Afternoon De"Light"

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 17, 2011355 views32 comments

Sometimes it's just too hard to give up on a good thing. I'm still milking that autumn trip to Yosemite and I might yet have a couple more to post.

This was captured late in the afternoon on our first day in early November at the west end of El Capitan Meadow. By now this stand of black oaks should look quite familiar. In fact, it's the same stand as Chris's winter image posted just recently. I mention this because of the location, but also because I expect someone might mention that the image should be rotated. Now I can't claim that the camera was level, but I can tell you that the trees do lean to the left. Check out Chris's image and you'll see the trees on the right, leaning left and the trees on the left leaning right. The grouping of trees here are the same trees as the ones in Chris's image - leaning left.

ANYWAY, as always I appreciate your honest critiques, comments and suggestions.

4x5, Nikkor 210mm, V100, f/22.5 @ 1/2s. TK's masks and actions.

Thanks!

Lon

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Edward Nunez on January 17, 2011 at 10:40 PM

Lon, beautiful image. I love the light, particularly in the foreground grass. I wish the bare white branch was not there, but just a tiny nit as the image looks great anyway!

Registered on April 19, 2007, 65 Posts, 711 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on January 17, 2011 at 10:49 PM

This is beautiful, Lon. A large print would be amazing.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 17, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Lon this is a beauty, love the texture in the FG grass and the warm colors of the foliage against the blues of the mountain. I also like how the trees are leaning. Wonderful capture!

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 17, 2011 at 11:29 PM

The pattern of the tree trunks and branches is exquisite, Lon, and the backlight of the leaves and grasses has made this glow with an inner warmth. Superb, beautiful work. Minor thing, but I might try and burn that one branch that appears barren of bark just to left of center in the background, just to darken it as that single element seems to disrupt the cadence of the tree trunk pattern, to my eye anyway. Either way, an outstanding image.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 17, 2011 at 11:37 PM

Thanks guys! That is one of the reasons why this site is so valuable. I can honestly say that the entire time I worked on this from scanning, spotting, processing and getting ready for the web, not once did I notice that light/bright branch. Just goes to show you how each of us can get so focused on an image, that we - "can't see the forest for the trees..." OR, literally, "can't see the tree for the forest."

thanks for the comments and observation. I'll definitely do some spot toning there.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Mat Malone on January 17, 2011 at 11:47 PM

The back light is intense! There is a great rhythm to the tree trunks as well. I can only imagine how amazing this looks as a print. I believe you that this is straight and that the trunks aren't exactly vertical, but I would still be tempted to rotate it a tiny bit because it does feel a little off balance. But then again if you hadn't mentioned it, I might not have even noticed it

Beautiful as always, Lon.

Registered on December 15, 2008, 91 Posts, 882 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 18, 2011 at 12:11 AM

Lon,

Nice photo, great light, I mean really great light, but really what's with the title?

That small bright branch is a bit distracting but not a deal breaker to me if you left it as is.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 18, 2011 at 12:52 AM

I like the foreground as much as the trees. The shading and textures here almost make it seem like a nice place to take a nap.

I never tire of your tree images. You somehow manage to give each it's own personality.

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on January 18, 2011 at 12:52 AM

Why hold back? I'd love to see more of where this came from. There's an interesting combination of high global contrast and a somewhat soft feel (maybe mostly in the colors).

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on January 18, 2011 at 12:53 AM

Lon, this came out nice! The grasses worked out well and I love the color of the leaves. I also like the blue of the granite wall in the background. It's a nice counterpoint to the overall warmth of the light.

Good job!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 18, 2011 at 12:54 AM

Hey, nice light! That light, and those trees look kinda familiar, I sent you a note. I like the intensity of mine from here, but I also really like the exposure control of this one. Mine is from a couple of years ago.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 18, 2011 at 3:39 AM

gorgeous backlighting offset by the dark trunks and branches. why give this up when it gets as good as this?

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

Comment posted by Bruce Omori on January 18, 2011 at 8:09 AM

Beautiful image, Lon! Looks so soothing and peaceful with that great light... love the contrast between the backlit autumn colored leaves and the dark tree trunks. Well executed!

Aloha - Bruce

Registered on December 6, 2010, 6 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on January 18, 2011 at 8:39 AM

Lon, wonderful picture. I like the light here

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

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on January 18, 2011 at 9:08 AM

Love this, Lon. Beautiful light and autumn colors. I think it's a picture perfect!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 18, 2011 at 9:25 AM

Maybe it's YOU that leans to the left! Check your shoes.

The golden color looks so inviting. Beautiful image, I never get tired of these.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 18, 2011 at 9:34 AM

A lovely composition, Lon. I never tire of viewing your tree/forest images.
The colors here are beautiful, and you have just the right amount of FG.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 18, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Lon, many fall or autumn shots we see are high energy or strong impact type scenes. This one on the other hand to me has captured the really very enjoyable softer part of the autumn season. It truly has a softening or relaxing tone to the interpretation, IMO. With that all said I'm sure it's a combination of everything involved here with regard to the technical side of capture and post processing as well. However, I also feel it takes those certain conditions at this time of the year to present that feeling the scene evokes overall. Very well done as always.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Wieslaw Poltorak on January 18, 2011 at 12:19 PM

Beautiful display of seasonal transitions. That is how I remember Yosemite Valley.

Registered on September 25, 2007, 37 Posts, 187 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 18, 2011 at 12:34 PM

You are the tree man! Love the light and the touch of cool tones poking through.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 18, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Amazing light, beautiful color. I really like the warm feel this has Lon. Great comp as usuall and just a real joy to look at. Wonderful picture!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on January 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

very natural view Lon

i really like the light & colors

you should take your GF there

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

Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on January 18, 2011 at 4:23 PM

The light is beautiful Lon, On the leaves and the grasses, the grass is so well done it looks on fire. I also love the blues of the cliffs coming through, it's a great compliment to the yellow of the leaves. Another great Yosemite picture from you. If you have a picture of the trees on the left this could be a wonderful diptych(and it would balance out the lean

). Cheers

Registered on January 22, 2009, 12 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on January 18, 2011 at 4:57 PM

Nice afternoon light Lon. The scene brings some subtle and soft feelings. (soft, not in terms of sharpness)

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

Comment posted by Jason Kim on January 18, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Wonderful light here, the backlit leaves and foreground grasses are very nice.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 18, 2011 at 11:40 PM

This is De-Lovely! Great warm light infusing everything and then with the dark trunks as contrast. Fix the branch and it's nothing but a canvas of harmony.

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

Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on January 19, 2011 at 7:26 AM

Hi Lon,
Very nice to see some warm images during this cold period. Beautiful composition here, I like the way in which you separated the different trees. These dark trunks are really nice: around here, in trentino we do not have black oaks! Pity!

gio

Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 19, 2011 at 11:56 AM

Another winner, Lon--tremendous lighting here!

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 19, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Another Lon classic... Yosemite's trees love to pose for their portraits and you are that one super star photographer that they ask for by name.

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

Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on January 19, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Lon, wonderful light making the place really special. I love the band of grass you included at the bottom, it gives a lot of stability. I understand what you say about the leaning trees...maybe sometimes it is good to cheat to the viewer, as he has no clue or references to the rest of the landscape...Gorgeous image, as usual, by the way...:)

Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 19, 2011 at 6:28 PM

Fine image, despite the corny title.

I like the scene and the colors.

Some day, you will have to venture beyond Yosemite.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Crabbe on January 19, 2011 at 6:37 PM

Lon:

Such a sweet light in the trees. Hate that all the trees like that though make me feel like I'm (slightly) tipping to the side.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 182 Posts, 1840 Comments