The Turtle

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 29, 2014230 views10 comments

I found this interesting glacial erratic near Tenaya Lake in Yosemite while wandering around with Harley late one afternoon.

I thought it looked like a turtle, but this one won't win a race with a hare, much less another turtle.

Chamonix 4x5
Nikkor-M 300mm
Astia 100F
July 2012

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated.

-P

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 29, 2014 at 10:12 PM

I like the diagonals in this Preston and the fine detail. It may look like a turtle but I get a sense of tension from the image - I think because the diagonals, position in the frame and point of view suggest it might be subject to tipping over. It's an interesting image and as usual has a lot of presence. No suggestions.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 30, 2014 at 12:40 AM

I love it, but can't help thinking of Guy's comment once after he set up a nice rock arrangement: "It's found-light for the next person."

The colors and textures and very appealing. A vignette around the edges would work very nicely here I think, and the ACR filter makes a nice one.

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

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on August 30, 2014 at 7:31 AM

Beautiful color and detail Preston, also very nice light and comp. Dont know if it looks like a turtle, I just find scenes like this very appealing. Good eye as always.
John

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on August 30, 2014 at 9:17 AM

Very cool image, Preston. The textures and diagonals in the image work very nicely together. It does remind me of a turtle.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on August 30, 2014 at 11:10 AM

Great image. My eye was happily roving around the larger image and found the tiny pine(?) seedling.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on August 30, 2014 at 1:15 PM

Great find, Preston. An interesting collection of rocks. Tony's comment about Guy setting up an arrangement echoed what I was thinking here. I'm sure it's natural but has that placed look. No matter, great job on composing a very nice photograph.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on August 30, 2014 at 4:34 PM

Tony and Gary,

Honestly, I never gave it a thought that someone may have arranged these rocks. This spot is kinda' off the beaten path. This slab is glacier polish and when it rains, the water can move the rocks. In any event, I certainly didn't arrange them.

Ronald: I'm glad you noticed the tiny tree. It's a Lodgepole Pine, and against the odds it was alive and well.

Thanks for your comments.

--P

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 30, 2014 at 7:26 PM

As I recall, this formation was pretty darn big? You would have had to have been Hercules to set it up?

I might warm it up just a touch (but then my tastes run to a little warmer). I noticed the plant on the right below the rock with the weird curve. I thought you dropped a cable release at first. I might clone that out. Nice rock study.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 31, 2014 at 11:08 AM

Love these whimsical takes such as this fellow, Preston. The debate is on though, turtle or tortoise. For me working the deserts here in So Cal it's always tortoise.....

I like this a lot for this type of imagery overall. One of the better ones IMO. Very well done......

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

Comment posted by Bill Reid on September 1, 2014 at 9:51 AM

Very cool find Preston and I like how he seems to be struggling uphill. Very nice tones and textures also. Nice.

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