Special Light

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 30, 2012628 views22 comments

I know this one is out of season but I decided to make it my last post of 2012. It was made while the high water was flowing through Bakken's Pond State Wildlife Area which is close to my home. This was in the early morning just after sunrise. When the sun broke through the clouds I was treated to what I thought was some pretty special light. The natural glow and color was amazing for me to see. The water was moving the grasses around during the 1.3 sec exposure but it came out better than I thought it might. The light was gone in less than a minute I would guess, but I enjoyed it while it was there. It was hard coming up with a comp in the short time I had and this was one of only 2 exposures. The hike back out of here was challenging with the water rising. Thanks for looking and any thoughts.
Canon 5D2, 24-105 @47mm, iso 100, f/16 and 1.3 sec.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 30, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Nick, I like this image. It is not not the overwhelming in your face scenic, but the light is sweet and the composition is great.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 30, 2012 at 8:22 PM

Some striking colors from the fantastic light, Nick. Oh, and I do like the angle of flow to this composition too. Works very nice with the FG plants here.....

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 30, 2012 at 8:54 PM

Nick,

Special and sweet light indeed. I love these conditions where you've got a dark, stormy sky creating some darkness, then the sun breaks through briefly off just above the horizon creating these beautiful conditions. As mentioned, you may not have had a grand, sweeping landscape, but you did an excellent job crafting this given the time you had, etc. I like Paul's comment about the "angle of flow" to the composition - quite fitting I think.

No doubt this one will stick in your mind hence forth! No nits or suggestions - not even a crop from me.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on December 30, 2012 at 9:22 PM

Cool light Nick I like it and the flash of greenery in the front works very nicely too.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 30, 2012 at 9:23 PM

Nick,

You are correct that is some special light. It has just brought the land alive! Its an engaging composition as well with a wonderful combination of colors. Nice.

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

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 30, 2012 at 11:42 PM

fantastic lighting and a good composition, Nick. I love it.

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

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on December 31, 2012 at 6:56 AM

Beautiful scene Nick, gorgeous light, color and comp. Love to see this in print. Excellent work.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on December 31, 2012 at 7:53 AM

It's all about the light and this image is perfect proof of that. I think it works compositionally and the water is neat. But the light is just awesome! TFS

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by John Clulow on December 31, 2012 at 10:20 AM

Great job of capturing what you saw. Amazing colors with nice contrasts between red and green, blue and yellow, and in form the sharpness of the foliage aginst the softness of the water. Wonderful narrative also; one you'll never forget, I'm sure.

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on December 31, 2012 at 10:24 AM

An impressive and story telling image to me, Nick. You make me feel like standing in the middle of the scene. I enjoy the unique and transient moment you captured here.

A Happy New Year to you!

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on December 31, 2012 at 10:35 AM

Special, indeed. Your capture of the water's flow is sensational and the warmly lit trees against the dark sky simply stunning.

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

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on December 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Nick, striking light, I might try this an a pano crop right in the middle of the frame, really drawing the viewer in to the light and golden reflection.

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on December 31, 2012 at 11:20 AM

Wonderful light and what you did with is is very nice. Very sweet.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 31, 2012 at 11:45 AM

Great light, Nick. The combo of light breaking through the storm clouds and flooded stream tells a neat story. I also like the arrangement of the green plants.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 31, 2012 at 1:57 PM

Great light in this Nick, and a great combination of colors too. The sky adds lots of drama to the obvious water overflow. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 31, 2012 at 5:03 PM

Very nice light. I like how even with the high water you were able to compose this level of interest in the foreground.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 31, 2012 at 5:30 PM

This truly is special light Nick! Beautiful color too.Don't you just love when stormy skies create such wonderful light conditions.

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

Comment posted by Adam Smith on December 31, 2012 at 7:39 PM

All I will say is that I enjoy the lighting, coloring, and the beauty of this image. Nick, I would appreciate it if you would email me in regards to this image. I was hoping you could walk me through the process. I like how you went about the composition.

Registered on November 21, 2012, 16 Posts, 107 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on December 31, 2012 at 8:01 PM

Awesome. Really liking this one Nick. Hope to see more of your fine work in 2013.