You had some fantastic conditions here, and your processing is very realistic which I really appreciate. I do want to be honest about something though. There is something that just feels a bit off about this shot. Despite the great things going for it --- the light, and the way the flowing water mimics the shape of the clouds/mountains, something feels like it is missing. You have all the elements there, but to me the image feels like it lacks soul. I think it's because the various elements in the composition don't seem to interact with each other. It feels a bit like the shot was "forced" by using an ultra wide angle lens and a vertical composition -- as though the ultra wide was used to include everything, but it essentially just shoved all the elements into the corner rather than giving the image a multi-layered sense of depth. I love looking at landscape shots that build a sense of depth, and seem to tell a story about the subject, but in this case, I see a bunch of great elements crammed into a shot with an ultra wide angle lens but without telling a story or grabbing me on a more emotional level. It's a technically very well polished image, but it doesn't seem to have the same soul as your other work.
Most of the time when I look at highly processed images, I feel as Ben stated...they lack soul. This one really seems to be so technically well executed that the impact is special. I think you have succeeding in creating an image with great impact.
Wow, thanks so much for all the comments so far guys. Glad a lot of you noticed the very deliberate compositional choice of using the water streaks to mimic/mirror the peak. Finding symmetry in water/clouds/foregrounds is something I've been trying to do this year, and this is one of a very few that has worked out so far.
As for what we did to "scare" the bears away. We made annoying noises until they got sick of us and slowly walked into the trees. Luckily there was a couple hundred feet between us when we first saw them. From the quick nature of our trip, and the close locations we shot, I completely forgot any sort of bear spray for myself. Luckily Steve had a can of spray and a bear banger with him. I had my tripod with pointy feet
I think the composition shown is probably the optimal one for this location. I have researched and walked to this exact spot. The little outflow creek is short and narrow. Behind this shot is a footbridge. Any wider and you have simple shore and stuff. I think the landscape comp would be to walk a little into the lake along the shore or go deeper in our hip waders. This would give a classic reflection comp without stream action.
Hardcore wrote:
Great shot Justin! If I had to be nitpicky on this great photo, I'd say the water looks a bit crunchy. I'd maybe try and smooth it out. Like I said though, that is being very nitpicky!
Thanks bud. The texture and look of the water is actually something I have been working really hard on. Possibly a tad overdone in the brightest white areas of the water though. It has taken me a long time to get the look I want of water in a web image that reflects the look of the full file, but I've finally figured it out after a lot of trail and error this time around.
dgdg wrote:
I think the composition shown is probably the optimal one for this location. I have researched and walked to this exact spot. The little outflow creek is short and narrow. Behind this shot is a footbridge. Any wider and you have simple shore and stuff. I think the landscape comp would be to walk a little into the lake along the shore or go deeper in our hip waders. This would give a classic reflection comp without stream action.
Thanks dgdg, you definitely have been here before Anyone who is familiar with shots from this lake will notice that almost all are typical reflection shots, or "looking off the dock" comps. The only thing distinguishing them is how nice the sunsets are. I actually had an interesting shoreline comp in mind before this one, but for some reason there was lots of really ugly yellow foam everywhere that had slow moving water. Maybe some sort of early summer algae, I’m not really sure. I think after 5-6 tries shooting here I've finally bagged the image for me though, so on to the next location!
Thanks again guys. Glad this one seems to be hitting a good note with everyone!
ScaryFox wrote:
Striking image with lots of drama.
Ute
Thanks Ute. After shooting this, I want more than ever to find other mountain locations with cascades and water action that can add interest and drama to a shot. I ended up finding what I think is my most interesting, dynamic, and unique composition yet at an epic mountain further south, so I'll be heading back over and over until the conditions and light are unbeatable Too bad it is a 6 hour drive to get there!
The combination of the long exposure water shot with the mountains and sunset is off the charts. It just gives off so many different emotions in one image.
Why didnt you snap a pic of the Grizzly!
Jul 11, 2014 at 01:16 PM
Mark Metternich Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
