Just when you thought I was into a dark phase, eh?
I caught this one atop Oregon's Marys Peak after backpacking up the North Ridge trail and camping with a friend of mine last week. I was drawn to the subtle colors of the forest amidst a lot of new snow. We got 10" that night! Nothing too exciting as pictures go, just figured this would be a fitting post for a 80-degree spring day.
As a composition, there's nothing wrong but the processing is weird. Don't know if you applied your "glow" technique but it doesn't work at all for me here. It looks like an overcooked HDR image. Waaaaayy too flat for me.
It does seem to lean to the left a little. no biggie though. I like the variety of stages of the timber. from young'ns to old growth, to battle scarred. An all around good forest scene.
I've never been up to Mary's peak, but have wanted to check it out for some time. Is there much to see up there viewpoint-wise, or is the best stuff inside the trees?
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 6, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Wonderful, Marc.. this looks awesome...the detail on the main tree is very interesting..
Posted by Darren White on April 6, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I am guessing that is some nice fog lingered in there......the slight haze could go either way with me....I think these forest scenes are among the hardest to capture. A nice image with a good array of colors and tones...not one of your stronger images but I am sure it will sell
No Steve. Just compression from the long lens used combined with snowfall and fog. I suppose I could manipulate it quite a bit in the interest of a more natural rendition?
I don't know what it is. I see the fog you mention but I only see it in the background. The snow on the foreground trees just looks like it has the HDR "halo" effect or perhaps oversharpened.
I do like how you have pulled out some color from a fairly snowy scene.
Could have been a somewhat wet/frosty lens, which I did try to correct a bit in post processing. It was snowing at a pretty good clip when I took this, and I'd been shooting a lot in those conditions. The left side and bottom were a tad less contrasty, but I tried adding more clarity there. There's also probably something lost in the web sharpening. I'll try to upload a RAW version tomorrow for suggestions.
Posted by Kosta Koeman on April 7, 2009 at 1:33 AM
Marc,
Of your "new" stuff, I really like this quite a bit, as it brings me into the forest in winter (as I enjoy snowshoeing with my dog).
I'll echo Kosta, out of the newer stuff here this works very well for me. This one has a soft mood that is very appealing. The way that you've staggered the trees lends a lot of depth for such a foggy scene.
The tree missing bark distracts my eye just a little, but not much.
I love the fog and the mood in this one Marc, Very serene and put's the viewer "right there," as your images usually do, well done!
Posted by James Walley on April 7, 2009 at 5:26 AM
"I suppose I could manipulate it quite a bit in the interest of a more natural rendition?"
(used only because this board doesn't have a decent "ROFLMAO" emoticon)
The picture's very nice, but I'm still trying to get my mind around camping out during a night when you get 10 inches of new snow. I'm not saying I'm an outdoors wimp, but the last time I went camping in winter was when I was in Boy Scouts...and we used a cabin!
It definitely looks like it was snowing pretty hard when you took this, Marc. It almost looks like a slight Orton effect. Maybe just a bit more contrast is all I would add.
It seems that with some of your more recent shots your main goal is to translate the moods and emotions you were feeling at the time rather than record a faithful representation of what you actually saw. More like your "impression" of the scene at hand, if you will.
That's what art is all about, and I think you're vision as an artist is evolving.
In much of my recent work, yes, Joe. In this one, not so much. It's just soft and subdued due to snowfall and perhaps on the lens as well. I will try adding more contrast, and maybe a USM contrast layer or something in select areas.
I guess I was reading into it a little too much, Marc, lol! Anyway, I can almost hear the silence of the snow blanketed forest in this one. I like it as is, maybe just a bit more contrast as I said and this would be perfect.
Hope you're enjoying Fatherhood!
Discussion
19 repliesI caught this one atop Oregon's Marys Peak after backpacking up the North Ridge trail and camping with a friend of mine last week. I was drawn to the subtle colors of the forest amidst a lot of new snow. We got 10" that night! Nothing too exciting as pictures go, just figured this would be a fitting post for a 80-degree spring day.
1Ds III, 200mm, no filters.
I've never been up to Mary's peak, but have wanted to check it out for some time. Is there much to see up there viewpoint-wise, or is the best stuff inside the trees?
Now where do I know these trees from....... one of the days I'll never forget.
JG
I don't know what it is. I see the fog you mention but I only see it in the background. The snow on the foreground trees just looks like it has the HDR "halo" effect or perhaps oversharpened.
I do like how you have pulled out some color from a fairly snowy scene.
Of your "new" stuff, I really like this quite a bit, as it brings me into the forest in winter (as I enjoy snowshoeing with my dog).
The tree missing bark distracts my eye just a little, but not much.
The picture's very nice, but I'm still trying to get my mind around camping out during a night when you get 10 inches of new snow. I'm not saying I'm an outdoors wimp, but the last time I went camping in winter was when I was in Boy Scouts...and we used a cabin!
David M. Cobb
It seems that with some of your more recent shots your main goal is to translate the moods and emotions you were feeling at the time rather than record a faithful representation of what you actually saw. More like your "impression" of the scene at hand, if you will.
That's what art is all about, and I think you're vision as an artist is evolving.
Hope you're enjoying Fatherhood!
You have a great eye.