Posted by Marc Adamus on August 7, 2007 at 9:58 AM
Wildflowers, stream, mountain and sky. This in the backcountry of Oregon's Cascades.
5D, 17-40 at 17mm, 1/3 second at F18, polarizer, 2-stop ND grad.
Posted by Mark Windom on August 7, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Wildflowers, stream, mountain, and sky all come together for a nice image.
Just curious, are you doing some PS work to minimize the grad line? I know if I had used a 2-stop grad here it would be evident.
Nice stuff.
Posted by Mark Hudon on August 7, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Jeez, Marc, what am I supposed to say?
Okay, here goes. See that one rock in the stream, for me, it's too close to the edge of the frame and draws my eye out of the picture, really, it ruins the whole photo for me.
Posted by Marc Adamus on August 7, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Yes, I always do PS work to remove the grad line. Usually just a simple dodge/burn that takes just seconds. It was very easy here. If I run into something really complicated, I'll use a blend if need be. You can also try moving the grad a little during the exposure, reducing the apparent firm line.
Posted by Rick Lundh on August 7, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Really really sweet there, Marc. This has interest everywhere, and flawless processing.
Posted by Darien Chin on August 7, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Beautiful shot that has all the elements that we are looking for in the mountains right now...
Posted by Adrian Klein on August 7, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Another great image and that is processed right on. Nice work Marc. I do like this one more than the one posted on NPN from the sunrise.
Posted by Marc Adamus on August 7, 2007 at 12:16 PM
So do I.
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on August 7, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Wow, Marc... nothing to add except thank you for sharing this..... I also like this more than ESS shot.
Posted by Cezar Mart on August 7, 2007 at 12:56 PM
The scene is really beautiful. You must have done a lot of light-painting with PS. This is what I am doing too in my images. This is what we do - we are painters!
I humbly disagree with Mark about the rock - it doesn't bother me at all. I understand, however, that other viewers may have different approach and see things differently.
One question that I dare to ask is about the flowers, i.e. the light on them. Is it the natural effect - those patches of light and shade - or is it your post-processing?
Another question - I am looking for a weekend trail around Portland with wildflowers. Where exactly did you take this photo? I just began scenic photography last year and I don't know much about photo-oriented geography of the area.
Cezar, I was being sarcastic, the rock doesn't bother me at all either. I'm just giving Marc a hard time.
And No, I like this one better than the one on ESS.
Posted by Marc Adamus on August 7, 2007 at 1:13 PM
The light you see here is almost entirely natural. Light was coming and going rapidly in the mixed cloud cover. Very soft light was appearing on the flowers and trees. I did dodge the water a bit though for emphasis.
Posted by Jeremy Cram on August 7, 2007 at 1:37 PM
This is a super shot. Just one, little thing for me, though. Each picture you share gives me a sense for just being there and enjoying the view. And for me, with this shot, the sky gradient blending into the mountain doesn't give me that sense of being there. It's a great blend as a photograph, but not in the Marc Adamus style. Remember, I said it's a super shot, but if that sky blended into the mountain in a way that I would expect to see it in real life, THEN I'd say that's a Marc Adamus classic
I only mention this b/c you're on your way to becoming one of the best nature photogs I have ever witnessed. I hope to be this good someday
Kevin
Posted by Marc Adamus on August 8, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Kevin, I guess I don't know what you mean by 'sky blended into the mountain dosen't give a sense of being there'. Can you elaborate?
Please understand, I'm being hypercritical here, and I would be very, very, very (like my 4 y.o. says) happy with a shot like you rendered here. I guess the grad line is more obvious here for me than your other shots, and I just meant if the sky were blended a little differently (more uniform blue in the sky esp where the mountain meets the sky) it would make it stronger. I'm the only one to say it, though, and I guess it's just my 2 second look and response. I do this with all the pics I look at to try to figure out how it was done so that I might be able to use the technique in my photos.
Anyways, I just thought I'd mention it and see if you think it would be worth pursuing...
Just lovely, Marc. You sure can get yourself in to some spectacular places. Add your photography talent to that and it makes a pretty unbeatable combination.
Discussion
25 replies5D, 17-40 at 17mm, 1/3 second at F18, polarizer, 2-stop ND grad.
Just curious, are you doing some PS work to minimize the grad line? I know if I had used a 2-stop grad here it would be evident.
Nice stuff.
Okay, here goes. See that one rock in the stream, for me, it's too close to the edge of the frame and draws my eye out of the picture, really, it ruins the whole photo for me.
I humbly disagree with Mark about the rock - it doesn't bother me at all. I understand, however, that other viewers may have different approach and see things differently.
One question that I dare to ask is about the flowers, i.e. the light on them. Is it the natural effect - those patches of light and shade - or is it your post-processing?
Another question - I am looking for a weekend trail around Portland with wildflowers. Where exactly did you take this photo? I just began scenic photography last year and I don't know much about photo-oriented geography of the area.
And No, I like this one better than the one on ESS.
Edit: Oh yeah, and those flowers are gorgeous!
Your capture of the light on all elements is excellent.
How lucky were you to have no breeze to blur the flowers? They are tack sharp.
This is a super shot. Just one, little thing for me, though. Each picture you share gives me a sense for just being there and enjoying the view. And for me, with this shot, the sky gradient blending into the mountain doesn't give me that sense of being there. It's a great blend as a photograph, but not in the Marc Adamus style. Remember, I said it's a super shot, but if that sky blended into the mountain in a way that I would expect to see it in real life, THEN I'd say that's a Marc Adamus classic
I only mention this b/c you're on your way to becoming one of the best nature photogs I have ever witnessed.
Kevin
Please understand, I'm being hypercritical here, and I would be very, very, very (like my 4 y.o. says) happy with a shot like you rendered here. I guess the grad line is more obvious here for me than your other shots, and I just meant if the sky were blended a little differently (more uniform blue in the sky esp where the mountain meets the sky) it would make it stronger. I'm the only one to say it, though, and I guess it's just my 2 second look and response. I do this with all the pics I look at to try to figure out how it was done so that I might be able to use the technique in my photos.
Anyways, I just thought I'd mention it and see if you think it would be worth pursuing...
Kevin