Morning Meadow

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 9, 2012841 views16 comments

Thank you for your responses to my last photo. I know it was not going to be to everyone's liking. Challenging light is fun to work with and most of the time it does not come out. That one was on the border for me, and it probably will not get printed.

My first morning of the Yosemite trip was quickly coming to an end. The sun was now at nearly full strength and El Capitan Meadow was completely bathed in that sun. I stepped out of the Cathedral Grove and the crispness of the light caught my fancy again. This was the last photo I made on my first morning.

4x5, Nikkor 75mm, f32, 1/4 sec, Fuji Provia 100F. TK luminosity masks and Triple Play actions used in development.

Your feedback most appreciated.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on December 9, 2012 at 7:30 PM

The interplay of light and shadows is wonderful. I especially like seeing the meadow and the mountains on the left.
This is really quite nice and I would have no problem printing it myself.

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

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on December 9, 2012 at 8:05 PM

Like the light and shadow on the meadow, leads nicely into the scene.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 9, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Beautiful, Youssef. Wonderful light and a really well-balanced comp. The long shadows really make this, too.

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

Comment posted by John Clulow on December 9, 2012 at 8:51 PM

As in the last image, light is again the star as is reflected in what others have already written. Also, in this one I like the negative space and the blue-yellow contrast. The shadows on the meadow are leading lines to the tree trunks, then to the sun. Especially in the larger version, it feels as if one is actually there -- a 3D effect. And the signature is less bright and distracting.

Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 9, 2012 at 8:56 PM

Very nice Youssef. I like the shadows in the foreground showy backlit foliage.

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on December 9, 2012 at 10:18 PM

This is a classic beauty Youssef. Great backlighting, not only on the dominant trees in the comp, but in all of them. The detail in the FG and on the horizon ridge, and wonderful warm color all combine for a really fine image.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 9, 2012 at 10:30 PM

The backlit trees are lovely and their shadows make fine leading lines pulling my eyes from the foreground into all the glowing leaves. This is lovely.

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

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 9, 2012 at 10:41 PM

Gorgeous, I think the back-lighting is dramatic which I believe will make this an easy sell at your shows, well done

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 10, 2012 at 9:57 AM

Wow, nice exposure and dynamic composition. I like this, Youssef!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on December 10, 2012 at 10:22 AM

Absolutely pristine. Excellent crafting in your separations of highlights & shadows. If I had any nit at all, if would be to lighten the upper left sky just a little.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 10, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Another gorgeous image from this grove. Very nice use of shadow and light. I agree with evening out the sky in the upper left. Very well done!

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

Comment posted by Robb Hirsch on December 10, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Nicely framed. I like the subtle placement of the trees in the urc to bounce the eye back into the scene and the beautiful detail in the foreground shadows. I think shooting into this much direct light is challenging, you did a very good job here!

Registered on February 15, 2011, 16 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 10, 2012 at 1:06 PM

Youssef,

The luminance in the oaks is obvious, but it's the light and shadow play on the meadow grasses that make this for me. Same issue for me with the dark trunks, but much less an issue because they aren't so prominent; clearly the light wins out here.

The only thing that keeps this from being a real stand out for me is the blank sky. But what does work well in that quadrant are all the other oaks and pines in the bg bathed in that early morning light. I'm surprised we don't see any cars along the edge there!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 10, 2012 at 1:33 PM

I like this a lot Youssef. I think it works well. I especially like the contrast between the golden light and bluer mountains and sky.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 10, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Compositionally, I really like this. I would never have thought to include all that foreground grass, but with the varying shadows, it works quite nicely. I guess I don't mind the blank sky all that much. It contrasts nicely with the warmer colors and it looks very right in this image.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on December 10, 2012 at 11:31 PM

Beautiful light, wonderful color....I'm out of adjectives but this image is stunning.

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