Flight of the Condors & Re-Post

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 21, 2013628 views32 comments

My close encounter of the Andean Condor kind came shortly after this image from this perch in Argentina's Los Glaciers National Park. Maybe a different view from the standards in the park, looking down to Fitz Roy to the right and Cerro Torre (the tall spire) to the left. I had wished I had another crack at this viewpoint with better lighting as the light was a bit harsh. The 3 condors in this image made it special for me, maybe hard to see in the smallish versions. The surprise came from the right while I was facing this view. A condor soared up from below and caught me off guard - an amazing moment for me.

Canon 5DII, 24-105L, f11, ISO 320, 1/180 sec.

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on April 21, 2013 at 10:58 PM

Harsh or not that's pretty. Might even fool w/ a b/w just for fun. Nice work!

aF

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 21, 2013 at 11:03 PM

Truly a gorgeous scene and capture here, Harry. This had to be a trip of a lifetime. Maybe not the best of light as you mentioned, regardless, it is a stellar image.

As these particular condors are only found in this part of the world it had to be a significant adventure seeing these huge creatures. Especially with the close passing of the one out of sight that surprised you shortly after this photo was taken. What an amazing encounter & overall journey to this remote part of the world.

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on April 21, 2013 at 11:06 PM

Beautiful image Harry! The condors are an added bonus here. The larger version looks great.

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

Comment posted by Bill Reid on April 21, 2013 at 11:14 PM

Wonderful image Harry. The large version is just great. Love the blue color in the lake. The trip of a lifetime it must have been. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on April 21, 2013 at 11:17 PM

What a view! Just wow.. hope to see this someday! Thanks for sharing your experience with the condors, must have been special indeed.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Joerg Bonner on April 22, 2013 at 2:12 AM

great shot, harry. i love the viewpoint!

this image reminds me, that i should go back to patagonia soon ;)

Registered on September 5, 2011, 44 Posts, 221 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on April 22, 2013 at 5:17 AM

What a view! In this instance the somewhat harsh light does not detract from the image in my opinion, and the condors are the icing on the cake (in the larger version).

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 22, 2013 at 10:52 AM

Stunning scenery. You've handled the light very well. Nicely captured and presented. Beautiful image

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 22, 2013 at 11:23 AM

Thanks for the comments - While no one has mentioned it, I have been feeling something about the processing was bothering me so I have redone things. Most noticeably was an adjustment of the shadows - too blue/cyan for me in the original post or maybe too saturated. Also a little less contrast, which was more like the original RAW. Hopefully not too washed out looking.

Anyway, I'd be interested to know if you feel the new one is an improvement.

Thanks again

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

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on April 22, 2013 at 11:35 AM

I have to say I like the original post much better Harry. Your composition is really nice - it shows off the majesty of the mountains so well. And the inclusion of the condors is very special.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on April 22, 2013 at 11:42 AM

I like the repost better as it appears more natural and I like that the brown slope in the bottom right of the frame is more well lit and contributes more to the composition. The only thing I don't like as much in the repost is that the upper right portion of the image appears too bright and harsh, but a little dodging and burning could take care of that. What an amazing scene, hopefully one day ill see it but if I don't, at least I've seen your photo!

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 22, 2013 at 12:34 PM

An epically grand scene, Harry. Who cares what time of day it is. The moment captured with the Condors included is superb.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on April 22, 2013 at 1:02 PM

Harry,

Personally, I prefer the original. The repost looks a little flat to me. In any event this is a wonderful image of a stupendous place.

To give an idea of the scale here, the rock wall with the white patch and black streaks below, and just right of Cerro Torre is the size of the NW face of Half Dome. The wall of Cerro Fitzroy is almost 4,000 feet tall! I sure would like to go there!

Nice work!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on April 22, 2013 at 1:55 PM

Fantastic view Harry. Has a "lost world" feeling for me. Simply awesome!

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

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on April 22, 2013 at 3:17 PM

What an incredible landscape. The lighting here doesn't bother me, it has a dream like quality over the landscape.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on April 22, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Awe inspiring!

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

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on April 22, 2013 at 7:22 PM

Spectacular... congratulations!!

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Noll on April 22, 2013 at 8:35 PM

Spectacular scene! I prefer the first version because of the contrast it has. Well done in difficult lighting conditions!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 207 Posts, 1083 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on April 23, 2013 at 12:13 AM

This is a wonderful image Harry...what a spectacular place! I prefer the color of the second image but I would increase the contrast a little but not as much as your first post.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on April 23, 2013 at 5:43 AM

mmmh, I prefer the less saturated color in the repost, but I like much more the better contrast in the original post. I think going somewhere in between would do the job. A very beautiful image of this fantastic mountains.

Cheers,
Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 23, 2013 at 6:33 AM

Thanks everyone for your input. I have decided to go with the colors and sat of the 2nd and darkened the right cloud corner a bit, but added some contrast. Hopefully the best of both worlds!
Thanks again

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

Comment posted by John Sherman on April 23, 2013 at 7:00 AM

Looks like a beautiful day - what time of year was this shot?

Registered on March 10, 2013, 31 Posts, 142 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Gasior on April 23, 2013 at 8:16 AM

WOW
Great view, large looks better

Registered on March 7, 2010, 99 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 23, 2013 at 8:20 AM

John- This was shot last month.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on April 23, 2013 at 9:29 AM

Harsh light but great composition and well captured. Sometimes you just have to shoot no matter the light.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 23, 2013 at 9:34 AM

I agree Rick. You don't travel this far and not shoot becasue the light isn't ideal. The strong light enable some nice shadows that wouldn't have been there otherwise. In addition, the far glacial valleys wouldn't be illuminate without a higher sun angle. The ability to get some condors in the shot made it all worth it - condors sleep in and not around at sunrise anyway

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on April 23, 2013 at 10:08 AM

Wow, what a view. I prefer the first post because of the added conrast, Harry. I really like the three condors yo managed to capture in the frame.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on April 23, 2013 at 4:10 PM

Harsh light notwithstanding, this is gorgeous. The condors turn this from a strong "9" to a "10" in my book. Very special.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 24, 2013 at 5:34 PM

This is spectacular, Harry--light not harsh at all IMO. My only nit is maybe a tad more up top of the peak. Cool...

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on April 24, 2013 at 6:56 PM

You seem to handle harsh light very well. The image doesn't hurt to look at, as some can! I really like the condors...

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 25, 2013 at 7:37 AM

Wow! That is an awesome scene, Harry. I like the contrast in the original post better myself, the repost looks just a bit flat to me. Beautiful work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on April 25, 2013 at 1:02 PM

I really appreciate a fresh view of this amazing place, and as you say, the condors really do make this special. As for what we often call "harsh" light, I think that the challenges of bright sunshine make us forget that everyone else LOVES it. I like the less-saturated version much better, but it could use a bit more contrast (as I said, the rest of humanity LOVES bright sunshine). Thanks for sharing this fantastic experience!

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments