Radiance

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 7, 2010680 views22 comments

Processing this image has been getting me psyched for the upcoming fall season in the Colorado Rockies. Even though this location, Castle Creek Road near Aspen, is a prime autumn spot, I photographed this a few weeks ago in late July. I was attracted to stop here by a field of wildflowers across the road (Check out the image in the Rocky Mountain regional forum). However, as I walked back to my vehicle after photographing that field the sun was just beginning to come up over the mountain ridge behind these trees creating an awesome backlighting situation and some "radiating" shadows. This image is the result of seeing that unique light at exactly the right time and even has some aster flowers under the trees as an added bonus. Thanks for viewing and for your comments!

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 7, 2010 at 12:34 PM

Wonderful warm light and color. Very nice composition with the wildflowers and rock in the foreground. I like this alot.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 7, 2010 at 12:36 PM

It even looks like spring to me. Wonderful light and arrangement. I like this one rock in the fg left very much too.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 7, 2010 at 12:40 PM

Very beautiful shot.

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

Comment posted by Ant on September 7, 2010 at 12:41 PM

I like the perspective and the tree shadows... They work very well together. The colors are spring-like, perhaps a touch too yellow - at least on my screen.

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on September 7, 2010 at 2:09 PM

Awesome backlight Joshua. The shadow patterns radiate outward rather nicely!

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

Comment posted by Mitch Erwin on September 7, 2010 at 2:21 PM

Josh, being from and living in the Midwest, I cannot get enough of the Aspen scenes. This is VERY well seen and done!

Registered on April 24, 2006, 98 Posts, 656 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on September 7, 2010 at 2:55 PM

great use of the shadows as radiating lines, lovely tones and colors throughout

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 7, 2010 at 3:19 PM

Great composition here, but it looks a bit on the flat side on my crappy work monitor. I will check again when I get home tonight. Love the way the shadows are splayed out. A really fine summer scene.

EDIT - At home now and this looks MUCH better on my home monitor - delightful!

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

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on September 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Nice glow on this one Josh. The greens are enticing. Well done backlight image.

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

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on September 7, 2010 at 7:31 PM

Pretty sweet Joshua. I love how each leaf and blade of grass just pop with light.
The mix of shadows and controlled light are marvelous together.

Good eye

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 7, 2010 at 7:35 PM

Very nice, Josh! I noticed the same glow in the aspens out at N Crestone the other day--really has me psyched for the next few weeks! The flowers here are a nice addition!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 7, 2010 at 11:26 PM

This is a very striking photograph. I love the slightly downward looking perspective. The shadows are a nice touch and so is that rock in the foreground.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on September 7, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Wow! Great shot - love it. The backlighting is extremely nice.

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 7, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Vibrant and lively, Joshua. You nailed the light and color for sure. Nice comp too.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on September 7, 2010 at 11:54 PM

Great light, this image jumps out.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 8, 2010 at 11:33 AM

It looks like one seriously difficult exposure, and yet, you appear to have nailed it! With the radial pattern in the shadows, I might have like to see a single line running vertically down to the bottom of the frame instead of having all of them slightly angled. Centering the shadow pattern in the photo might also have worked since it's pretty close already.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 8, 2010 at 10:58 PM

That is one heck of an exposure! Looks just perfect to me.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on September 9, 2010 at 8:09 AM

Wonderful warm forest image. I like your comp and you handled the light well. Looks like a killer fall spot as well... Nice work.

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

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on September 9, 2010 at 11:53 PM

Wow...Just love this one. Stunning capture!

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

Comment posted by Trevor Anderson on September 10, 2010 at 3:52 AM

Excellent light management.

Registered on April 25, 2007, 64 Posts, 483 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 10, 2010 at 6:34 PM

Such a well crafted shot, Joshua! Outstanding in every way!

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

Comment posted by Darren White on September 11, 2010 at 12:30 AM

I will never know how you get this amazingly balanced light in a scene like this but it sure works wonders for the way the shadows are laying on the ground!

Registered on May 29, 2006, 193 Posts, 855 Comments