Guarding the Pass

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted January 23, 2015212 views10 comments

I found this nice old Black Oak in the Sierra Foothills overseeing its realm.

I was hoping to have the fog roll in; close, but it wasn't to be.

Nikon D-7100
Nikkor DX 16-85mm
TK's Masks
January 2015

Please see the larger version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated.

--P

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 23, 2015 at 5:37 PM

Real nice, Preston. I love the lonely oak along the ridge and the kind of gloomy skies.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on January 23, 2015 at 9:18 PM

Yeah, this is the foothills. A really great oak, Preston, and a nice scene. A really interesting sky helps this image. Looks like it was getting ready to send down some of those god beams. If it were mine, I would be tempted to get rid of the fence posts. But that's a real personal thing. I haven't an issue with them in there.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on January 23, 2015 at 10:31 PM

An evocative composition - perhaps fog would have been nice, but the "hole in the sky" works very well too.

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on January 24, 2015 at 11:30 AM

Gorgeous clouds you have here! Really works well with the curve in the land and the lonely tree. This has a really nice and relaxing atmosphere!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 24, 2015 at 11:40 AM

That almost lone tree is set off very well by the big expanse of cloudy sky. The curve of the hills and your positioning of the tree add a fine sense of motion.

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

Comment posted by Genny K. on January 25, 2015 at 9:12 PM

Classic feel to this. Simple shapes and colors that work really well. Excellent comp.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on January 27, 2015 at 8:43 AM

Love the geometric harmony of the composition and the appealing light. Might be my retina screen which makes it hard to judge sharpness but the main tree looks a bit soft.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on January 27, 2015 at 11:32 AM

Kah Kit,

I just looked at the master file at 100%, and you're correct: the smaller branches in the oaks are a little soft, as is some of the taller dry grass. There was a bit of a breeze that day that is the likely culprit. JPEG compression is also hurting the fine detail. Thanks for your comment.

--P

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

Comment posted by D.A. Edwards on January 27, 2015 at 5:05 PM

Nice evocative image of a classic Sierra foothill scene. I like the fence and beam from above. Obviously needs more green at this point in the winter

Registered on October 8, 2014, 226 Posts, 1187 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 27, 2015 at 6:17 PM

Preston, I really like this image. Even without the fog I think it worked out great! This comp works well and I like what the fence adds to this scene. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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