Fractured Runes

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 12, 2015183 views15 comments

Ok, gotta admit, it was someone else who educated me about Nordic Runes - and I think much better fit than the Greek alphabet I tried to use with my other ice image.

I hesitated to post this right on the heels of Preston's wonderful ice image, but I think it's worth making this point. If you check out Preston's image you will see that we both are looking at the same section of ice; only he is obviously zoomed in and mine is a wider view. Preston can help me out here, but from what I recall, this little frozen pool of water just off a sand bar area on the Merced River was perhaps about 20-25ft long by 12-15ft wide? But the best ice patterns were concentrated in smaller area. I could be off. But about this time, Preston and I were standing maybe 6-8 feet apart? maybe more... He in a position to get the blue of the reflected sky, and this one here just a few feet away, the reflection of El Capitan.

Anyway.... the point being, how different things can look simply by moving around, changing angles, etc. AND more importantly how we all SEE things differently despite standing right next to one another. For me, that's one of the beauties of photography. YEP, as they say now, "everyone's a photographer..." but be happy in knowing that what you see is yours and no one else sees what you see.

Thanks for comments on my previous image. Comments, critiques and suggestions welcome here.

Nikon D800E
Nikon 28-300mm VR @135mm
f/16 3-image focus stack

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 12, 2015 at 3:02 PM

It is always interesting to see how a slightly different view point can offer such a radically different image in terms of composition, color, and also how the shadows play, as small as they are.

Your estimate of the size of the pool seems pretty close, and yes, the best ice detail was near the far edge. This was an advantage when we were looking at the reflections of the sky and El Capitan.

I really like what you've done here. The 'runes' look great, the composition is nicely balanced, and I really like the color. The willow leaves trapped in the ice add a nice touch.

Well done, sir!

--p

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on December 12, 2015 at 3:50 PM

Very nice, Lon. I love the bronze/gold metallic color and the addition of the leaves kicks this up a notch for sure. There is some interesting ghosting (?) for lack of a better word, around the left most leaf. It must be from some of the color and or brightness reflecting on the surface of the ice.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 12, 2015 at 4:08 PM

Thanks Preston!

Gary, thank you as well. A very KEEN observation, I did not notice it until you pointed it out. I am completely BAFFLED at the moment. My immediate thought when looking at my blended (stacked) original psd file, was that this was a stacking/blending issue and I could just redo, paying attention to that leaf. BUT NOOOOO, the leaf is the same in no less than 7 different images, 2 different lenses over a period of about 10 min.

Attached here is a extreme crop showing this leaf. There is actually 3 anomolies with the ghosting here. I have NO IDEA what has caused this. It couldn't be anything like where something comes and goes in a frame over a long exposure... this was 1/6th s and appeared in a number of frames exactly the same at different times. I would LOVE to hear an explanation, if there is one.

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on December 12, 2015 at 5:18 PM

Pretty cool stuff, Lon. I never would have guessed it was frozen water; looks more like frozen mud. I love the textures along with the diagonal patterns and shapes. As you mentioned that is one of the beauties of photography as no two photographers see things exactly alike.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on December 12, 2015 at 9:49 PM

A theory: Part of the leaf is on the ice and part is submerged. The submerged part shows both the surface ice and the leaf below it one overlaying the other, thus giving it a sense of ghosting.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 13, 2015 at 1:09 AM

Lon, if you look at my Details #14 about 1/4 in from the top left corner, you can see part of the same 'ghost' leaf. I think Igor nailed the reason for the ghosting. It's very cool looking. One thing that is truly wondrous about the ice images posted over the few last days is the incredible variation in the crystal structures. Neat stuff!

--P

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

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on December 13, 2015 at 9:08 AM

Nice experiment to see what different people turn up with when photographing at the same place. The frozen leaves are a nice detail, although I first misstook them for feathers. I like this one!

My explanation for the "ghosting" was the same as Igor's, the lower part of the leaf seems to be partially submerged under the ice.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 13, 2015 at 12:17 PM

Lon, That bronze metallic look is just wonderful. The colors and textures that nature can produce are so interesting to see. I have been looking at the ghosted leaf and really not sure what has done that. I guess that part could be under some thin ice but I'm not so sure that is what caused the look. Quite interesting trying to figure that one out and being under some ice probably makes the most sense. Kind of has more of a reflection look but don't know how that could be. wink

Nick

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 13, 2015 at 2:04 PM

Thanks for the comments folks. I would agree that the leaves being submerged beneath a very thin layer of ice is the most plausible answer. It's still quite mysterious to me. Just plain weird. I've looked closely at some other frames, and this little phenomena occurs throughout. I guess I should pay closer attention when processing!

Thanks again

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 13, 2015 at 2:20 PM

Very interesting comparsion - your's an Preston's take on pretty much the same subject matter. Both are truly excellent, your's has that golden elegance, while Preston's is more bold, conveying a more "agressive" feel. Partly, this is due to the color, but in Preston's image, the patterns look more like knifes while in your's they appear less dangeous.
No nits, this is beautiful, in your signature style.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 13, 2015 at 5:20 PM

A fine collection of runes, Lon. The added gold from the reflection is a neat addition, as are the leaves.

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

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on December 13, 2015 at 6:06 PM

Thanks for the detailed explanation concerning the different results achieved by you and Preston. It is interesting how just a few steps difference in the vantage point can often result in two completely different compositions. I really enjoy viewing this composition. I prefer this composition over your previous ice abstract.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 13, 2015 at 8:55 PM

Interesting to see all the different takes (and colors) on this patch of ice and the rune-like etchings, Lon. Excellent detail again. I think I'd just clone out the submerged or ghosted parts of the leaves as it does look a bit odd. I might also play with the color and see if this one could go even a bit more gold.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 15, 2015 at 4:51 PM

Beautiful pattern and color. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Ryan Shain on December 16, 2015 at 9:54 PM

Hi Lon,

This image is rocking good, and it almost looks like you have dipped this scene in liquid gold. I love the metallic gold glow in this image.The shapes in the ice are very fascinating, and the feathers are placed beautifully in the frame.

Nice work on the focus stacking

Awesome capture

Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments