I was down in central Oregon this weekend and got the chance to spend Friday evening and Saturday morning at Smith Rock. Here's a shot from Saturday morning. Thanks for any comments.
Cool Hans...Nice composition with the river winding through it with Morning Glory wall in the background. Did you stay somwhere locally or stay up on the campground?
Hi Roman, I spent the night at the campground. The weather was nice in the evening and next morning, but soon clouded over. I spent the rest of the weekend playing on the 4-wheeler in the Millican Valley OHV trail system east of Bend with friends. It was a fun trip.
Posted by Marc Dilley on April 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Nice light on the shore grass, Hans - it positively GLOWS!
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 8, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Some of the best light I have seen this shot with.. I like it a lot..
Very nice image and very nice composition. The only nit-picky thing I can find is the cliffs on the left side are a bit bright. I know how challenging the light can be here. On a clear day, it seems as soon as the sun pops over the horizon it’s blasting away on the light colored rocks.
REALLY nice comp and lighting! Funny, David mentioned the brightness on the left, my one item on the wish list would be a bit more exposure on the dark LRC. Did you use a grad ND at all? There IS a great range of light in the image. Good job!
To answer some questions, Dave, I did burn the left side rocks some. You are right that those light rocks turn into big sun reflectors. Paul, the lighting was challenging. I used either a 2 or 3 stop ND Grad (don't remember), and kept the highlights in check. In PP, I burned the light colored rocks on the left and dodged the upper rocks where the grad toned them down. I didn't change anything on the right side shadow as it looked acceptable on my monitor. Thanks everyone for the kind comments.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on April 8, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Beautiful composition, this is one of the nicer shots I have seen from here. Nice work. If I had to be picky I would work on the sky a bit, right now it seems a tad too dark in comparison to the rocks. Beautiful work regardless though.
Hans, I don't mean to offend but are you out to create nice photos or are you out to create art? This is a real nice guidebook type photo but I really can't see it hanging above the mantle. Now, mind you, this would be one of the best shots in the recent 2008 Gorge Guide published here in Hood River and I'm sure you could sell it to the Bend magazine.
If guidebook is your goal, then I say it's a real nice shot.
Mark, I'm not really offended by your comments, just surprised and confused. I guess to answer your question; it depends on what you consider art. There are a few deranged loons in the art community that consider feces scrawled on a canvas Art. Others call paint splattered onto a canvas Art. Abstract, colorful rock patterns are also considered Art. I guess that's the beauty of Art; each person interprets it in their own way.
Admittedly, I'm sometimes repulsed by the pomposity of the art community. It can be exclusionary, elitist and cliquish. I often cringe at the astronomical prices commanded by works of Art that I'd be embarrassed to hang in my home. To each his own, I suppose.
I enjoy acknowledgement and recognition as much as the next guy. However, for me personally, having my photographs branded as Art is not that important to me. The joy I get out of photography is sharing a moment in time that I witnessed personally. If people enjoy how I’ve interpreted Nature's beauty and offer compliments or recognition, that’s a bonus.
I have no illusions about making a living at photography, nor do I desire it as a career. There is way too much competition and the market is flooded with some great photographers. If I had my druthers, I’d be independently wealthy with the freedom to travel anywhere my heart desires able to capture the beauty of Nature as I witness it.
As for this particular photo being a hanger or not, I already have plans to print and hang this one. It will probably not be above the mantel, but it will hang as a reminder of the few times I spent climbing there as a teenager.
Posted by Mary Dempsey on April 9, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Hans,
Nothing wrong with guidbook especially if they are paying you for it! Past that, being just hobbiest also... I would hang it too. I find it very appealing. have never been to Smith Rock but this shot makes me think about it. thanks for sharing your moment in time.
Discussion
12 repliesRoman
Very nice image and very nice composition. The only nit-picky thing I can find is the cliffs on the left side are a bit bright. I know how challenging the light can be here. On a clear day, it seems as soon as the sun pops over the horizon it’s blasting away on the light colored rocks.
David
If guidebook is your goal, then I say it's a real nice shot.
Admittedly, I'm sometimes repulsed by the pomposity of the art community. It can be exclusionary, elitist and cliquish. I often cringe at the astronomical prices commanded by works of Art that I'd be embarrassed to hang in my home. To each his own, I suppose.
I enjoy acknowledgement and recognition as much as the next guy. However, for me personally, having my photographs branded as Art is not that important to me. The joy I get out of photography is sharing a moment in time that I witnessed personally. If people enjoy how I’ve interpreted Nature's beauty and offer compliments or recognition, that’s a bonus.
I have no illusions about making a living at photography, nor do I desire it as a career. There is way too much competition and the market is flooded with some great photographers. If I had my druthers, I’d be independently wealthy with the freedom to travel anywhere my heart desires able to capture the beauty of Nature as I witness it.
As for this particular photo being a hanger or not, I already have plans to print and hang this one. It will probably not be above the mantel, but it will hang as a reminder of the few times I spent climbing there as a teenager.
Nothing wrong with guidbook especially if they are paying you for it!