Autumn Dreams

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 28, 2010405 views37 comments

Realizing that this is one of 'those' motion images and may evoke a yawn here and there, I really hope there is enough details in this image to make it work. Autumn has been a total bust here on the eastern and northern Olympic Peninsula, so I went back a couple of years ago to this image made at one of my favorite maple forests. I have only done this motion stuff a few times given the cost of 4x5 film, processing, etc, but this one turned out sort of interesting. Hope its okay to be in the ESS gallery.
Would really like to have your ideas and suggestions on this one.
4x5, 210mm, warm polarizer, Velvia 50.

Large image provided for your perusal.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, ideas, critiques, suggestions.

Comments

37 comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on October 28, 2010 at 12:21 AM

This image definitely has a more unique effect throughout than what is typically associated with "landscape blur" photos (not that I have lost my appreciation for the others). It appears more like a double exposure than a camera pan, and I'm impressed. A tinge more color separation/variety would do it well, but there's a satisfaction in the pervasive warmth here.

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

Comment posted by Jason Kim on October 28, 2010 at 1:09 AM

I absolutely love this, Vance. Beautiful, original, stunning piece of work. Just a joy to look at.

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on October 28, 2010 at 1:24 AM

I am enjying this very much, Vance. The movement is subtle and really imparts the feeling of a dream.

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

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on October 28, 2010 at 1:55 AM

Beautiful effect here Vance ..and the love the colors and its subtle effect ..well done ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on October 28, 2010 at 2:39 AM

subtle image, like a painting, and IMO stands head and shoulders above the majority of vertical woods-based camera motion images out there. the colours and subtle details are very compelling (i.e., read that I am advocating no further colour separation - it's perfect IMO as is)! Print big and hang proud.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on October 28, 2010 at 2:42 AM

I really like this, Vance. My thoughts echo Kent's. It has a nice double exposure "look" to it that sets it aprt from most blur shots. Well done.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on October 28, 2010 at 5:20 AM

Ditto what Kent says. This strongly reminds me of those wonderful Mr Orton's creations with the blurred and sharp slide in sandwhich. Way cool Vance, not yawning here!

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 28, 2010 at 5:35 AM

This is very amazing. One of the few "panning" shots where the results look indeed like painted. It is very impressive that you managed to create this with 4X5 equipment. With digital it is just a matter of selecting one out of many. Here you only made one!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 28, 2010 at 8:51 AM

This is just amazing to me. The large version is wonderful. I love looking at this. I think it may very well be the best I have seen with this motion blur. Fantastic! The comp, the light, the color and technique all together make this superb. The feeling is that part of the exposure was with the camera still and then some movement for the rest of the exposure. Great work, Vance.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on October 28, 2010 at 9:07 AM

This is way cool, Vance.

Lots of subtle detail within the blur along with great color. Sort of reminds me of an acid etching.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on October 28, 2010 at 9:29 AM

Very nice Vance, I like the painterly feel this image has and the warm tones with hints of green throughout. What makes it more impressive is that it was shot with 4x5. Beautiful.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on October 28, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Agree with the other guys, awesome.

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

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on October 28, 2010 at 11:20 AM

Love the magical feel to this, Vance!

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on October 28, 2010 at 12:00 PM

This is spectacular! For some reason it didn't immediately strike me as being a "motion blur" type of shot . . . I knew something was different, but there are enough details that it perplexed me a bit. Excellent stuff.

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

Comment posted by Derek Sedillo on October 28, 2010 at 12:05 PM

Vance,

This is one of the most beautiful and facinating motion blur images I have ever seen. And I am a fan of impressionistic photography.
Do you recall what you may have done to make it so unique? It looks like the motion was more subtle, possibly a wait then move type which produces a bit of double exposure feel. But I've never seen anything like this. Of course as in any landscape the scene, color and compoistion play a huge role. And those are all here in spades! Great job!

Derek

Registered on May 2, 2006, 37 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on October 28, 2010 at 1:29 PM

Rarely have I seen such a beautiful example of panning! This is phenomenal and for some reason this creates a lot of emotion for me. Excellent!

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

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on October 28, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Beautiful ! There's motion blur and yet quite some details to relate with the scene.
Beautifully made image.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 28, 2010 at 2:37 PM

Vance, I gotta commend you for trying this with a 4x5. Was the camera mounted on a tripod? I really like that you can actually see some of the detail as a ghost. That makes this quite different and spectacular. The colors are rich and beautiful. Most of what I like is on the right side of the image with the darker trees so I would suggest a crop from just left of the foreground tree in the center over to the right edge of the image. Moving the foreground tree out of middle is more visually appealing, at least to me, others may not think so. A crop would also make the image more vertical which enhances the vertical lines of the trees. Overall nice job with this one Vance.

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

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on October 28, 2010 at 5:04 PM

Impressive Vance. This has got to be one of my favorites of this genre. The fact that you pulled this off with film makes it all the more special. I absolutely love the golden hues.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on October 28, 2010 at 5:25 PM

A stunning piece, Vance. It has the feel of a tapestry and the expectations that only back light can give.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 28, 2010 at 6:01 PM

Not at all what I expected when I clicked on the thumb, looks more like a reflection. I have to say I totally love it man! The detail hidden among the tree trunks is awesome, I'm way into this

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 28, 2010 at 7:49 PM

A very painterly, unique, elegant, and inspiring image Vance. I just love love the color and very distinct shapes. Beautiful and exceptional work IMO!

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on October 28, 2010 at 7:53 PM

Brilliant Vance this is probably my favourite shot of yours the detail is gorgeous yet mesmerisingly soft and glowing with colour. If I had the most minor of nits it is just that the tree in the centre is just that, almost dead centre, which feels a little like a barrier but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the image as a whole.. well done.

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

Comment posted by Art Escobado on October 28, 2010 at 8:03 PM

No yawns here! Great stuff!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 28, 2010 at 8:34 PM

My only hope is that when I retire that my photography becomes half as good as yours. I'm with Kent in that this is not your standard blurred forest shot. Maybe it's the 4x5 or maybe it's your processing, or both, but this is a really nice image. I feel like the whole forest has become a curtain filtering the warm light beyond. Nicely done . . . again. Gosh, what else do you have laying in your archive.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 28, 2010 at 9:20 PM

Very nice execution here, Vance! And wonderful amount of color to deal with in the scene. I agree with everything said already.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on October 28, 2010 at 10:35 PM

Vance, the realism and detail you have retained here make this much, much more than just one of 'those' motion images. Your composition and colors also truly convey the feeling of the sugar maple forest, while imparting your own unique vision.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on October 28, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Really really love it, Vance. Almost a painting! Super.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 29, 2010 at 3:01 AM

Thank you everyone for the great feedback on this image. Very encouraging and helpful to me. With regard to the central placement of the maple, folks have pointed that out on other images I have made of this forest in the spring and summer. This past summer, I went to this spot with the intention of trying to find a composition without the centered trees. The elevated location where I set up is like a window into the forest with little latitude for a different point of view, without trees getting in the way. The limited DOF of the 4x5 plays into this as well. I tried and tried and just couldn't make it work (I do tend to be pretty picky with the 4x5). I will have another go at it this spring.
Thanks again.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 29, 2010 at 10:47 AM

There's no yawns from me Vance, it looks great. It has a kind of embossed look to it.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on October 29, 2010 at 4:32 PM

To me this is better than most of those other 'motion' shots Vance. I think the extra details make this one stand out more to me. I love the glow and the ethereal look to the shot.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 29, 2010 at 6:16 PM

This is flat out gorgeous Vance. The motion is just perfect and I would love to see this huge, oh my.
Stellar creation. I had a few blurs I tried recently doesn't hold up to yours.
Winner all around

edit. you have a shutter speed on this one?

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

Comment posted by Doug Roane on October 29, 2010 at 11:24 PM

I am totally impressed!

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 30, 2010 at 2:21 AM

Thanks again everyone. Really appreciate it.

Anthony, the exposure was 12 seconds at f45, with the front standard of the view camera moved downward during the last 7 or 8 seconds or so. Trying to press the cable release, look at the watch, turn the knob on the front standard at the right time, shade the lens, all at the same time, sort of makes this not all that exact. Thanks for your comment.

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

Comment posted by Christine Adams on October 30, 2010 at 7:04 PM

Simply...my new favorite tree scene! The mood is sooooo nice. I can see this as a wall mural! Good luck with it!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 31, 2010 at 2:04 PM

Hey Vance,

Thanks for explaining the technique/shutter speed. I think that is crucial to the outcome here. It was actually able to record static detail for the first half of the exposure, and then record the blur during the second half. That is why this still has so much discernable detal, and that makes the shot somewhat unique. I try and attain this also with my motion blur attempts. But my exposures are all around 1 to 2 seconds. I'm going to try it in some lower light next time, and see if I can achieve something similar with a longer exposure.

Thanks,
Chris

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 31, 2010 at 3:22 PM

Absolutely the best shot with this technique that I have ever seen! Outstanding!

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