Frozen in Time

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 18, 2009357 views47 comments

Well I just got back from a trip over to Acadia National Park in Maine to shoot foliage. We came back a day early so that should tell you something about the foliage this year. After talking to some long time locals we got the impression that things never really happened this year. From the looks of things it seems like the red maples and huckleberry on the summits just shriveled and dropped without really turning the vibrant red we come to expect every year. Glad I didn't spend $900 to take one of the overbooked and crowded workshops we bumped into several times

This shot was the first of the trip for me and I think epitomizes the overall weather and conditions we faced. It was freakin' cold and windy every day of the trip and most of the time the light was very gloomy. This is from the summit of Cadillac Mtn. after the road had been closed the day before due to rime ice build up.

Overall I did manage to get some shots I'm psyched about but only after I talked myself off the cliff and quit whining about how bad the foliage was.

*For some reason the blues in the web version aren't as cool as I had processed.

5DII, 24-105L, polarizer, a very cold Mitch providing some shade

Comments

47 comments

Comment posted by Mitch Moraski on October 18, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Wow dude...how'd you find that???

Registered on August 3, 2008, 105 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on October 18, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Beautiful in its simplicity, Kurt. You certainly made the most out of it. I have yet to hear of anywhere in the states that was even on-par with usual as far as Autumn color goes. It's been a rather lackluster fall, but this is a great way to cope with it. Bring on the winter!

Fall workshops are always at the mercy of the color - I know it well from the other side of things. The folks leading those have a tough and unpredictable job to do..

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on October 18, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Very nice, well balanced image, Kurt, love the blue, well done

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on October 18, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Wonderful abstract
Love the lines ant texture

:)

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 18, 2009 at 1:08 PM

I love the patterns in the ice Kurt and the contrasts of the blue ice and yellow leaf. I like how this intimate scene tells a story. Beautiful capture!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 18, 2009 at 1:20 PM

I hear ya Marc, as a photography instructor and workshop leader myself I kept saying each day how glad I was not to be leading a workshop or tour in Acadia this year. On the foliage note, we actually had a pretty awesome year for color here in northern Vermont, much better then the past several years.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on October 18, 2009 at 1:34 PM

Wonderful, Kurt. So skillfully composed and processed. A pleasure to look at.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 18, 2009 at 1:44 PM

Love it Kurt, a type of scene I am after too - let's see what fall and winter will bring.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on October 18, 2009 at 2:08 PM

That looks like an Aspen leaf. In Main??? Nice image, however.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 18, 2009 at 2:08 PM

Oh ya this is great. I have a similar comp but on sandstone, guess I'll wait to post

Beautiful rendition. The cool style, lines, and textures are eye candy. My type of image. Well done Kurt

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 18, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Very nice, Kurt. I've seen these a lot. When done well, as this is, I never get tired of them. One day, I'm gonna get me one of these for myself.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM

Dan, lots of aspens in the northeast, quaking and big tooth. Typically we don't have the grand stands like you guys have out west, they tend to be in little pockets or solo.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 18, 2009 at 2:53 PM

This image speaks to the transition of the seasons. Seems to be happening fast in some places this year. This is a very lovely image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Donohue on October 18, 2009 at 2:55 PM

Hey Kurt,

I love this - great photo.

Cheers

Carl

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on October 18, 2009 at 2:56 PM

Love those curves and the tiny ice particles trapping the leaf. Wonderful intimate image, Kurt!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Will Campbell on October 18, 2009 at 3:12 PM

Very nice intimate scene. Love the color contrasts, lines, and textures.

Registered on July 4, 2007, 38 Posts, 281 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Salge on October 18, 2009 at 3:23 PM

Wow...really like this...and like this blue hue!

Looking forward to more in this trip!

Registered on February 23, 2006, 269 Posts, 2210 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Ellingsen on October 18, 2009 at 4:05 PM

Very nice, Kurt. I like everything about this shot.

I think this just goes to show that there is always something to shoot, no matter what the weather or mother nature throws at us. The real talents in photography can assess the given situation, and use it to their advantage, as opposed to making excuses or crying about factors that are out of our control. This photo proves my point exactly. Hats off to you for making the best of the situation and conditions.

Registered on January 16, 2008, 56 Posts, 953 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 18, 2009 at 4:36 PM

Wonderful lines, light, and color. Superbly done.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 18, 2009 at 4:38 PM

Awesome image Kurt. Love the intimate, intricate detail. Exquisite.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 18, 2009 at 4:45 PM

Kurt-you continue to inspire. What a great image in light of poor weather!!!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on October 18, 2009 at 5:57 PM

This has every bit of the impact of some of the "grander" fall color shots. Two seasons in one shot. And unlike many of those, it will work great in black and white too.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on October 18, 2009 at 6:14 PM

Wonderful chilly feeling you captured here Kurt, I love the lines and the contrasts. Very nicely done!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Drew Fulton on October 18, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Kurt,

Beautiful use of textures and contrasting colors in this image. The lines in the ice really make the image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 43 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 18, 2009 at 6:49 PM

Sweet!!!!!!! Love the colors and it is great the leaf is not "perfect". I like this a whole lot.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on October 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM

Stunning image, framing is great.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on October 18, 2009 at 7:31 PM

I love the simplicity of this nature's stilllife, Kurt! Good positioning of the
leaf in your composition, and I like it that you have an implied diagonal line
between the two pebbles. And the stem's diagonal line is a counterpoint to
the above-mentioned line. I hope that you print this.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on October 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM

Even without the frozen leaf those ice patterns would make an interesting shot. The leaf puts it over the top. The processing is perfect IMO - it's subtle enough to let nature run its own show.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on October 18, 2009 at 8:40 PM

Love it! This is good, very good.

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on October 18, 2009 at 8:52 PM

This is really cool and tells a great story. Nicely seen and captured.

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on October 18, 2009 at 9:19 PM

Great abstract, very unique and artistic.

Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on October 18, 2009 at 9:35 PM

Kurt: Brilliant comp and subject. A great find superbly captured.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on October 18, 2009 at 11:43 PM

Such a captivating image, I love it! There is a nice symmetry in the upper part that might be stressed with a small crop off the bottom. Whether you want to go that way is up to you...I like it either way

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on October 19, 2009 at 12:31 AM

Perfection!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Gloth on October 19, 2009 at 12:37 AM

Awesome shot. Love the blue tones. The detail is amazing. Nicely done.

Registered on August 29, 2007, 96 Posts, 1003 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Creel on October 19, 2009 at 12:49 AM

I love it! Love everything about it. Love the yellowish complement to the blue. Love the cool feel to it. Love the imperfections in the leaf. Love the great lines in the ice and how many of them lead to the "hole." Excellent...very well done.

I have a similar image by Guy Tal hanging on my office wall.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 104 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on October 19, 2009 at 2:00 AM

Superb eye and a great comp, nice image

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on October 19, 2009 at 2:59 AM

simple and beautiful.
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 19, 2009 at 5:29 AM

Beautiful work Kurt.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on October 19, 2009 at 8:11 AM

Love it!! The contrasting colors and comp, just perfect IMO. Well done.

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on October 19, 2009 at 9:20 AM

I love these "kinds" of ice shots! excellent image!

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 19, 2009 at 9:22 AM

Beautiful, just beautiful. Excellent comp too. Looks a little colder than here in Florida!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on October 19, 2009 at 1:02 PM

I know what you mean when you say "things never really happened this year". But your shot shows that there is always something to shoot - a great find and well done

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on October 19, 2009 at 1:08 PM

stunnign

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Jesse Speer on October 19, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Love the texture and color ... and raw beauty you've presented. Well worth the trip!

Registered on September 18, 2004, 19 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 19, 2009 at 1:44 PM

Whats not to like here. Awesome image!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on October 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM

I liked this the night you showed it to me, Kurt. This is even more stunning with the web presentation. I love the graceful lines here and the placement of the two circular bubbles balances the scene nicely.

Is Mitch still shivering?

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments