The Last Stand

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 17, 2012723 views26 comments

Water filled with bacteria from thermal pools eventually overcomes the life of a pine tree. What you end up with is skeletons bearing their form defunct of any pine needles. This image was back lit by a rising sun emphasizing the form of these trees. The steam and fog rising in the background makes this even more evident.

I'm curious to know your thoughts on this image and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Canon 5d2, Canon 70-200mm L IS lens, 169mm, f16@8 sec., 50 ASA

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 17, 2012 at 3:23 AM

Dean,

OH MY! This is absolutely incredible! Of course a great nature story, but just from an imagery point of view, this is outstanding. This has a very mysteriously whimsical mood to it with the way the steam is swirling and flowing in the background.

Got no nits or suggestions. Just wonderful photography.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on September 17, 2012 at 6:25 AM

Well that's pretty badass. Sweet light and capture!

aF

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

Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 17, 2012 at 7:19 AM

Exactly what Lon said. This one tells a story. One of your best, Dean!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on September 17, 2012 at 10:38 AM

Awesome, totally love this Dean. No nits from me.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on September 17, 2012 at 11:59 AM

AWESOME! This is killer. My only minor possible nit is the small diagonal tree exiting the frame on the left. I don't know if a crop would help...it is a little nit picky, but just thought I would be a little critical with this amazing image.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM

The fog or steam in the BG is what makes this image stand out in my opinion. I also think it could use a little wee bit more contrast to really make the glow in the steam pop.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 17, 2012 at 1:14 PM

IMO this is a very powerful image Dean! It has a bit of a morbid feel to it and I think that is probably exactly what you tried to convey judging from your write-up. Really cool image.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on September 17, 2012 at 1:28 PM

Moody, mysterious, powerful. Excellent capture

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 17, 2012 at 1:51 PM

I think you could not have found better conditions to showcase the character (and fate) of these trees.

Really outstanding work here.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on September 17, 2012 at 1:53 PM

The wafting fog and steam make a great mood for the fir skeletons. The limited color palette adds to this mood.

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

Comment posted by John Fan on September 17, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Excellent work. I like the mood. My only slight nit is the falling branch on the left keeps pull my eyes to it. I don't know what to do with it though.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 17, 2012 at 3:33 PM

Dean, This is just wonderful! I love the mood you captured here. Very nice work indeed!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on September 17, 2012 at 4:12 PM

outstanding image, Dean... pretty sinister mood, but I LOVE it

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 17, 2012 at 5:23 PM

Lovely, Dean. This creates a mystical mood for me. The scene works well backlit.
I wonder what a B&W rendition would look like; however, I really like this.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 17, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Very ethereal and powerful Dean. Excellent work!

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 17, 2012 at 6:19 PM

Love this, Dean. Wonderfully evocative image.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 17, 2012 at 6:26 PM

Outstanding!!!!! Love this one. What a dreamy image.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on September 17, 2012 at 9:39 PM

Quite a ghostly image, Dean. I like the light in this image and the steam provides the perfect backdrop for these trees. Very moody and mysterious.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on September 17, 2012 at 10:23 PM

One of the best images I've seen from Yellowstone, simply beautiful, Dean.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on September 18, 2012 at 1:05 PM

Superb! I love this. Nice call on the 8 sec exposure.

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on September 19, 2012 at 12:21 AM

Beautiful, moody image Dean! This strikes me as somewhat apocolyptic... No nits I can think of, just a great image!

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on September 19, 2012 at 1:26 AM

I love this. Great light, great comp and TONS of mood. Nice work.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on September 19, 2012 at 3:43 AM

Love that steam and fog! Great atmosphere captured here Dean. I like how the long shutter has softened everything creating a mysterious mood. Nice work!

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on September 19, 2012 at 7:33 PM

This is outstanding Dean. I really like the colors here and the image is just overflowing with mood and atmosphere.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 20, 2012 at 12:52 AM

A surreal visual feast.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 21, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Incredible atmosphere with the clouds and sun diffused. Fantastic find. My only suggestion, and very minor might be to crop off the bent/broken tree on the left boarder. As it breaks right on the edge of the frame, feels too tight. Moving just to the right of the break gives it a different feel to me and confinement is lost. Just lovely.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments