Yosemite Moments #22+rp

I guess I have the advantage of not knowing about how this image links to others and to what an "Orton application" is. I'm just going to comment based upon what I see including the larger image.

I like this in the 4:5 portrait aspect. It seems to me to be about the rocks, mostly, and the grasses that have temporarily grown up among them. The grasses are pretty, temporarily, and in nice focus, but they will die and the rocks will endure. And then the grasses will grow back again. That is the temporal contrast I see in the image.

Superficially, it does appear to be a bit dark on my uncalibrated monitor. I might suggest kicking that up a notch, perhaps with a simple levels adjustment. But other than that, I like the image with the rocks suggesting perhaps the serpentine, vertical path of an ancient spring. I love the frame; it definitely focuses attention on the forms and colors. And, again, the theme, to me, is all about the dynamic between the ephemeral and the enduring.

Very nice Lon. Love all the detail in the grass, rocks and other plants combined to make a good comp. You wouldn't know you used any Orton on this image. I think 4x5 still kicks butt on the fine details. That part I miss. Lugging around all that equipment I don't miss. Thanks for your comments this past year and have a great 2013!

It is a nice arrangement to be enjoyed. Not sure when this was taken, but I like the 'autumn' feel here, with the dark green grass stems transitioning to gold. Again, good use of the orton effect. I love the way it just barely opens up the shadows and makes an image easier to look at.

Love the gentle lines of the grasses against the darker rocks Lon. Your series is inspiring and made me dig up my 35mm Kodachromes I took in this area back in 1992 with my Olympus OM4T. Maybe I'll scan one or two though they will never come close to the quality of your 4X5's. I have already threatened my sister that I will have to come visit her on the left coast :-) to retake a lot of images with my Pentax 67II and Canon 5DM2.

Love the "S", the contrast between the rocks and grass, the textural detail and the clarity. You can probably tell that I like it a lot just as posted.

pat

Thank you for the early comments folks.

Eva, I hope you get to make it back to Yosemite, or at least to the "left coast."

John - thank for your comments, observations and suggestion. You know, the minute I posted this and went back to look, I thought, man, this looks flat. It had been exactly a month since I processed this originally and I should have revisited before posting. Here is an updated version, adding some light, midtone contrast. This version I think actually looks like it's picking up light in the grasses.

Also, great observation and comment about the grasses coming and going while the rocks "enduring." More true than you think because much of their existence, these rocks are spent submerged beneath the Merced River and indeed the grasses only emerge well after summer when the water drops far enough to reveal this little garden. So in a real sense, this image is telling and ephemeral story.

Oh, as far as the "Orton" technique, much has been written and you can read about it if interested. There's even a couple articles right here on NPN. The basic premise being taken from the slide film days when you literally sandwiched two slides together, one being slightly brighter and out of focus. The combination of the two slides being sandwiched together created a dreamy glow. Today, with all the variations, available processing options, I've simply turned it in to just another "tool" to adjust color and contrast. Anyway, check it out.

Thanks folks, hope this version has a little more spunk to it.

Lon

Lon, I just spent a little time looking at both versions. I liked the first one right off, but seeing the repost and how it jumped out to me was really nice! It really is quite amazing what a few small adjustments can do. I think that is really one of the great things about NPN and having things brought to our attention that are so easy not to see on our own.
This is a wonderful image! Beautiful work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Lon,

Very nice. I love the detail throughout. I also like how the rocks snake through the grasses in an S-pattern. The lower contrast overall due to not having direct light on the scene allowed for much more detail to show through which I like better than what I got. Nice Lon, very nice.

Lon, I thought the first one was excellent, then I saw the second one, much nicer with the slightly pumped colors. Would be nice to see that one at full size too, but it works nicely at the 720 size well enough to see the preferred look overall. I really can enjoy these close in scenes like this for the excellent detail, especially LF images like this one.
Colors, saturation, orton, etc. all come together very nicely on this image.

I really love this one, Lon. Wonderful "garden" as you describe it and I really like the bit of an s-curve the rocks make through the scene.

Lon, maybe my eyes are getting old, but I like the original best, definitely a portrait of nature, love this kind of scene, which ever you decide on, will make one beautiful print. Beautifully seen and presented.
John

Gorgeous variety and detail in this fine image, Lon. I like in particular how the rocks lead the eye through the image. Very nice series!

gorgeous image, Lon. I love the detail and all the different plants and the way they are arranged with the rocks. Very pleasing image to look at.

Lon, this is a great intimate landscape, well scene and processed.

Lon, this is a very beautiful intimate scene. Beautifully arranged and composed. Aalso the light is soft and warm. There's a lot to explore.Well done

Just a lovely rock garden of ornamental grasses here. Nice light, natural color, and a good comp to put it all together.