Splendor in the Grass
by Lon Overacker
Greetings fellow NPN'ers. It's been more than a year and a half since I've commented and well over two years since I've posted an image. Well, it's finally time to come back and start posting some images and making some comments. Personally, it's been a photographic drought for me these past few years, but I'm trying to get myself back. Part of getting back means that I have made a significant change. I'm liquidating my large format gear and I've gone digital! Yep, one of the last hold outs has thrown in the towel. Just a few weeks ago I got myself a Nikon D800E and I'm no longer shooting film. I'm actually quite sad about the film thing, but at $6+ an exposure, it's just not sustainable for me. And the only way to afford digital.... I'm selling off my LF gear. I will most certainly miss it.
Onward.... I'd like to share some images from my innaugural trip with the new camera. But before I do, I quick thanks to my long time friend Kyle who taught me a number of things when we met in the Eastern Sierra this past October. I hope to share some of those images as well.
So here is one of my favorites from my recent trip to Yosemite where I spent a few days with my buddies Harley and Preston. We had a great trip, despite the lack-luster conditions of the black oaks. But as some of you may recall from previous posts, I have been enamered with the grasses in the meadows of Yosemite Valley. I could wonder these meadows for hours.... as Harley and Preston can attest too.... ;-)
One of the first things I've learned and incorporated is focus stacking. This is a 3-image focus stacked image. I think an invaluable technique - especially for one who wants to approximate what I was able to get with large format.
Would love your comments, critiques and suggestions. I'm particularly interested in processing. I'm pretty rusty and have basically had to re-learn some things. As before, relying heavily on so many of Tony Kuyper's actions, techniques, etc.
Thanks!
Nikon D800E
Tamron 24-135mm @35mm f/14
3-image focus stack
Comments
22 commentsBeautiful image. I love the detail and patterns of the grasses. A nicely understated image!
Your grass images are always compelling, and this one is no exception. The color and tones look spot-on to me. The detail you've realized through the focus stack pulls me right in and holds my attention. No nits, here.
--P
Peter
And finally I realize one does not need large format equipment to be a good photographer. ;-)
All looks fine, I don't see you lost anything. It is second nature to you.
Albert Darmo
Canada
Jim - Thank You! You made my day! ;-)
David - you're correct, it was dead quiet when I captured this. Most all my favorites subjects don't move much.
Igor - thanks for your comments and observations. I was wondering about the color/saturation and certainly didn't want to go overboard. I concentrated mostly on the reds/yellows and brightness/contrast of the frosty tips, but didn't really pay much mind to the colors of the underlying grasses. I will consider that in future renditions.
Thanks everyone!
On to the image itself, I love it, the frost on the grasses is really sweet! And of course, welcome back, will be nice to see more of your work!
It is very nice to see you back here on NPN, and this image is really nice. The focal stack looks excellent, and I really enjoy the delicate nature of this image. I am not sure how you see such beautiful images in grasses like this one, but just wonderful vision in this capture.
I am glad to see you back here posting, and I am sure selling your large format equipment is bittersweet, but this image look absolutely great.
It's good to see you back. Lovely image. The processing looks great to me.
- Dan
Wonderful image of grass again, a subject that I have attempted many times and failed at miserably.