Jim . . . thank you for making the decision to avoid Bisti while it's wet. I went out to the Wahweap hoodoos a few weeks ago and found that some a-hole and his/her big dog stomped all over the formations while it was wet and made a nasty mess. The damage will repair itself eventually, but it was disheartening. Especially since there are a million other options in that area for sight-seeing and photography.
Absolutely beautiful photo Jim.
I like the shapes the ground makes coming through the snow. The cool and warm colors, stunning sky and really nice comp, makes this a real winner.
I actually like the comp with the snow in the foreground as it gives it a sense of space & isolation. With the water at edge of foreground would not be as attractive.
I think the shot frames the scene just right.
I would entertain maybe cropping off the bottom 1/3rd. My eye is drawn to the top and I feel the image would be better if it started at the water.
<EDIT> Just saw Tuan Le said the same thing. Sorry for sounding like a broken record.
I am glad you like the shot. Thanks!
As for cropping, I just realized... doh... that I uploaded the uncropped version. I actually did a crop for my final version. Only difference, is I didn't crop off the bottom, I cropped some of the sky and the left side to lose that brush along the left edge. I will add that shot to the original to see what you guys think.
Jim
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Scott Kroeker wrote:
Time to get a hover boat Jim! :P
Nice photo!
Ha ha.... thanks Scott... that's about what I would have needed. Glad you liked the shot.
I like that you avoided trudging through the clay and mud. Footprints, bicycle tracks, they just don't seem to go away in the desert soils. I remember that was an issue a year or so ago out in Death Valley. More people, more scars upon the land...
I like everything about this image including the moon, the colors, the composition and the snow in the foreground. A very unique and beautiful look at an iconic area.
Glad you both liked the shot, it was really cool and very cold to be there!
As for getting closer with the reflection, there is no way I could do that. Even as far back as I was and standing in about 6 to 8 inches of snow, my feet sunk into the wet mud below the snow about an inch or two. As I moved to the left to try and see about a reflection from that side, it was worse, I was sinking in about 3 or 4 inches. So I went back to this area, my original composition and stayed there. I definitely thought about walking forward more, but it looked even more wet. Not only did I not want to sink deeper into the mud, but more importantly, I didn't want to mess up that composition with a bunch of foot prints. Because once I did that, there would be no going backwards to shoot wide again. And also it would be ruined for anyone else who might try to shoot it in the coming days. So yeah, that's the best I could do with the reflection. Maybe I am just more in love with it, but it doesn't feel busy for me, I actually like the flow of the snow/water and how it mimicks the sky a bit.
Jim I really appreciate your devotion at not destroying the environment just to get a photo. We need to always be conscious of our actions and their impacts. I know many photographers do not approach their work like you. I've seen way too many photographers tromping through sensative areas in the Rockies off designated trails in attempts to get the better composition. This not only ruins the environment for the next photographer as there are prints left by previous photographers, but more importantly it kills the sensative environments that exist in many of our precious landscapes. I'd much rather get the composition that is offered rather than selfishly trample through the landscape for a better composition.
You photo captured a beautiful sunset in a very natural looking composition. Love the reflection which is very unique for the mittens.
JohnC wrote:
Beautiful capture and original take on the mittens.
"Now a little nit, the subject (title) seems odd as the moon is so insignificant.
I have a copy (not original) of Ansel Adam's "Moonrise, Hernandez" hanging behind me and the moon is about as prominent as Jim's moonrise.
Hey John, I am glad you like this. And thanks for pointing out Ansel's work. I think we seem to have gotten to used to people pasting extra large moons into shots. And we all have our own choices we can make, and for sure I could have added tons of drama with making the moon much larger, but I prefered to stay with a more realistic sizing.
Jim
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Slabshaft wrote:
Excellent sky in this!
Jim . . . thank you for making the decision to avoid Bisti while it's wet. I went out to the Wahweap hoodoos a few weeks ago and found that some a-hole and his/her big dog stomped all over the formations while it was wet and made a nasty mess. The damage will repair itself eventually, but it was disheartening. Especially since there are a million other options in that area for sight-seeing and photography.
Thanks John! Glad you like the shot. And yeah I don't quite understand the selfishness and stupidness of people to walk in area's like that when it's wet. And I agree, when the ground is wet and can't be walked on without destroying it there are always other places to go shoot.
Jim
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chez wrote:
Jim I really appreciate your devotion at not destroying the environment just to get a photo. We need to always be conscious of our actions and their impacts. I know many photographers do not approach their work like you. I've seen way too many photographers tromping through sensative areas in the Rockies off designated trails in attempts to get the better composition. This not only ruins the environment for the next photographer as there are prints left by previous photographers, but more importantly it kills the sensative environments that exist in many of our precious landscapes. I'd much rather get the composition that is offered rather than selfishly trample through the landscape for a better composition.
You photo captured a beautiful sunset in a very natural looking composition. Love the reflection which is very unique for the mittens.
I think if we truly care about the beauty of land around us, that it is important not to be a hypocrite. And you are right, as much as we might have a goal in mind or a vision of a shot we need to have respect and have patience too. If the conditions are not conducive for a shot without tearing up the ground we have to walk on, then we just need to be patient and return at a later date. Look for other opportunities. So thanks for bringing that up, hopefully if we spread that message more, more people will think twice before leaving footprints.
I like that you avoided trudging through the clay and mud. Footprints, bicycle tracks, they just don't seem to go away in the desert soils. I remember that was an issue a year or so ago out in Death Valley. More people, more scars upon the land...
Thanks again!
Yeah, it's sad when people's self indulgence causes a blight on the landscape that will tarnish the sheer beauty of a location for years to come.
Jim
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Fred Miranda wrote:
What a great capture Jim. I prefer the original take without the crop. The sky and extra space works better for my eyes.
This is a feature thread.
Thanks Fred, I am glad you liked it. And thanks for letting me know you preferred the original uncropped.
Jim
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aFeinberg wrote:
So cool! Think the crop is a bit better. PLEASE tell me you got close to that puddle and got a reflection shot! Fun !
aF
Hey Aaron, glad you like the shot. As mentioned though, there was no way to get closer and get more of a reflection without mucking up the place. Trust me, I wanted to get not only more of a reflection of the West Mitten, but I wanted to get East Mitten to be reflected too, but it wasn't possible without mucking up the whole area. I was shooting pretty low to the ground to get the reflection where it was, and for me, it wasn't worth messing up the scene and ruining it for others just so I could get the reflections to be perfect.
Really nice image, Jim. For me, the range of colors is what makes this such a great photograph. The cool white of the snow through the red mittens and delicate blues in the sky.
I was there in July a few years ago when it was over 100 degrees...what a contrast to be there in the snow and cold! I will have to go in the winter some day.
I love the colors here, but I'll cast another vote to crop away the bottom 25% of this image. When I do that by scrolling down, it looks much stronger.
