Dock of the Lake

Emigrant Lake is a resivore about three miles from my house. Since it is easy to get to it is often where I head if I'm at home and it looks like some interesting light might materialize in the next few minutes. I've been working this particular composition with the dock for a year or so and have more failed attempts than I can count. This shot from last week at sunrise is my best effort so far. The mist rising from the lake was perfect, but the clouds and color didn't deliver the way I know they can. I'll keep trying.

Canon 5D, 16-35mm f/2.8 @ 20mm, 4 sec @ f/18, ISO 100, 3 stop NG, tripod

Sean,

The color fading from pink/purple to blue is great! I like the mood of this a lot. I do find the near portion of the dock distracting. Cropping it out looks better to me.

I wouldn't crop it out in this particular image, but I'd also like to see a longer focal length featuring only the distant portion. It's not a big issue though. I think it works as-is. The mood and atmosphere are so peaceful here, and I love the pastel hues.

The mist there really makes it, too bad the dock didn't vanish into it, but this is still cool. I don't mind the lower part as it's some nice yellow. The soft colors are outstanding. As I look at it again maybe I could see cropping the bottom, good either way

Works as is - the mist adds a lot to the mood and so do the pastel hues.

- pradeep

The little bit o dock in the foreground doesn't help but if you cropped it out the dock would see too short. I like Marc's different focal length idea. I really like the blue fading into pink, that part is a real treat.

Did you try to give it an edge burn effect? The corners seem dark.

Real nice colors here. I like the dark corners, but not crazy about the foreground dock. Sean...did you used to live in Roseburg at one point?

Thanks for all the helpful critiques. Next time I'm there I'll try some different comps and focal lengths and see what I can do with the dock. Mark, I dodged the dock a bit to bring it out, but didn't burn the edges. I think the dark vignetting is a result of the strong side lighting in the sky and my use of a NG filter. Rick, I grew up in Winston and went to Douglas HS. I graduated in '86 and moved to Ashland. Do we know each other?

I've been to this lake a few times since moving here. I'm always so interested in finding a bird or critter to shoot, that I fail to take a good look around. My half hearted attempts to shoot landscapes fall far short of this image. This will make for a great print!

Sean,
I like the mysterious mood you captured with this shot. Your persistense has paid off. Excellent work!

Sean,
I graduated in 86 from Roseburg HS. There was a Sean and Paul (brothers) Bagshaw that lived 2 streets over from me. I used to work in the Electric Palace in the Roseburg Valley Mall from 84 to 88. I was the short dude with a pony tail .
My best friend (back then) was Rick Castle, who graduated from Douglas HS in 86.
My girlfriend at the time was Theresa Campbell who went to Douglas also...

Sean, the left to right color gradient in this is really great. Usually we see color gradients composed from top to bottom.... The mist, the mood.... I could picture myself sitting on the end of that dock just drinking it all in.