Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:06 PM
I spent the last few days backpacking in the Utah's Uinta Mountains and I got lucky with some nice conditions. I spent most of the time in the Red Castle area. Thanks for looking and C&C if you like.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Reflection in an off trail pond I saw from higher elevation. I had to hang around waiting for some decent light dodging storms.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Cold soggy feet didn't feel so bad on this very peaceful morning.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Last light on the Red Castle.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:12 PM
Mirror Lake morning.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Christmas Meadow.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Just a minute...I gotta get my hi-lift jack to get my jaw off the floor. #2 is my favorite but I really like #1. I'd like to see just a wee bit more selective contrast on the mountain in #1 but hey, that's like saying the Mona Lisa has a pimple on her chin. Stunning set from some great locations.
Jeff, this series is easily the best alpine series Ive seen from here in a while. You have upt the bar, and now I'm motivated!! Actually I was motivated before LOL. Enough of me, all of these images are unique and different in their own way. I especially find #2 incredibly beautiful . That one is about perfect in my opinion. #1 is another excellent images depicting a perfect mountain/river scene. I also like the fact your processing technique changed quite a bit in your last two vs the rest, showing you're dynamic processing talent.
Really nice work. The Uintahs are an overlooked range for the most part, aside from the Mirror Lake highway area and perhaps the King's Peak area, so it's alway nice to see someone exploring new areas. This is a great collection. Personally, my favorites are #3 and Christmas Meadow #1. #1 and #2 are good, but the balance in #3 makes it something special, to my eye. There just appears to be a touch of haloing at the horizon line if you want to look at bringing that down. It may even be natural, but it looks like it's brighter along the whole horizon line. I don't mean haloing by oversharpening; this is broader than that.
I really like Christmas Meadow #1 as well. Great sunrise (?) and a good composition to match. I'm going to say something here that's not particularly helpful, so feel free to ignore it if you like. I'm not sure why you included the lower-left patch of grass. It doesn't seem strong enough of an element to hold interest, so I'm left feeling like it distracts rather than adds. Also, were you down low to the ground? If so, I might have tried to go higher just to help get some separation in the more distant parts of the creek and help add to the s-curve's shape. Those are nit-picking, though, because it's a great shot as it is. One thing that you could do in post-processing would be to add just a touch of contrast to the far high peak -- but not so much that it loses the delicacy you've got here.
I'll put up a longer post of my own tomorrow or the next day, but I wanted to say that I've appreciated seeing your work here. I just moved out of central Utah (up to Seattle) and it's always been nice to see some more non-Colorado, non-Southern Utah photography on this board. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on July 17, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Jeff, #1 and Christmas Meadow #1 are my selections. In the first, the stream coming around the foreground is nice. I think that the main peak could use some more contrast and maybe a little saturation though.
I see what Mark is saying about the LL point of grass: the sense of a wider view with it cropped is nice.
The bands of light and shadow on the mountain and in the reflection of the second image catch the eyes' attention in a good way.
Like Todd said, this is a stellar series of images. You took great advantage of the nice conditions you were presented.
I like each and every one of these images. The light, composition and 'development' are nearly flawless in all. Of note, I love the balance present in #3 and the lone flower in the last image. I'm not bothered by the grass mentioned in other posts.
You may have gotten 'lucky' with the conditions, but your stamina in getting here and your skills as a photographer were responsible for one of the finest series of images I've seen here in quite some time.
Superlative work, Jeff!
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 17, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Thank you for compliments! I am honored to have such a talented group of photographers with keen eagle eyes say such supportive things, and I see validity in all of the suggestions. Mark, the Christmas Meadows shots were at sunset and I was up as high as I could go so the bend in the river could at least be seen. I felt the jut out of land helped steer the eye while completing the curve instead of being a distraction, I also felt there would have been just too much empty space without it.
Posted by Jack Garrett on July 17, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Wow, these are great! I love the second image, closely followed by number 1. I would love to visit this area one day.
Nice images, Jeff. My favs are #2 & #4 - the light captured in #2 has a special quality and I think your composition is great. Would love to see it as a print :)
Discussion
19 repliesNo mas. Thanks for looking and C&C if you like.
Really nice work. The Uintahs are an overlooked range for the most part, aside from the Mirror Lake highway area and perhaps the King's Peak area, so it's alway nice to see someone exploring new areas. This is a great collection. Personally, my favorites are #3 and Christmas Meadow #1. #1 and #2 are good, but the balance in #3 makes it something special, to my eye. There just appears to be a touch of haloing at the horizon line if you want to look at bringing that down. It may even be natural, but it looks like it's brighter along the whole horizon line. I don't mean haloing by oversharpening; this is broader than that.
I really like Christmas Meadow #1 as well. Great sunrise (?) and a good composition to match. I'm going to say something here that's not particularly helpful, so feel free to ignore it if you like. I'm not sure why you included the lower-left patch of grass. It doesn't seem strong enough of an element to hold interest, so I'm left feeling like it distracts rather than adds. Also, were you down low to the ground? If so, I might have tried to go higher just to help get some separation in the more distant parts of the creek and help add to the s-curve's shape. Those are nit-picking, though, because it's a great shot as it is. One thing that you could do in post-processing would be to add just a touch of contrast to the far high peak -- but not so much that it loses the delicacy you've got here.
I'll put up a longer post of my own tomorrow or the next day, but I wanted to say that I've appreciated seeing your work here. I just moved out of central Utah (up to Seattle) and it's always been nice to see some more non-Colorado, non-Southern Utah photography on this board. Keep up the good work.
I see what Mark is saying about the LL point of grass: the sense of a wider view with it cropped is nice.
The bands of light and shadow on the mountain and in the reflection of the second image catch the eyes' attention in a good way.
I like each and every one of these images. The light, composition and 'development' are nearly flawless in all. Of note, I love the balance present in #3 and the lone flower in the last image. I'm not bothered by the grass mentioned in other posts.
You may have gotten 'lucky' with the conditions, but your stamina in getting here and your skills as a photographer were responsible for one of the finest series of images I've seen here in quite some time.
Superlative work, Jeff!