Zen Rocks (new series)

On a trip a few weeks ago I worked on an idea for a new series of closeups of water and rocks. I would really appreciate some feedback on the direction of this.

It was overcast and the water was still, allowing the background to go completely white while retaining the full tonal range of the rest of the image.

Notice how the shadow/reflection of the rock on top makes a "hole" in the reflection on the surface of the water, showing under the surface.

Does anyone know if there's a name for this phenomenon? I find it very intriguing.

The rest of the series is here

Thanks for looking!

this kinda freaks me out!! it's really cool, but i feel the need for edges around the frame. the rocks seem to jump out of the picture! nice!

I think this has real potential, and you've got some amazing successes. I think some of them, most notably the 2nd and 3rd "Hole" images, look kinda like piles of poo, and I don't think the one here showcases the best aspects of what you're doing. Having said that, "Zen I" and "Zen II", along with possibly "Derby" and "Tongue," are simply stunning. They look like they're studio portraits of rocks in water, rather than "wild" rocks, and I mean that in a good way.

I'm not sure what the "hole" function is called, but I seem to recall the word "tensil" used in some way. Tensil strength, or something like that. Maybe I'm just thinking of surface tension, but I'm not sure.

Here's one with a background...

Ok, I'll bite. It's a bit of ray tracing. Light can't pass through the top rock to bounce off the rock, then the water and then to the eye (or camera). Thus the only light coming through is that which is coming from from the light (through a refracted & reflected path) bouncing off the rock under water. I think the phenomenon would be called "shade." I think if you put a diffuser over the enter rock formation, you'd lose the reflection entirely. Just a guess.

PS. Nice series, Nat

Laurent, thanks for your explanation - just the term "ray tracing" helps me visualize what's really happening here.

Todd, thanks for your responses, I noticed the poo resemblance, too. It's surprising how pretty rocks of varying colors end up looking like poo when they're wet!

I left out a shot with a fly sitting on the rock for that reason :-)

Your comment about the "studio look" struck me, too... after reviewing these images I'd been contemplating how to replicate this inside, with a tabletop setup. I think I'm going to have a lot fun exploring this further.

Neat idea, Nat. You could take this anywhere you want to, i could see the same general idea with an all blue sky (allowing for all blue water) or better yet, a night shot with the rocks illuminated with flash (all black bg). Thumbs up from me, you oughta post a couple on ESS to shake up all the pretty sunsets and flowers

Nat, I really like Zen 1 and The First Hole. These also might be unique with the water colored from the glow of sunrise or sunset.

Pretty cool idea! It reminds me of Chinese scholar's rocks. I can imagine a lot of potential for sort of landscapes in miniature.

The second one above is stunning! Same for Zen 1. The first one above is a little too disorienting for my tastes; maybe with a frame/border, it would be less so, but for now the ones with a subtle background seem to ground the image without interfering with the ethereal feel of your work.

Very creative!

I agree with Rick. I like all of them with a subtle background. The "Hole" series are not at all appealing, although I wouldn't go quite as far as Todd's vivid description.

Cool idea! Like Todd said, they look like staged still lifes which makes it neater that these are not staged. Great control of the conditions!

I love innovations. These are definitely cool. I like Zen I, and Zen II the most.

this is a killer idea, I never would have thought of this, very nicely done with these

Zen 1 rocks! I know, pardon the pun, but it fits the image perfectly!

Very innovative approach Nat. I love this. Wonderfully seen!

I am really drawn to the B/W presentation of this subject matter (which also seems to overcome any "poo" appearances).

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone!

Jesse - thanks for the inspiration, here's the second BW in the series...."Otherworldly".

I've finished the series, updated gallery here