though or perhaps warming them a bit and reducing their brightness as to me they are detracting from those superb colors. Just a thought of course. An exquisite abstract. And in your backyard.

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

Comment posted by William Gillis on March 18, 2012 at 6:56 AM

Mark,

A superb ice abstract. The rich vibrance of the color make it seem as if you painted with a brush. Very nice work.

William Gillis
Minnesota

Registered on November 28, 2011, 17 Posts, 204 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 18, 2012 at 9:59 AM

Very painterly abstract Mark. I like the mix of colors.

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on March 18, 2012 at 10:23 AM

Amazing. Love it. Ranks with the best abstracts of any kind.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 18, 2012 at 10:34 AM

This is terrific, Mark. One of the best I've seen. colors are fabulous and the texture of the ice adds the masterstroke. Very nicely done.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on March 18, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Mark, the winking cat, mad eel jumped out right away from the thumbnail. The mask was pretty quick from the main image and the flying face was the last to reveal itself. Great test. What's my prize? :smile
Great abstract. Thanks for the explanation of where you captured it.

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 18, 2012 at 11:53 AM

Mark, This is really a cool looking abstract. I love the colors and textured feel this has. Looks like a painting to me. Very nice!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on March 18, 2012 at 12:07 PM

Very beautiful shapes and colors. I'd like to see it with the vibrance turned down a bit as I find the colors a little strong.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on March 18, 2012 at 12:15 PM

Mark, this is a really nice abstract with a great variety of pleasing colors and shapes.
I would be inclined to crop down or from the right to remove the URC as that brighter colored area with the hard edge immediately drew my eye, more so than the tiny white spots.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on March 18, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Very cool, Mark. The color palette is wonderful. You could have gotten by calling this a sandstone abstract, I think. That would have really put me over the edge.

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

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on March 18, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Very cool, I had to look twice before I saw it was actually ice, looks like an abstract painting with all the different colours!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 18, 2012 at 1:13 PM

I too found the specular highlights distracting, but the prospect of making them go away was daunting. After seeing the comments, I bit the bullet and broke out the healing tool in PS5. The result strikes me as a big improvement and well worth the effort. Thanks for looking and commenting.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on March 18, 2012 at 1:28 PM

Mark, This is one awesome abstract. Great colors and a wonderful capture.
A great Rorschach test.
You don't mention any processing so don't know what you did but I love to see you bring out some details in the oranges, yellows, and rusts. I think it might add to the depth.
I really like this.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on March 18, 2012 at 9:24 PM

What an improvement! You've removed all the distractions and now my eyes and mind are free to explore the many forms and colours!

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on March 19, 2012 at 1:48 AM

Huge improvement. A highly creative and aesthetically pleasing piece of art.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on March 19, 2012 at 9:28 AM

very nicely seen, looks like an abstract painting!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on March 19, 2012 at 12:37 PM

Repost is fantastic, Mark. Exquisite work. Will make a superb print.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on March 19, 2012 at 7:31 PM

Awesome abstract, Mark!

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 19, 2012 at 11:10 PM

Yes, that new one is awesome!!! I'd print and sell that one for sure!

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

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on March 20, 2012 at 3:28 PM

very original. the work you put in the repost paid off... I love the 3-dimensional feel to it... looks like a continental map or a modern painter going rampant

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by William Gillis on March 20, 2012 at 4:12 PM

The repost is even finer than the original. I would print this in a heart beat. A piece of art.

William Gillis
Minnesota

Registered on November 28, 2011, 17 Posts, 204 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 21, 2012 at 4:04 AM

Well, first of all, this is so amazing I hardly know what to say.

It's one of the finest "fine art" pieces I've seen and looks like a painting. That it is completely natural surprises and delights!

Found the face, I think… Also a dove, hoof prints, giraffe legs… yeah, I'll have to come back again to see what else shows up.

Congratulations on creating a wonder!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments