Posted by John Williams on November 27, 2007 at 11:50 PM
One of my constant battles in photography is to capture not only what I see, but what I feel. Sometimes I see a scene that feels me with awe, and when I photograph it I'm not only trying to record what my eyes saw at the moment, but also the way the light developed while I waited for the shot, the crisp smell of the ocean, the wind whistling through the trees, the song of the birds around me, and especially the Zen-like joy of just being a part of it all. When others see the photo, they get none of the extra, and have to appreciate the moment from the photo alone. I always fail, but it is a fun journey to strive for improvement.
Early in the fall of 2005 I visited the Northeastern United States for the first time, and spent a few days camping in Acadia National Park. I was hoping to do a lot of birdwatching, but the weather was uncooperative, windy and rainy. On my last day there, I headed out in the dark hoping to photograph the dawn. It was drizzling as I sat in my car waiting for day to break, and I wasn't optomistic. The clouds were moving fast though, and this the result.
720px wide is heck on these stitched panos, here is a larger version for those so inclined.
Coolpix 8400
1/4 at f7.2
2x4 Stitch
Posted by Richard Sogn on November 28, 2007 at 12:29 AM
I love the larger version--it feels as if I'm there. You did capture the Zen-like feeling. I'd call this one "Mindfulness."
Posted by Erik Lundh on November 28, 2007 at 1:36 PM
John,
I do kind of fexperience the Zen like feeling. To me, there just isn't enough interest, especially in the foreground to suck me in. I know what you mean about all the other things that you felt and heard but can't put it in an image. Like comon you folks, can't you smell the ocean and hear the birds?
Posted by David Schoen on November 28, 2007 at 2:08 PM
I like the panorama effect, especially the larger image. The sky is a tad bit oversharp but still pleasing. Might make an interesting BW...
On my widescreen laptop, the larger image completely fills my monitor and looks very real.
Posted by Lance Warley on November 29, 2007 at 8:15 AM
The larger version is 10x more dramatic. I missed the small reflecting pool altogether in the smaller version.
Terrific shot.
Posted by John Williams on November 30, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Thanks for the replies all!
David, when I look again I agree, especially where the colors are the brightest in the sunrise. This cracks me up, because about the time I posted this I was posting the same thing about your sky in "Henderson Inlet Sunrise." It's funny how easy it is to be critical with others photos, and how hard it is with my own...
Erick, I hear and agree with you on the foreground. I took this early enough in my photography that I wasn't thinking much about anchors and that sort of thing. I was more at a "this is pretty" stage. I've been trying to work on being more mindful of the elements in my photos, but have a long way to go. Foregrounds are especially tough with stitches that have a wide field of view; close objects that are normally huge get swallowed up. For example, this photo has a near 180 degree field of view. To get the pool in the foreground to be an anchor filling 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the photo (60 to 80 degrees), I'd have to be _very_ close to it.
Discussion
5 repliesEarly in the fall of 2005 I visited the Northeastern United States for the first time, and spent a few days camping in Acadia National Park. I was hoping to do a lot of birdwatching, but the weather was uncooperative, windy and rainy. On my last day there, I headed out in the dark hoping to photograph the dawn. It was drizzling as I sat in my car waiting for day to break, and I wasn't optomistic. The clouds were moving fast though, and this the result.
720px wide is heck on these stitched panos, here is a larger version for those so inclined.
Coolpix 8400
1/4 at f7.2
2x4 Stitch
I do kind of fexperience the Zen like feeling. To me, there just isn't enough interest, especially in the foreground to suck me in. I know what you mean about all the other things that you felt and heard but can't put it in an image. Like comon you folks, can't you smell the ocean and hear the birds?
On my widescreen laptop, the larger image completely fills my monitor and looks very real.
Terrific shot.
David, when I look again I agree, especially where the colors are the brightest in the sunrise. This cracks me up, because about the time I posted this I was posting the same thing about your sky in "Henderson Inlet Sunrise." It's funny how easy it is to be critical with others photos, and how hard it is with my own...
Erick, I hear and agree with you on the foreground. I took this early enough in my photography that I wasn't thinking much about anchors and that sort of thing. I was more at a "this is pretty" stage. I've been trying to work on being more mindful of the elements in my photos, but have a long way to go. Foregrounds are especially tough with stitches that have a wide field of view; close objects that are normally huge get swallowed up. For example, this photo has a near 180 degree field of view. To get the pool in the foreground to be an anchor filling 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the photo (60 to 80 degrees), I'd have to be _very_ close to it.