Portal Of Light

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 5, 2012408 views19 comments

Mt Barney Creek, Queensland.

Yesterday I hiked 7.5 klms (4.6 miles) up into Mt Barney for the first time to a location called 'The Lower Portals' - a deep valley through which Mt Barney Creek runs. The creek is dominated by huge boulders and is a haven for wildlife. I had a large rock wallaby watch me take this image from one of the big boulders on the bank behind me. I also came in contact with a koala, a few kangaroos and an array of bird life. It was one of the most exhausting hikes and shoots I've undertaken, but well worth it as this creek was just so very beautiful and peaceful in the morning light.

D800, 14-24mm lens @18mm, f/11 - 4 shot horizontal pano.

Thanks for looking and your c&c is greatly appreciated.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 5, 2012 at 7:56 AM

An amazing place! It boggles the mind that water could move such large boulders. Well composed and an inspired choice of a panorama.format.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 5, 2012 at 9:40 AM

I love, love, love the dappled light on the boulders with the sunstar behind. a beautiful scene and you controlled the light and shadows perfectly. This is delightful.

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

Comment posted by Michael Hackett on August 5, 2012 at 11:29 AM

I think the panoramic format works really well with this subject. Nicely done!

Registered on January 12, 2008, 71 Posts, 192 Comments

Comment posted by Ezra Schultz on August 5, 2012 at 12:57 PM

Ditto what everybody else said....Izzy

Registered on July 31, 2004, 30 Posts, 114 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on August 5, 2012 at 1:05 PM

The pano format really works well here. Great shot of a beautiful scenery.

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

Comment posted by Karen Kane on August 5, 2012 at 1:13 PM

Really appreciate the pano format, the way the light hits the rocks and the description of the place/hike. Sounds and looks like well worth the effort!

Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments

Comment posted by Leo Collazo on August 5, 2012 at 1:33 PM

Great shot. The light play on the rocks is beautiful, and so are the colors reflected on the soft texture of the water. I love the sun burst on the upper left side of the image, it makes the image even more dynamic. I agree with everyone else that the panorama format really suits this image. Awesome job!

Registered on August 4, 2011, 19 Posts, 69 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on August 5, 2012 at 3:28 PM

very nice, David. some really nice elements. and a beautiful place.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 5, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Those are some big boulders, David (or is that the lens perspective) and you've done a really nice job of composing them in this scene. Light is really well managed too. Though, when I think about it, seen the sun on one side of the image and then seeing it lighting up the rocks on the other side makes leaves me a bit

However, I really like this and took the time to enjoy the larger version as well.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on August 5, 2012 at 9:33 PM

Congrats on the hike, very rewarding to pull off a challenge. I think this image was well worth it. The large boulders are a great subject, the pano format works well here, and I love the touch of sun.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on August 6, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Its a fine image. The lighting does seem strange in how the boulders are lit. How wide of a view is this?

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on August 6, 2012 at 2:19 AM

Nice Pan David. I really like the play of light in the reflection of the water off the rocks, and the sun peeking through is a nice bonus.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on August 6, 2012 at 3:39 AM

Thank you for your comments guys.
Tony & Youssef - Yes there is a fair bit of distortion from creating a pano with the wide angle lens (not ideal for pano's, I know). In reality the left and right sides of the image recede back behind the line of the large boulder, which is somewhat shaded by the canopy of the trees to the left of it, and it is the closest point in the image. So the sun direction is not actually straight at the lens, but angled across it towards those sunlit rocks on the right. The approximate distance from left to right is about 50 feet, and the height of the big boulder would be about 8 or 9 feet. I hope the distortion is not too much? I'll take my 50mm next time!

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 6, 2012 at 3:17 PM

This is quite nice David. The pano format works well here for sure and the larger version shows some beautiful details. Love the sun star and the peaceful nature of the stream. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Andrew Morrill on August 7, 2012 at 12:41 AM

Awesome shot - crazy wide! I like the comp a lot - the color is very nice and with a lot to look at - would be awesome in large print. I could see some alternate (and equally good) compositions using mostly the left side (left 1/4 as square or left 1/3 or maybe left 2/3). Only nit is some of the highlights feel overexposed (rocks at right and lit tree leaves at right). Great shot overall.

Registered on June 10, 2010, 51 Posts, 216 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on August 7, 2012 at 5:14 PM

this is amazing David, i really like it

well done

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 7, 2012 at 9:25 PM

This is so nice! The sunstar looks awesome in the large version. Really some wonderful early morning light and color. I would love to see what this looks like in a large print. Sounds like a hard hike, but sure looks like it was worth it!!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by David Edwards on August 8, 2012 at 4:54 AM

Thanks again guys. Yes, I am planning a very large print of this one for my living room area. Cheers

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

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on August 15, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Great shot David. The pano works very well on this lovely scene. I hope to visit Mt Barney one day myself.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments