Rhododendrons+Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 29, 20133,183 views25 comments

Reprocessed this image that I posted a couple of years ago, to incorporate a number of the suggestions provided back then. Would really like to get feedback on this version. Found these Rhodies one very wet, foggy evening along the flanks of Mt. Walker of Olympic NF in 2010. Fortunately, there was not a whiff of wind. The forest here is mixed hemlock and douglas fir.
4x5, 150mm, warm polarizer, f45, 15sec. Tony Kuyper's masks, other techniques.

Large image provided.

Thanks in advance for any comments and suggestions.

edit: This image was made June 20, 2010 to give you an idea when these flowers bloom in the Olympics.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on April 29, 2013 at 7:51 PM

This is gorgeous. I love the colorful trees in the FG that appear crystal clear and out of the fog (probably not). These become even more accented by the foggy and darker trees in the BG. really nice job!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 29, 2013 at 7:58 PM

Vance, This is Wonderful!! You really captured the mood of the forest on this foggy evening. So nice that it was still enough to pull off the 15 sec exposure. I really like this!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by David Bostock on April 29, 2013 at 8:30 PM

Nice image, Vance! I really like this.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on April 29, 2013 at 9:25 PM

This is one beautiful scene, but it is woefully underexposed (see histogram). I'm assuming that this is conscious on your part to help create a mood, but the underexposure is global. That renders the flowers dull and lifeless looking here. I would consider at least a targeted Levels adjustment and/or in Selective Color, choose 'Reds' and then move the Black slider left to really help make those flowers pop as they should.

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on April 29, 2013 at 10:52 PM

Wow, this is dripping with mood, Vance. Those rhodie blooms surrounded by the ephemeral fog is just magical. I love this as presented, but I could also see this working with just a bit more brightness.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on April 29, 2013 at 11:19 PM

Beautiful capture, Vance. Love the soft tones and atmosphere!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on April 29, 2013 at 11:52 PM

Wonderful image Vance with a wonderful mood to it. You've captured the foggy atmosphere in a wonderful way. Really well done.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 30, 2013 at 1:21 AM

Very nice capture, Vance! I love the dark, mysterious mood you have here. I could see trying to make the flowers pop a little more too.

Hey, thanks for the comment on my "Furry Trees". I had you in mind a few times when I saw them, and during the processing!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on April 30, 2013 at 2:27 AM

Hey, thanks guys for the nice comments. John, Ed, I can see what you mean in trying to up the brightness, as it does come across a little darker than I intended. Was trying to get across the damp, cold, foggy feel of the scene. Will try to improve that aspect as well as upping the reds in the flowers.
Chris, loved your furry tree image. Really spectacular to me.
Thanks again everyone for your input. Really helpful.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Vlad Sadovsky on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 AM

Step up from the past one, Vance - i do recall it. Interesting processing touches, but no matter what, i enjoyed seeing this work again. Wonderful.

Registered on November 12, 2010, 48 Posts, 358 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 30, 2013 at 9:14 AM

Overcast does such a great job of letting subtle colors shine and the greens and pinks in the Rhodies here show that off so well. I really like the combination of warmth in the foreground and mystery in the distance.

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on April 30, 2013 at 9:23 AM

amazing

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on April 30, 2013 at 11:16 AM

An incredible mystic beauty to my eye, Vance. Your presentation immediately makes me feel like standing in the middle of this scene, breathing the humid air.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on April 30, 2013 at 2:24 PM

Vance...the comp is great...the fog and its ability to deliver separation of foreground vs b/g works well here....giving 3d and mystical effect. The luminosity of the green rhodie leaves might be overpowering the pink blooms...and I think that should be reversed...somehow. Nonetheless,..as is..this is a terrific shot.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on April 30, 2013 at 10:44 PM

Wonderful composition Vance. The mood is somber but fantastic and come through very well. I am just not feeling the blooms themselves, they seem to gray if that makes any sense.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 1, 2013 at 1:53 AM

A little late in the game, but made some subtle changes to the image based on the very helpful suggestions provided. Slight brightening overall, along with attempts to make the flowers more prominent and the leaves somewhat less. See what you guys think. Thanks again for the comments.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 1, 2013 at 12:10 PM

Very beautiful and elegant, as usual. The foggy forest scene is my favourite subject, so this one hits the spot.
The repost is an improvement regarding brightness and color, but the mood was retained.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 1, 2013 at 5:06 PM

Just lovely, Vance! I remember this one, and it's wonderful to see it again. The repost is subtle, but I like the changes.

Any suggestions on timing of the Olympic Rhodies? I'd love to get out and see them this year if I can!

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

Comment posted by Paul Gasior on May 1, 2013 at 7:23 PM

Beautiful foggy forest.I like atmosphere here

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on May 2, 2013 at 3:09 AM

I remember enjoying this photo when you had first posted it and love it even more now (especially the 2nd version). Its a magical forest scene made all the more special with those flowers.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 2, 2013 at 8:33 AM

Rhodies, fog, and trees. What a great combo. Really like the mood here with the heavy fog and the way the flowers pull make it feel lighter. My only thought here is that the pinks feel a little heavy. Could see brightening them just a touch to have them be a stronger focal element in the image.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 2, 2013 at 10:03 PM

Thanks again, everyone for all the great comments and suggestions.

Floris, and those interested: The Rhodies in the Olympic Mountains usually are blooming in June. The image above was made on June 20, 2010, and was a bumper year for blooms. 2011 and 2012 were not nearly as nice. Our native Rhodies on our place near Quilcene are just barely starting to bloom now but realize that we are almost at sea level, as well as our Rhodies get fertilized. My wife and I went up Mt Walker today to check out the rhodies. Looks like it will be at least 3-4 weeks for the rhodies to start blooming as far as we could tell.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 3, 2013 at 10:36 AM

Beautiful conditions and luminosity Vance, very nice indeed.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 4, 2013 at 3:42 AM

re-post is perfect...

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 4, 2013 at 5:29 PM

Perfect. Not sure how much masking would be necessary because the dynamic range looks limited, but astonishing results for sure!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments