Area 51

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 15, 2010204 views12 comments

It's been a long summer. Lost a friend in a car accident, and to add insult to injury, had to put our Lab down about the same time. Tough to lose good friends. Making photos would be a good distraction but opportunties have been limited. Thus, this image - mid-day, middle of nowhere, patterns of light and shadow. It's eastern Nevada - Area 51 is somewhere over the horizon. It's a good thing to appreciate the opportunties that present themselves, even if it isn't what you planned. Almost all the pictures I have taken lately are of our new puppy. Life goes on. The larger version is better.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Pam Colander on August 15, 2010 at 12:32 AM

Sorry you've had such a tough time Russ...but you've got a new puppy! Even though this is mid-day light it works. The large version has a translucent quality, almost like it was printed on glass. Really quite beautiful! Is this a true pano or a crop?

Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on August 15, 2010 at 12:36 AM

Sorry to hear about your losses, Russ...I pray things will start to look up for you. This is a great image. I agree with Pam about the clarity...it really is stunning.

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on August 15, 2010 at 2:36 AM

It sounds like your new puppy has been a blessing, and this photo can help remind us that it's a blessing whenever we let our camera focus our eyes on the beauty around us. It doesn't matter if it's "mid-day, middle of nowhere." The upper clouds look a little funky to me though.

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 15, 2010 at 6:13 AM

That's a lovely panorama. The grass and bushes really make this one shine. The sky looks a bit overdone with some blues spilling into the clouds already. There also is a dust spot on the left side of the sky. Otherwise - very well done.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 15, 2010 at 4:30 PM

I am so sorry for your loss. Too many of my friends have gone the same way.
I am feeling a need for solitude and open space with this shot. And I think it is a grand panorama! The large version is excellent. You handled the mid-day lighting so well. I really, really like the comp, too. There are 7 distinct layers here creating perfect depth.

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

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on August 15, 2010 at 5:41 PM

I love this pano, Russ. maybe a sparse country but you have arranged the elements so well that even mid day lighting does not detract. you have created a beautiful image.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on August 15, 2010 at 8:10 PM

Beautiful panorama Russell. Excellent color and composition. Really like the shadows of the clouds on the land. Gorgeous image. Very sorry to hear about loosing your friend and your Lab.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 15, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Russell,

I'm so very sorry to hear of your losses. Nothing will make it any easier, but I do hope you find some peace with this gorgeous landscape. Of course as we all know it's not always about the "magic hour," but one could say it is always about those "magic moments" and it doesn't matter when or where. What a grand view - and I can almost see the clouds shadows moving across the landscape. The large version is outstanding and I hope you have this hanging on your wall.

Also glad you decided to keep taking pictures and posting here!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on August 15, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Just want to say thanks to everyone for the kind words and prayers. My lesson for the summer has been the importance of community, and NPN has become another in life that I'm thankful for. Thanks for the prayers Justin, my friend had been our church home group host. You may want to keep his widow in mind, her loss is so much greater than anything I could possibly know. Thanks again everyone.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 16, 2010 at 12:22 PM

Beautiful shot Russell. You might try a B&W conversion if you have the time; I'm surprised nobody suggested it. The color version is excellent, I just see the potential for the range of tones here to render exceptionally well in B&W.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 16, 2010 at 12:50 PM

Life and loss go hand and hand. I'm so sorry to hear that it's been a tough summer. I'm glad you're still taking pictures.

It's a good thing to appreciate the opportunities that present themselves, even if it isn't what you planned.