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Archive 2015 · Edge of Earth

Mark Metternich
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Edge of Earth

This photo is dedicated to Jeff Swanson. An incredible, loving and generous photographer who passed away about a year ago of Melanoma. If you are interested in raising awareness or supporting the fight against Melanoma please check the links below.

This year, partially due to avoiding the unusually hot weather in the Pacific Northwest as well as too much forest fire smoke, I had the great privilege of spending about 2 straight months on the Pacific Coastline from the top of the Olympic Coastline down through the sublime Oregon Coast and the Northern California Coast.

Here on 2 separate attempts, I scrambled and climbed down a cliffy area about 500 feet to the beach and at the lowest tide got out on a sea-stack rock to get stranded all night. I played guitar and took 15 minute naps amid the roaringh waves all around. One of the funnest times I have had taking a photo.

Single shot, Sony A7S.

As always Alex Noriega has been my main go to guy for processing feedback, as well as who I refer people to when I am not able to teach Post Processing via Skype, because of my rigorous travel schedule.

JEFF

Melanoma

Aug 30, 2015 at 03:01 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Edge of Earth

Hey Mark,

I have no idea who Alex Noriega is, but I guess he must be a good photographer?

I like the back half of your shot here. The 2 black sea stacks at the bottom though don't fit the mood of the scene and almost feel pasted in because of the difference in contrast. I like the misty rocks behind them, it's too bad all of those foreground rocks did not have a misty feel to them from the water flow. As it is, I would suggest cropping the bottom of the shot to just above those sharp black rocks.

Jim

Aug 30, 2015 at 06:11 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Edge of Earth

Love both the image, and the adventure. Thanks for posting Mark.

Aug 30, 2015 at 07:00 PM

savingspaces
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Edge of Earth

You have to be aware of your competition.

http://www.alexnoriegaphotography.com

Aug 31, 2015 at 01:55 PM

Mark Metternich
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Edge of Earth

JimFox wrote:
Hey Mark,

I have no idea who Alex Noriega is, but I guess he must be a good photographer?

I like the back half of your shot here. The 2 black sea stacks at the bottom though don't fit the mood of the scene and almost feel pasted in because of the difference in contrast. I like the misty rocks behind them, it's too bad all of those foreground rocks did not have a misty feel to them from the water flow. As it is, I would suggest cropping the bottom of the shot to just above those sharp black rocks.

Jim

Alex Noriega is probably my favorite photographer in the world right now and also maybe the greatest savant / genius post processing guru and teacher in the world today!

It kind of surprises me you don't know about him. He used to be on this forum and did astonishing work. I am somewhat speculating here, but I think unfortunately the general negativity from a few in the "purist" camp may have driven him and many other great fresh young new talents to go other directions.

I do agree, a slight Dodge on the rocks may be in order. For others, maybe a perspective blend to eliminate them altogether.

Aug 31, 2015 at 10:09 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Edge of Earth

savingspaces wrote:
Hey Jim! You have to get with program man, Alex Noriega is a top rated young landscape buck!

You have to be aware of your competition.

http://www.alexnoriegaphotography.com

---------------------------------------------

Mark Metternich wrote:
Alex Noriega is probably my favorite photographer in the world right now and also maybe the greatest savant / genius post processing guru and teacher in the world today!

It kind of surprises me you don't know about him. He used to be on this forum and did astonishing work. I am somewhat speculating here, but I think unfortunately the general negativity from a few in the "purist" camp may have driven him and many other great fresh young new talents to go other directions.

I do agree, a slight Dodge on the rocks may be in order. For...Show more →

Shocking as it may be, I don't recall the name. But then again I end up keeping my nose to the grindstone in here and don't get out a lot. I don't do 500px, and even on FB I have a very limited # of friends, maybe 20 at most. I have this old fashioned notion that if FB is based on friends I only want those I know well enough that I can take the time to actually comment when they post, I would feel bad having 300+ friends and then neglecting 95% of them. I would not be a good friend.

But it's cool to have guys that we look up to as Landscape photographers. We have an awesome assortment of photographers here in the Landscape forum, and I often get quite inspired by our regular posters.

Jim

Aug 31, 2015 at 10:59 PM

stanparker
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Edge of Earth

I've seen Noriega's work in several places, he is a super talent. I would definitely keep the sea stacks in the original post, needed for context.

Sep 01, 2015 at 04:15 AM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Edge of Earth

savingspaces wrote:
Hey Jim! You have to get with program man, Alex Noriega is a top rated young landscape buck!

You have to be aware of your competition.

http://www.alexnoriegaphotography.com

Only competition should be against yourself

. I feel if you are in competition with others, you are cheating yourself.

Sep 03, 2015 at 12:22 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Edge of Earth

Dustin Gent wrote:
Only competition should be against yourself

. I feel if you are in competition with others, you are cheating yourself.

Ha ha. Yep, that was my exact thoughts. I am not here competing against anyone. Plus we have enough great talent here in the landscape forum to grow with and learn with, i dont need to look elsewhere. As my vision as an artist both grows and gets refined, its my friends here on FM that help do the most shaping.

Jim

Sep 03, 2015 at 12:30 PM

Mark Metternich
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Edge of Earth

Dustin Gent wrote:
Only competition should be against yourself

. I feel if you are in competition with others, you are cheating yourself.

Could not agree with that statement more!

But at the same time anyone serious about upping their skills and passion level should always be on the lookout for awesome photographers out there like Alex. Or whoever floats your boat. Huge inspirations to me would be Adamus, Alex Noriega, Ted Gore, Ryan Dyar and others. Many of which do not post here. I feed off that constant inspiration of my favorites.

Sep 03, 2015 at 04:05 PM

Sunny Sra
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Edge of Earth

Mark,
Although i like this shot..but there seems to be something missing...like it needs something more...more oomph...contrast?

Sep 03, 2015 at 04:08 PM

robn70
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Edge of Earth

Mark, Nice capture. The one thing that I find pulls my eyes away from the main subject area is the 2 sea stacks and bright reflection on the bottom. How does it look if you crop out this area just above the bright section? Just a thought.

Sep 03, 2015 at 08:44 PM

savingspaces
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Edge of Earth

Dustin Gent wrote:
Only competition should be against yourself

. I feel if you are in competition with others, you are cheating yourself.

I meant that Jim should be aware of what other photographers are doing. You can't keep your head in the sand, otherwise you'll be left behind. Everyone can learn something from others. If nothing else, maybe a new location to visit?

Sep 05, 2015 at 07:25 PM

howardF
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Edge of Earth

Very nice photos.

Sep 06, 2015 at 12:09 PM

Mark Metternich
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Edge of Earth

Thank you everyone.

robn70 wrote:
Mark, Nice capture. The one thing that I find pulls my eyes away from the main subject area is the 2 sea stacks and bright reflection on the bottom. How does it look if you crop out this area just above the bright section? Just a thought.

I agree something can be done about the stacks below. I'll have to get a hotel and try a revision soon. Thank you for the feedback.

Sep 09, 2015 at 10:33 AM

jbush
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Edge of Earth

Hi Mark,

First of all, I wasn't aware of Jeff Swanson, but I'm very sorry to hear about his early passing. Cancer, in any form, is a terrible disease. I have been involved in the fight against this disease for the past 24 years while participating in a local bike ride that has raised close to $500 million for cancer research. Hopefully, we'll find a cure for all types of cancers soon so that lives like Jeff's can be saved.

A beautiful image and equally good story to paint a wonderful image of you stranded on a rock all night while strumming and shooting. I wonder if anyone walked around that area in the dark and, without seeing you, heard some mysterious sounds emanating from the sea...

The foreground rocks do add context, but to reduce the silhouette effect, maybe opening the shadows just slightly might help (without it appearing HDR'ish) so that they match the rocks in the background, which, on my monitor, appear to have a little bit more detail revealed in the shadows.

Jon

Sep 09, 2015 at 11:25 AM


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