Seeing the Unseen

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 18, 20121,190 views46 comments

Between 2009 and the end of 2011 I spent the majority of my time working on a night photography eBook, shooting in the Himalaya, Tibet, Spain, Indonesia and around my home in SW China, especially Yading National Park.

It pretty much defined who I was (an my wife) for that whole period of time. In March I published the eBook (thankfully) and managed to get my life back, including shooting before it is dark!

This shot became the cover and allowed me to coin the expression Seeing the Unseen, which I feel really captures what Night Photography is all about. Imagining things that cannot be seen and basing your compositions on invisible subjects that become evident over longer exposures.

A truly fascinating subject and one I am delighted to call work!

D3x 70-300 - 331s @ f5 ISO 200. Taken on the north coast of Spain, moonlight.

Comments

46 comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on June 18, 2012 at 6:48 AM

This is really stunning! Beautiful colors, light. I like how the rocks emerge from the mystic water.
Interesting thoughts on the night Photography also.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on June 18, 2012 at 7:04 AM

One that caught me originally on G+....great work

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 18, 2012 at 7:38 AM

This was a great choice for the cover. One of my favourites. They could just as well be the peaks of mountains floating in mist.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 18, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Congrats on seeing the world in a new way. Beautiful

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on June 18, 2012 at 8:20 AM

Beautiful work,
did I read that right, a 331 second exposure?
Excellent image - thanks for posting.

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 18, 2012 at 8:55 AM

Just spell binding to look at. The light and mood created is simply perfect. Great work

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 18, 2012 at 9:26 AM

I usually don't care for long h2o exposures--but gotta admit it works pretty well here, i love the mood you created here and the jagged rocks rising out of the misty water are totally cool!

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 18, 2012 at 10:09 AM

Already in my favorites on Whytake, Allister. Such a great image. The glow around the rocks from the long exposure, and the structure and texture of the rocks make this an amazing image.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on June 18, 2012 at 11:43 AM

Fantastic. A real pleasure to view.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Very cool and eerie. I am generally not a big fan of night images, but this one turned out great. Very otherworldly.

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

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on June 18, 2012 at 12:04 PM

Initial viewing doesn't say 'night image' but I've never seen anything like this during the day. Very fine work.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on June 18, 2012 at 12:38 PM

Very interesting and beautiful photography. Great work

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 18, 2012 at 1:01 PM

Really one of the most creative and unusual shots I have seen lately. Amazing in all aspects!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 18, 2012 at 1:03 PM

Wow...this is so cool looking! Really enjoy seeing this, and what a great mood.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 18, 2012 at 2:44 PM

Neat shot! I like the soft brightness surround the isolated peaks. I am curious, are the mountains surrounded by fog/clouds or rocks surrounded by water?

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 18, 2012 at 3:27 PM

WOW!! Outstanding capture. Something out of a fairy tale - surreal.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Alister Benn on June 18, 2012 at 7:04 PM

Thanks all for the comments, Mark Seaver - these are sea stacks on the coast of Asturias in Spain. Beautiful spot.

Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 18, 2012 at 10:04 PM

This has always been a favorite of mine of your images. What a strikingly beautiful image. Takes the genre to a new level in my mind. Night photography sans the stars and galaxies.

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 18, 2012 at 10:33 PM

What a haunting and captivating image! Congratulations on the project, the e-book, and all.

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

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on June 18, 2012 at 11:13 PM

Dream-like scene. Excellent.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 19, 2012 at 12:25 AM

Like castles out of the fog- this is spectacular Alister! I love the long exposure effect.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Helmut Steidl on June 19, 2012 at 1:24 AM

Hello Benn

I like your work so much, i buy your ebook "Seeing the Unseen" and it is so helpful ...
This is an awsome Image ..... Wonderfull colours and mood ....

Helmut

Registered on May 18, 2011, 17 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Alister Benn on June 19, 2012 at 2:46 AM

Thanks Helmut for the kind words. I appreciate them. Delighted you enjoy the book...

best wishes,

Alister

Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 19, 2012 at 5:37 AM

Magnificent shot Alister. Love the way the rocks seem suspended in the blue. Must check out your ebook!

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on June 19, 2012 at 11:08 AM

This is mystical and moody! Very nice image!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Otherworldly Alister! Those blues are stunning!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on June 19, 2012 at 1:07 PM

Heavenly!

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on June 19, 2012 at 6:43 PM

Reminds me of a childhood favorite movie of mine, Neverending Story. With all the floating chunks of land in space...but inverted here. Cool stuff Alister.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on June 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Wow! This is stunning Alister. Excellent use of the long shutter. This looks like a dream to me!

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Cliff Dodge on June 19, 2012 at 8:17 PM

Very moody and cool. Nicely done.

Registered on March 25, 2006, 125 Posts, 507 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 19, 2012 at 8:40 PM

Alister,

Mystical and Magical! This is just wonderful.

Imagining things that cannot be seen and basing your compositions on invisible subjects...

Well said and a great way to expands one vision and learn new ways of seeing.

Love this image.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 19, 2012 at 10:15 PM

A very ethereal and and beautiful image Alister!

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 20, 2012 at 5:55 AM

I also like the situation when the sensor goes beyond what the eye can see and in most cases I'm positively surprised. Great example of this phenomenon, Alister. Already bought your book - just need to find time to read it ;)

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on June 20, 2012 at 9:40 AM

That looks very different and absolutely amazing. Love everything here. It's magic!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on June 20, 2012 at 11:14 AM

Wow Alister, this is exceptional! Love the mood and blue tones here. I can see why this became the cover of your e-book!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on June 20, 2012 at 3:29 PM

One cool shot Alister! Otherworldly for sure. Love the blue color, the rugged monoliths and the overall mystical look. I just released an eBook myself on Yellowstone National Park which I have been photographing over the past 20 years. All the best with your new eBook.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on June 20, 2012 at 4:26 PM

Stunning shot Alister, I loved this when I first saw it on WT.

Gary

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on June 22, 2012 at 9:02 PM

Super surreal! Cool (literally

) shot!

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

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on June 23, 2012 at 12:52 PM

absolutely spectacular shot and congratulations on your ebook

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 27, 2012 at 7:55 PM

Mesmerizing - congrats on a very fine WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 27, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Congrats on the WP!

What a marvelous image!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on June 28, 2012 at 5:50 AM

I can't believe I missed this shot in the gallery last week, fantastic mood, and I love the simplicity! Congrats on the WP (and the completion of your ebook!)