Aspen Affection

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 24, 2010510 views43 comments

Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado

I seem to have an affection for aspens!

This image was the last of the evening, taken on the way out using my headlamp to paint the foreground trees just a touch. Harley Goldman has a sweet black and white image of aspens that he shot earlier in the trip. I was influenced by his shot and immediately thought of a black and white conversion when I revisited my images from that trip a few days ago. This is a very Harley-esque image.

Canon 5Dmk2/45mm TS-E.

Comments

43 comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 24, 2010 at 2:07 PM

I like the artistic approach you have taken on this image.
Very ghostly and supernatural.
Reminds me of Blair Witch...

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on May 24, 2010 at 2:08 PM

Wow its great almost sinister with ghostly aspens in the darkness. Bold presentaion that works for me.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 24, 2010 at 2:14 PM

The exposure is just right on those front aspens making this an excellent B&W and a great mood with the darkness.

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

Comment posted by Jeff Wiebe on May 24, 2010 at 2:27 PM

Jimmy, this is unreal good. The detail is perfect, and I love the trees in the BG as well. One of the best B&W images i've seen in a long time.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 102 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on May 24, 2010 at 2:36 PM

Very moody, and very effective image here Jimmy!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on May 24, 2010 at 2:47 PM

I like it very nice subtle details in the background!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 24, 2010 at 4:08 PM

Wonderful work, Jimmy. Lots of mood here - excellent work with the dark processing.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 24, 2010 at 4:20 PM

This is very intriguing - just jumps off the screen. I love the way the dim BG beckons you to proceed and search out more details. Super work Jimmy.

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

Comment posted by Mark Windom on May 24, 2010 at 4:30 PM

Very creative! I really like the hint of other aspens in the background and the central placement of the lit FG ones.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Blankenship on May 24, 2010 at 4:33 PM

Very moody. Cool image Jimmy!

Registered on May 20, 2008, 15 Posts, 94 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on May 24, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Holy crap thats awesome Jimmy

Hard to not love aspens and your craftiness really pulled through here.
Well done Sir

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 24, 2010 at 6:35 PM

I'm a sucker for these kinds of shots. Looks like needs some web sharpening but very cool. I'm going back and forth on the centered comp. Pretty killer overall :)

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Capurso on May 24, 2010 at 7:20 PM

You've done it again, Jimmy! Killer B+W!

Mark Capurso
Phoenix, AZ

Registered on January 4, 2008, 47 Posts, 321 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on May 24, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Very cool! I like it!

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Yan Zhang on May 24, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Jimmy, this is a nice shot. I like such simple composition and dark background, which maks the main subject standing out.

Registered on April 10, 2010, 28 Posts, 292 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on May 24, 2010 at 8:16 PM

This is a beauty, Jimmy! Great mood, comp and processing. Excellent.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 24, 2010 at 8:51 PM

Noting short of spectacular Jimmy!

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 24, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Reminds me of one of my favorite Ansel Adams aspen images, albeit a little darker and moodier. Great job with the light painting. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on May 24, 2010 at 10:11 PM

Very creative, Jimmy! I like it.

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

Comment posted by Greg Cope on May 24, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Great presentation. The mood is so strong, I love it.

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

Comment posted by Brent Doerzman on May 24, 2010 at 10:49 PM

Incredible image Jimmy, absolutely love the super subtle detail showing in the background.

The best part? As soon as I scrolled down to this thumbnail, I knew it was a Jimmy Gekas shot!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 55 Posts, 102 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 24, 2010 at 11:14 PM

Excellent technique from exposure through processing. Your love of aspens is very apparent here.

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

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on May 24, 2010 at 11:40 PM

Amazing image Jimmy! Light painting is truly creating an art here!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on May 24, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Nice one Jimmy but what are doing hanging out in the dark with two tree trunks??? I like the vague background!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Lawson on May 24, 2010 at 11:52 PM

Love how the two aspen stand out against the darker background. And I like that there's just enough detail in the distant aspen boles to add some interest in addition to the focal point of image.

Registered on March 3, 2008, 29 Posts, 337 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on May 25, 2010 at 12:45 AM

As the comments here attest, this is definitely a photographer's photograph whether or not it has more universal appeal. I know if it was my idea, I would be absolutely in love with it.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 25, 2010 at 4:11 AM

wonderful and inspiring. i might have offset the two main subjects from the centre just a bit?

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Shrader on May 25, 2010 at 7:42 AM

Jimmy, this image stopped me in my tracks. Very well done! The soft contrast and ethereal quality of the background are processed to perfection, IMO. This would look fantastic printed very large.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 11 Posts, 13 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on May 25, 2010 at 9:12 AM

Aspens are such photogenic trees. This is truly unique, Jimmy. The presentation is pure art. I would love to see it in a print one of these days.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on May 25, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Artistic and moody. Perfect IMO.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on May 25, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Very artistic rendition here, Jimmy. The high contrast works well here I think. While the aspens that are the main subjects are certainly much brighter than the rest of the scene, there are not any other real obvious signs of an artificial light source. Well done.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 25, 2010 at 12:57 PM

Excellent Jimmy. Reminds me of that Ansel Adams image.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 25, 2010 at 1:56 PM

Love this

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Reznick on May 25, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Simple, beautiful image. The clear subject is great, but so is the background aspens just lit enough to provide form.

Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on May 25, 2010 at 3:01 PM

This is one amazing piece of fine art, Jimmy! Truly one of the most original b&w I've seen!

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 25, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Mysterious and creative! Definitely an image that stimulates the imagination!

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

Comment posted by Erik Stensland on May 25, 2010 at 7:04 PM

This is magical and mysterious Jimmy. I know that I'm going to be severely tempted to try something like this.

Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on May 26, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Spectacular image - the lighting is perfect!

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 26, 2010 at 6:13 PM

I really like this Jimmy. Wonderful artistic image!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Marlow on May 26, 2010 at 11:42 PM

Perfect lighting here especially with the hint of light in the background trees, I know we would all love to have it in our portolios

Registered on October 15, 2008, 158 Posts, 531 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 27, 2010 at 3:05 PM

Jimmy,

A little late, but wanted to let you know this is a superb b&w image and a fantastic rendition and interpretation of this aspen scene. Congrats!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on May 28, 2010 at 7:53 PM

Pure art!

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

Comment posted by Doug Roane on June 3, 2010 at 1:11 AM

very artistic - love this image!

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments