"Goose-Neck"

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 16, 20151,476 views28 comments

Please view LARGER image.

Anyone who knows me or has followed my work for some time likely knows that I can sometimes get a little obsessed with finding original goose-neck/horseshoe bends around the US. This very special location took 11 trips and 22 shoots (sunrises and sunsets). Finally, last week I got an image I felt was good enough to process.

Even full time teachers of photography and post production, like myself, need a little help from time to time. So, a great big thanks goes out to my good friend and fellow photography peer Alex Noriega for helping me with feedback with the final touches to the image. I feel great gratitude to have such friends as him and Ryan Dyar... to bounce back and forth processing and shooting ideas.

Thank you very for your comments, and GREAT light to you!

If you so desire, follow me on Facebook for some cool inside info and exciting announcements! :)

Sony A7r
Rokinon 14mm
f/8
1/8th sec
200 (native) ISO
Sony can shoot in 16:9 aspect ration mode, as here.

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on February 16, 2015 at 5:20 PM

Took me a while to find the moon...

No nits at all from me, except that I just wish to see it printed as large as a living room wall...

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 16, 2015 at 5:34 PM

Thanks man! Did you view it larger?

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

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on February 16, 2015 at 6:44 PM

Beautiful shot Mark, makes me yearn to be out in the field. The sky and comp are incredible, and being surprised by noticing the moon is not bad either! If it were mine (which unfortunately it's not), I would try dodging a bit more on both the moon and the lower part of the riverbend if noise didn't get in the way. Great work!

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on February 16, 2015 at 7:13 PM

Amazing gooseneck find, Mark. It looks as if someone took a compass and drafted an almost perfect circle. A special location and special light to go along with it. Very, very nice.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on February 16, 2015 at 10:32 PM

Incredible image, Mark, a real jaw dropper. The nuances of texture and tone that you have pulled out of the foreground is flat out amazing. Wonderful composition as well. The moon is perfect too. Stunning work.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 16, 2015 at 11:34 PM

Your obsession combined with your persistence paid off big time (again). In addition to the clouds and moon providing a great setting, the way the light accentuates the shapes and textures is perfect.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 16, 2015 at 11:43 PM

A half-moon?

At sunrise or sunset, when this appears to be taken, a half-moon would be quite high in the sky and it's lighted half would be pointing directly at the sun (like it always does), which seems to be coming from below the horizon on the left in this image. This moon would seem like it should be a crescent and tilted more counter-clockwise in this circumstance. Does a 14-mm lens create such a warped perspective

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

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on February 17, 2015 at 12:48 AM

Superb, but I have the same question as Tony,
Moon phases look distorted with Long exposures, but this does not appear to be the case.
I have never seen a half moon like this at sunrise or sunset.....
a minor thing, an excellent photo in every respect.....

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 17, 2015 at 1:10 AM

Yes, the moon was in raw file frame. But A LOT smaller and slightly higher. This is two shots, as I also did a quick zoom to 50 mm. I cloned out the moon in the original raw file and then composted it back into the scene a little bigger to look more like the eye saw it. The orientation of the moon is exactly as is in the raw file. There is more height in the sky than the 14mm is making it look like here. In fact the image is quite deceiving as to what is out of the frame left and right. And lastly, I tucked the sky back behind the land a little too, which also helped to lower it a bit. This practice helps to eliminate chromatic aberrations, or haloing and allows for more power with separate adjustments to sky and land without bleed over....

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

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on February 17, 2015 at 1:19 AM

Mark,
I love your stuff and don't want to be a pest, but how did you zoom to 50mm with a 14mm lens?
If it is a composite (it must be), just say so.
Nothing wrong with that.....

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 17, 2015 at 1:23 AM

"I love your stuff and don't want to be a pest, but how did you zoom to 50mm with a 14mm lens?
If it is a composite (it must be), just say so.
Nothing wrong with that....."

I switched lenses. I did describe the composite above...

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 17, 2015 at 5:18 PM

Wow Mark! That is one beautiful scene and looking at the large version is a treat. What wonderful conditions and you captured them beautifully. Looks like a great place to visit!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on February 17, 2015 at 10:11 PM

Awesome shot Mark. Its nice to see a new location and your perseverance paid off big time. As for the moon, I think the image would just as strong without it...i'm sure it would be much more relevant in a large print though. Anyway, great work as usual...

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 18, 2015 at 3:16 AM

That location and light are crazy. In case you missed the crazy blow up over the last two weeks about disclosure there was some interesting chatter. Most trained eyes would know that the moon was composted back in, maybe best just to mention it in the original descrip so people dont feel like someone was trying to sneak something by them? Glad the hard work payed off. Need those moments so we can keep going :)

aF

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:36 PM

"Took me a while to find the moon... No nits at all from me, except that I just wish to see it printed as large as a living room wall..."

Thank you Nathan. Did not want it overpowering the scene.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:37 PM

"Beautiful shot Mark, makes me yearn to be out in the field. The sky and comp are incredible, and being surprised by noticing the moon is not bad either! If it were mine (which unfortunately it's not), I would try dodging a bit more on both the moon and the lower part of the riverbend if noise didn't get in the way. Great work!"

Thank you Thomas. Make me feel that way too. I appreciate the suggestion on the dodging. I'll play with that a bit...

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:38 PM

"Amazing gooseneck find, Mark. It looks as if someone took a compass and drafted an almost perfect circle. A special location and special light to go along with it. Very, very nice. "

Thank you Gary. Some people are even calling it the Hersey's Kiss Bend. :)

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:40 PM

"Incredible image, Mark, a real jaw dropper. The nuances of texture and tone that you have pulled out of the foreground is flat out amazing. Wonderful composition as well. The moon is perfect too. Stunning work."

Thank you very much Vance! I am glad some, like myself, like the moon! :) Although I do see the argument that it might fly just as well without it.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:41 PM

"Your obsession combined with your persistence paid off big time (again). In addition to the clouds and moon providing a great setting, the way the light accentuates the shapes and textures is perfect."

Thank you Wayne. I do get just a little obsessed with these bends once in a while... :) I very much appreciate the encouragement.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:42 PM

"Wow Mark! That is one beautiful scene and looking at the large version is a treat. What wonderful conditions and you captured them beautifully. Looks like a great place to visit! "

You are always an encouragement, thank you Nick!

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 18, 2015 at 3:45 PM

"Awesome shot Mark. Its nice to see a new location and your perseverance paid off big time. As for the moon, I think the image would just as strong without it...i'm sure it would be much more relevant in a large print though. Anyway, great work as usual..."

Thank you Wade. I appreciate your compliments. I agree, the big print will likely work better.

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

Comment posted by D.A. Edwards on February 19, 2015 at 12:07 AM

I look at this image and am completely drawn in by the geology, the color in the sky, and the symmetry. The moon is like a mole on a supermodel

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 19, 2015 at 2:14 AM

"The moon is like a mole on a supermodel"

LOL!!!

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on February 23, 2015 at 2:46 PM

Damn dude, nice work! You've really gone above and beyond with your riverbend images. I'm gonna have to start calling you "Riverbend Mark".

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on February 24, 2015 at 2:56 PM

I like this shot a lot, from the comp to the colors to the exposure and texture in the formation. Somehow I feel, though, that I could do without the moon. It kind of feels like glue once I find it and I can't really appreciate the rest of the image, it's gorgeous clouds and light, as much. This is clearly an individual experience judging by comments but I did want to mention it since generally, Mark, you seem to like all sorts of comments. Thanks for allowing me to critique

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on February 24, 2015 at 3:37 PM

Thanks guys! Thanks Navin. I do appreciate the feedback! I do. I love to learn and grow from critique and feedback.

To be clear, the moon was in the original frame. I just lowered it slightly and of course made it more like the eye saw in terms of size. I think in smaller versions like here it might be a distraction, but in big versions maybe more of a compliment. At 500px and at 2048, on a 27 inch Mac monitor it seems to soar much better. But of course the feedback is mixed. Some love it some not so much... :)

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on February 24, 2015 at 3:45 PM

@mark - ill try it on at full size on my 27" and provide you some thoughts soon after. A part of me feels like its too ULC compositionally, which is why I may not be loving it

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on March 5, 2015 at 6:15 PM

Fantastic! Missed this the first go-round. The exposure shown in the hills ...dark shadows and brighter hilltops is excellent. It makes this climb off the screen. A formidable shot!

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

&quot;Goose-Neck&quot;

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"Goose-Neck"