Radiant Glow

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 1, 2010520 views36 comments

Sunrise alpenglow on Steens Mountain from Borax Hot Springs, Oregon, November 2010. The air temp that morning was 5 degrees F, which is by far the coldest temp I have ever experienced. My goal when processing this photo was to make it look/feel very cold. Let me know if I have succeeded.

Nikon D7000, 12-24 Nikkor dx, polarizer. 2 exposure blend for DOF. 1.6 sec at f/16, ISO 100.

This was my first session with the D7000 and I'm very impressed with the camera.

All C&C are appreciated. Please view large.

Comments

36 comments

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on December 1, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Very nice Scott. The blue/magenta combo work well and the hoarfrosted grasses give alot of foreground interest.

Mel-

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 1, 2010 at 4:06 PM

Gorgeous, Scott! This is certainly the most compelling image I've seen from here. I love the blue tones and the frost -- they certainly make it feel cold. I like the subtle pink on the mountains, and how the clouds in the sky are the same blue as the rest of the image (instead of pink/red).

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 1, 2010 at 4:11 PM

You have definitely succeeded, Scott. I go out here all the time and the east slope of the Steens is my favorite place on earth (although I rarely take photos). I was out in the Ruby's to the SE in Nevada, likely on this same morning, and it was -18F! The cold really comes through here. I bet you were able to see mist rising off the spring lake miles away! The glow off the peaks really helps the background. I'd be interested in seeing some landscape compositions as well.

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on December 1, 2010 at 4:28 PM

Thanks for the comments Mel, Floris and Marc

Marc - this was from last Friday. I'm amazed you were able to be out in -18F. I was cold enough at 5F! I didn't get any landscape comps since the good lighting only lasted a few moments. This was my first trip to this area and I can see why you like the east side of the Steens so much. I also enjoyed checking out a few of your prints at Fields Station.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on December 1, 2010 at 4:29 PM

Looks colder than a well-digger's tush. I think you not only succeeded, but made a lovely image as well.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on December 1, 2010 at 4:37 PM

wonderful

i really like this

everything here is excellent

well done

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on December 1, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Beautiful scene and well composed! I love the frozen feel from foreground to the middle, then the warm colors on the peaks!

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on December 1, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Very pretty photograph Scott. Could be a slight tilt to the right...or just me. Wonderful shot though.

Hell, if you want cold, come to Wyoming this month or next. When the wind is blowing, it can reach way below zero. And I mean WAY.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 1, 2010 at 6:25 PM

Scott, -18 is no problem at all. There are photographers who regularly go out in -40 or below. It's just a matter of getting used to it, selecting the right apparel and fine-tuning your camping setup for it (when camping). If I'd never been out in 5F before I'm sure it would be quite a shock to the system, but it gets much better the more you do it.

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

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 1, 2010 at 6:49 PM

Wonderful comp, gorgeous blue colors and the pink on the mountains really sets it all off, well done

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on December 1, 2010 at 7:09 PM

What an awesome image, Scott, especially considering this was your first trip to the area. The cold, wintery conditions definitely come through here. Congrats on this one!

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on December 1, 2010 at 7:21 PM

The color contrast is gorgeous! The entire scene really conveys cold quite well. I really like this one.
So...did you take a dip?

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 1, 2010 at 7:35 PM

The chill definitely comes across.Nicely composed. Glad you like your new camera.

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

Comment posted by David Cobb on December 1, 2010 at 8:27 PM

Wonderful view from the springs Scott, I love how the frosted grass pops my eye through the frame.

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on December 1, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Holly pinky mountains Scott!
This is a wonderful image, so cold and so warm at the same time and I'm not writing about the temperature of colors but about the temperature of what the image evokes.
The misty section in the middle of the photo is also very intriguing.
Great shot!

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

Comment posted by Ben Horne on December 1, 2010 at 10:55 PM

Beautiful shot! The foreground works very well here. It seems like those mid-ground tufts of vegitation would also make for a good horizontal with a slightly longer lens.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 2, 2010 at 12:08 AM

Scott,

I really like the colors and cool tones presented here. It really sets the mood and help project a sense of COLD! And the light striking the peaks really tops this off.

Reminds me very much of the Tule Lake/Klamath area that saddles the CA/OR border.

Beautiful image.

Lon

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

Comment posted by John Williams on December 2, 2010 at 1:15 AM

I've been wanting to get down there, and now I'm really motivated. This is just excellent Scott, one of your best. The comp and processing are spot on, and the cold really comes through.

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on December 2, 2010 at 3:22 AM

Definitely a success, Scott. The frozen grass is a great eye-catcher. You nicely solved the problem of an empty mid-ground by blazing the additional grass there. On top of that the glow on the peaks add a lovely warm tone to the shot, making the cold tones even colder.

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

Comment posted by Christer Johansson on December 2, 2010 at 4:46 AM

Nice peace of equipment obviously and the photo is excellent. 5 degrees F is what we have had in Sweden for the last 10 days. Your shot really express the beauty of the ice cold lake and the distant mountain ridge is a super backround. Also like the tonality as it reads "winter" for my eys.

Registered on October 10, 2009, 50 Posts, 191 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on December 2, 2010 at 8:28 AM

Looks chilly to me! A classic composition.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on December 2, 2010 at 9:32 AM

Excellent composition and wonderful color palette. It certainly does feel cold and remote.

Guy

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on December 2, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Those icy textures are very interesting. The light to dark transition is quite captivating.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 2, 2010 at 10:11 AM

This is Beautiful, Scott. The blue color looks great with the frost, and the pink color on the mountains really sets it off. Very nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on December 2, 2010 at 10:20 AM

This is amazing
The color tone works excellent here
I can feel the coldness from here :-)

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 2, 2010 at 2:09 PM

A beautiful and well composed image

Excellent work.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on December 2, 2010 at 3:04 PM

Superb, Scott! I must visit this area some time. I love the colors,
particularly the pastel BG. Also the frozen grasses make for nice
textures and lines.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 2, 2010 at 5:14 PM

Stunning image, I like the cool blue colors leading up to the mts and yes it looks cold, great job, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on December 3, 2010 at 1:25 AM

Beauty Scott. Yes, it exudes cold! Really nicely done.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 3, 2010 at 2:03 PM

Excellent! The coldness sure comes through. I really enjoy the frosty foreground and the awesome light on the range!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Winnie Ho on December 3, 2010 at 4:11 PM

This is a beautiful composition Scott. Alpenglow is superb, and yes I feel the cold in this one!

Registered on January 6, 2008, 93 Posts, 1788 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on December 3, 2010 at 4:21 PM

I reckon I have been back to view this particular image a dozen or more times. I almost love it and finally I think I know what it is that makes it perfect for me. I simply adore the top 3/5 with its soft ethereal feel and I also enjoy the bottom 2/5 for its starkness but somehow not both together. I would respectfully beg you to crop off the bottom fringe and use those wonderful delicate iced up mid ground grasses and their reflection as the new base of your image.

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on December 3, 2010 at 4:25 PM

Really nice image. Love the light and layers. Feels colder than a witch's titty to me, so I'd say you succeeded there. Funny that you captured such a frigid feel in a place named Borax HOT Springs.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on December 3, 2010 at 7:42 PM

Speechless! Superb image!

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on December 3, 2010 at 9:35 PM

Thanks again to everyone for all of the comments.

John - no swimming in this hot spring. The water temp is ~180F
Ian - I definitely see the comp you are talking about. I may play around with a different crop when I get a chance. Thanks for your thoughts on the image.

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

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on December 10, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Wow!!!

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments