Primordial Embrace +Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 25, 2013261 views15 comments

Thanks to everyone who commented on my previous post. I never thought it would get such a response, much appreciated!

While in Washington I spent a few days in several of the temperate rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula. Having never visited a rainforest before I was in for a treat, but at the same time realized how extremely difficult it was to come up with a composition that would bring some order to all the chaos. Not only that, the thick tangle of moss covered branches and dense undergrowth made it difficult to navigate as well. In the end I came away with a few images that I think do it a little justice, this is one of them, taken in the Hoh Rainforest.

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this, does it work for you?

I had to compress this one quite a bit, please view Larger!

2 Images Blend for DOF
3 Sec. @ f/11
ISO 200
Polarizer

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on August 25, 2013 at 10:22 AM

"...at the same time realized how extremely difficult it was to come up with a composition that would bring some order to all the chaos.

And in this endeavor, you succeeded very, very nicely! Wonderful light, color and composition. No nits at all from me. Well seen, captured and 'developed'!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 25, 2013 at 11:39 AM

Zack, This would be tough but you did it! Your comp works great and you caught some really nice light and color here. The large version is especially nice!!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Kane Engelbert on August 25, 2013 at 2:33 PM

Zack, those moss covered branches are reaching out for me...ready to pull me into this fantastic scene. Comp looks about perfect to me, processing looks spot on too.

Registered on June 14, 2009, 63 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on August 25, 2013 at 6:48 PM

Well done Zack, love it!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on August 25, 2013 at 8:21 PM

Zack,
Very nice job,
We spent a week there in June
and I have't been very happy with any of my Hoh or other rain forest efforts...
I like your shot here much better...

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 25, 2013 at 10:49 PM

Well, it is the the toughest place to find a good comp--brutally difficult really. I can only think of one or two shots that really get the job done. This desnt, but ts a great effort considering you havent spent years scouting there. When and if i can come up with something im happy with from the Hoh, maybe ill be more generous

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 26, 2013 at 10:17 AM

This is a beautiful rendering Zack. The lushness is incredible, especially in the large version. I think there may be a Bigfoot hiding somewhere in there!

Having never been there I can't really comment on the accuracy of the color, but I was wondering if you might want to back off the yellow a little bit to increase the greens somewhat. Just a thought... Beautiful regardless.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 26, 2013 at 5:20 PM

This is very neat, Zack. I like all of the random lines from the tree and the foreground ferns and how they're set off so well by the bright background. The bottom to top color shift works well also.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 26, 2013 at 9:42 PM

this is fabulous! the quality of light, the solid contrast of the limbs against the molten gold of the moss, just beautiful.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on August 26, 2013 at 11:44 PM

Very nice comp Zack. I agree about the difficulty in composing in the Hoh rainforest. I only had about an hour and came away with basically nothing :) Blur effect works well here

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 28, 2013 at 2:34 AM

Thanks everyone.

Bill, the rainforest seemed a little "burnt", but since this was my first time visiting I can't really say for sure. Perhaps it was the lack of rainfall this year (it's been one of the driest years on record in Washington) or just the fact that it was summer. I didn't change the color balance from the raw file at all. Here's a greener version for comparison. Any thoughts?

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on August 28, 2013 at 11:20 PM

Beautiful composition with excellent control of the highlights and colors. The fern in the foreground sets off the mossy tree perfectly.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on August 29, 2013 at 2:43 AM

This is fantastic, Zack. I do prefer the greener re-post. I remember it being very difficult to create cohesive compositions in the rainforest but you've certainly succeeded with this one.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 30, 2013 at 12:32 AM

Very well seen Zack. It certainly is difficult to make a cohesive comp in such a wild and chaotic place, but you isolated the curving limbs of this tree quite effectively I think. And I think I actually like the yellower version better. Bet you never saw a place like this before!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on August 30, 2013 at 11:39 AM

Wonderful job of isolating your subject amid the chaos Zack. Great job with the light and wonderful colors. I prefer the greener version as it appears more like I see here in our rainforests on the island. Beautiful image.

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