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Alpine Idyllism
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Alpine Idyllism

by Floris van Breugel

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 26, 20121,146 views29 comments
Last weekend I did a wonderful 4 day loop through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness backcountry with my girlfriend. One of our nights we spent by this beautiful alpine lake; just the perfect evening. No dramatic skies or flowers (in this picture), but for me it perfectly captures what I love about the alpine cascades. I'll be sharing a bunch more from the trip on my blog shortly.

Please do see the larger version too (I apologize for it not being as crisp as it should - file sizes started getting out of hand!).

Thanks for any thoughts!

Comments

29 comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 26, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Wonderful alpine scene Floris. Gorgeous warm light on the mountain peaks which is a nice mix with the coolness in the shadows of the foreground..
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on August 26, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Beautiful colors and really good detail here Floris! This really should be viewed large. Wonderful image!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 26, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Beautiful and refreshing. Wonderful balance between the warm/cool tones and stunning light. My only nit would be that the fg rock feels disproportionate to me (i.e. it's as large as the mountain peaks) A slight crop from that side might balance it out better.
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on August 26, 2012 at 10:36 PM
What a fantastic view regardless of dramatic skies or wildflowers. Would love to venture through this landscape someday. Large view is fantastic!
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 26, 2012 at 10:55 PM
This feels so good!...it's beautiful. And then you got to camp there too. Really nice, Floris.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on August 27, 2012 at 1:04 AM
Comp is outstanding and large rock right leads the eye right on in to stay and enjoy as I did. :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 27, 2012 at 2:05 AM
what a scene, well composed. dynamic range pretty big here. i like the tones you've achieved in the FG/shadows but feel just a touch more contrast in BG mts wouldn't go amiss ... just a touch mind - and it might not work. and yes, don't need those flowers - lakes - aline mts stuff (or FALES as defined by Stan) to have perfect evenings or glorious images.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Bret Edge on August 27, 2012 at 2:32 AM
Looks like a fabulous place to spend time with your significant other, Floris. Also a great example that one need not rely on dramatic skies to make compelling photographs. Nice work.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 27, 2012 at 4:05 AM
What a great place this is and you captured it beautifully. The big version is wonderful.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on August 27, 2012 at 4:56 AM
Pretty place indeed Floris, beautiful light and presentation.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 27, 2012 at 9:04 AM
What an gorgeous spot Floris, everything fits beautifully in your chosen composition.

Gary.
Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Everstine on August 27, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Excellent serenity catch.
Registered on July 23, 2012, 29 Posts, 91 Comments
Comment posted by Wick Smith on August 27, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Gorgeous! Love the scene. :toast:
Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments
Comment posted by Gabi Lach on August 27, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Beautiful! What a perfect camping spot! Great light, it makes it look line a golden place. Life is good, Floris. :smile:
Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 27, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Great view - pure alpine gold. I think the tree shadows are just a little too bright - they compete with the mountains. I would expect them a little darker. I might consider cropping off the right tree wich would minimize that FG rock a little but more importantly it feels alittle heavy on that side. Using the midground tall trees mimics the far peaks and creates a bit more balance in the shot for me. A little added contrast to the mnt shadows as mentioned might also add some pop. Reallly minor adjustments to a stellar image. Not sure if your water mark is needed on the rock - at first I thought it might be striations ofr the granite!
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Yiming Hu on August 27, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Amazing location and beautiful light. This is a winner.

I found the dark green trees and bushes (pretty in their own), as well as the gorgeous warm mountains, are competing for my attention. Crop the tree on the right (and also a little bit of the bottom), maybe?
Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 27, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Thanks folks for the kind words and feedback, I appreciate it!

Nancy / Harry - I see what you mean about the rock, and the crop would get rid of some of the tree on the right (which I'm not a huge fan of), but unfortunately it would throw off the balance of the mountain peaks.

Stuart / Harry - For maximum "pop", yes the mountains could stand a smidge more contrast, but I think that would reduce some of the depth. In normal conditions contrast drops off with distance, and in the 2D world of photography that contrast drop off is actually one of the best cues we have for distance, so I like to maintain a little haze out there.

Harry - I thought someone might suggest the trees were a little bright.. I was torn on it myself. I might try darkening them just a little. Thanks!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on August 27, 2012 at 2:01 PM
I love this Floris :wavey:
Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on August 27, 2012 at 3:08 PM
This is such a great palce and you captured it very well. This is a compelling image and it doesn't need any dramatic skies. Great work :toast:
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Blakers on August 27, 2012 at 5:05 PM
What an absolutely delightful image. This is just the most lovely scene, rendered beautifully. Not a thing to change, in the scene or the pic. Hang it on your wall and gaze at it for hours at a time!

I made the long climb up there in autumn some years ago, for the larches, and had a week in a blizzarded tent for my reward. This is so much nicer than that!
Registered on February 26, 2011, 8 Posts, 67 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Ward on August 27, 2012 at 8:58 PM
Stunning light, Floris! Wonderful colors and tones throughout. :toast:
Registered on February 26, 2009, 304 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by David Edwards on August 27, 2012 at 9:30 PM
Lovely shot Floris. Beautiful mountain scenery. Contrasts look good to me. Must have been an excellent hike.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 27, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Stunning. Very nicely handled light.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 28, 2012 at 1:47 AM
Floris,

Hey, great to see an image from you too! ;-) This is simply a wonderful alpine landscape. This has it all, and makes me wish I was there taking it all in.

The only suggestion I have, and not a nit really, is not about he contrast in the far range, the "atmosphere" as you mention would naturally reduce the contrast somewhat. But to me, the shadows that are there run a little purple; especially in the center peak. Not sure if that color would be something I would expect to see. Heck, I dunno.

Great stuff, looking forward to more from your trip.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on August 28, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Beautiful scenery. Looks like a good place to camp. Wonderful light on the peaks.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 28, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Beautiful capture, Floris! I had some of the same thoughts as others regarding the contrast on the distant peaks, but your response makes perfect sense and that part of the scene does feel natural as presented here. As far as the composition, it all works very well for me and I find that the RHS tree is important in balancing out the rest of the scene. The trees just right of center (on the outcropping above the lake) do seem just a bit bright to me.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 28, 2012 at 7:04 PM
At first I didn't care for the tree on the right hand side but after looking at this for a while I now think it's important in balancing the scene. Would agree with others about the trees being a bit to bright. The light is really nice and I like your choice of FG. Checked out your blog, some more great shots in there as well, looks like you had a blast.. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 29, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Gorgeous! What a wonderful place to pack to. Awesome. Glad to see you back! :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Smorra on September 1, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Wow Floris! I think I would call this one "Alpine Perfection". The image really captures the essence of spending an evening in the mountains. Very well done.
Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments