Dream Come True

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 30, 2010736 views18 comments

An image from one of the best sunrises I've ever seen which took place earlier this summer. Taken from Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. This was shot on Fuji Velvia so it was quite contrasty. I was able to pull some shadow detail from the trees under the alpenglow after the scan. Recovering detail from the twisted tree on the upper right was pretty impossible so I left that as a silhouette. The color might appear slightly on the magenta side but it is true to what I saw. Some of the intense saturation (this was taken on Velvia after all

) was actually decreased in processing. The image is best viewed a little bit dark. Thanks for looking and your comments!

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on August 30, 2010 at 2:57 PM

This is pretty intense, Joshua. The comp is awesome here. Even though you already applied some desaturation, I would probably do quite a bit more to reign in some of that red. Thanks for sharing it!

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

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on August 30, 2010 at 3:10 PM

Amazing light, amazing photo. I would have to disagree with Daniel... don't dare reign in that red!!!

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 30, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Complex comp, intense light. I really like how the snow breaks things up and makes it's own abstract pattern.

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 30, 2010 at 3:39 PM

Very nice composition and colours although personally I would tone down the saturation a bit as well.. but certainly a very beautiful image!

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 30, 2010 at 4:32 PM

Intense is right! A beautiful sight to witness I'm sure. Although this is quite saturated, it doesn't really appear overly so IMO - just an intense morning that you were lucky enough to capture.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Budde on August 30, 2010 at 5:54 PM

Lucky light! Yep, wouldn't touch the red. Classic Velvia red/orange right there. Very nice!

Registered on May 19, 2008, 39 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on August 30, 2010 at 6:38 PM

Dream come true for sure. The color really exploded here.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on August 30, 2010 at 8:26 PM

You were most fortunate to witness such a grand sunrise!
I've never done much photography in Rocky Mountain NP;
this image encourages me to do so. This is gorgeous and
thanks for sharing, Joshua.

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on August 30, 2010 at 9:00 PM

Wow, amazing color! Its definitely saturated, but I wouldn't change a thing. The white snow on the mountains really adds a lot to this scene.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on August 30, 2010 at 9:27 PM

Joshua,
Very pleasing image. You've done a nice job with the shadow details. Colors have a early 70s feel. The composition is great. Best Regards.

Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on August 30, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Hi Joshua
You found fantastic light for a wonderful composition and I think the result is a winner.

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

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on August 30, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Very nice, an amazing sunrise for sure and you captured it well. Love the Velvia. Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on August 30, 2010 at 11:11 PM

I've seen light like this...just gotta love it! Great work, Joshua!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Creel on August 30, 2010 at 11:55 PM

Brilliant scene that seems oversaturated to me. But, then again, I wasn't there, so maybe it was that dramatic!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 31, 2010 at 7:11 AM

The colour palette looks very typical of Velvia to me. Beautifully done.

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

Comment posted by Steven Peckham on August 31, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Very pleasing composition with the log and shoreline leading around to the right and back. The twisted tree is a a bit of a problem, but not significant. I can appreciate why some might find the reds on the over-saturated side, but those who were in the park know how incredibly intense the color was this particular morning. Well done.

Registered on June 12, 2008, 2 Posts, 18 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 31, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Crazy about the comp. Great light and the color is true Velvia.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 2, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Wow that has a total illusion effect!

I would not rein in the red but, I do wonder why the water color is less intense in red and would go for a balance there.

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