Thanks to Don Eason for suggesting this month's theme - Stark Realities. Let's see those images where less is more - minimalistic, simple, harsh, barren, bleak, but still effective and impactful.
In case anyone is wondering, I thought about making this month's theme "Fall Colors", but since the Fall Colors Contest will be getting kicked off soon - and the submissions for that are anonymous - I figured folks would want to save their best for the contest instead of posting in the theme.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on October 3, 2007 at 10:15 AM
If I'd know this would be the theme, I'd have saved this for now. Oh well. Back from the North Rim.
Mel-
Posted by Mel Ladewig on October 3, 2007 at 10:17 AM
And a companion piece from Bryce.
Mel-
Posted by Grant Collier on October 3, 2007 at 2:17 PM
Well, Death Valley is the ultimate stark landscape, so this shot is the first thing I thought of...
Posted by Mel Ladewig on October 3, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Yeah, anyplace with death in the name has got to be good for this thread.
Posted by Steve Bunn on October 3, 2007 at 11:50 PM
I've not done much with photography for a number of months, but I saw this theme and remembered this photograph I took at Volcano on the Big Island. I feel it is a perfect match for the theme (although I'm not sure it has any real impact). It was heavily raining just about the whole time I was in Volcano, so I was pretty much skunked for pics. The rain let up for about 20 minutes while I was driving through a large, barren lava flow. I was struck how barren it was and I knew the contrast would be very stark through the heavily filtered light, so I figured an interest shot would be better than absolutely nothing, so I took it. For the 2/3 rd's day effort to get to and drive around Volcano, I only snapped 4 shots. Oh well, you can't win them all. At least I got some good shots on other parts of the island on other days. I don't think this has any real aesthetic appeal ( I think it's downright ugly) but slightly interesting nonetheless.
Posted by Scott Fricke on October 4, 2007 at 12:59 AM
Mt. Snaeffels, Iceland - Icelanders love to build cairns, this one is 12-15 feet high, near the top of Mt. Snaeffels, the second highest peak on the island. The day and night we spent there was cold, rainy and miserable. Most of the time visibility was limited to about 50 feet, I took this photo when it "cleared up" for a few minutes.
Posted by Fred Braun on October 5, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Lenticular cloud in RMNP. The cloud formed just to the east of Longs Peak. It grew into a severe thunderstorm several hours later.
Yeah, it doesn't get much more "stark" than Death Valley. Here's my contribution from the valley of death...
Posted by Scott Fricke on October 6, 2007 at 7:25 PM
Beautiful image Rick, I really like the little rock in the foreground and the dark island of rock in the backround that draws your eye through the image, very nicely composed.
LOL I took that one 4 years ago! Maybe I ought to charge you guys!
Posted by bill meikle on October 29, 2007 at 3:35 PM
Took this in Utah as many of you already know but it might fit this forum. I modified the nearest branches to leave five branches or fingers reaching out.
Bill
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on October 29, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Discussion
28 repliesIn case anyone is wondering, I thought about making this month's theme "Fall Colors", but since the Fall Colors Contest will be getting kicked off soon - and the submissions for that are anonymous - I figured folks would want to save their best for the contest instead of posting in the theme.
Mel-
Mel-
Great Sand Dunes
Just before sunrise
Here is my contribution, from the San Rafael Swell, not too far from Goblin Valley, Utah.
Even the weeds won't grow in this crap.
And oh so fun when it is wet.
Shot with Scala B&W slide film.
This has been posted before. One of my first 4x5 shots on Polaroid type 59.
November 2006, Montrose, CO
Ken
John
Bill