Yawning Portal

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 18, 2011487 views32 comments

I just posted this photo to my blog, but at the expense of doubling up even when I have a queue of images I hope to share here, I thought it was worth adding to this forum. I'm not thrilled with the overall feel in the post processing, but the subject - not my so called artistry - is the object of greater interest here. If your interested in a little more information, click the link above or the link to the larger image.

This is a vertical stitch of tho horizontal images recorded at 17mm (that alone give some idea of scale); an alternate exposure was used in the opening to restore completely absent details; color inside the cavern is meant to approximate how the eyes/mind perceive it, and the color in the opening is mostly neutralized in order that it might be less obtrusive; a mild and selective "Orton Effect" was added.

Thanks for viewing.

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 18, 2011 at 3:24 AM

again, you take us to extraordinary places. this is no exception - these ice galleries are amazing - made more so by your photography. the colours, forms and depth work for me.

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on January 18, 2011 at 4:10 AM

Would love love love to shoot one of these in person. Such a sweet location. Everything looks good here though for my personal preference I would have tried to take another darker shot for the opening. That ice/light looks sick. Nice work

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 18, 2011 at 9:40 AM

This is so neat! Truly a crystal cave. Looking at it, I was thinking it was small, something you had to crawl into, but from your post, it's obviously larger. Just for a sense of scale, jow tall is it inthe middle? I love the color you've captured here, and the comp.

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on January 18, 2011 at 10:18 AM

Amazing shot Kent, well done. I've broken some bones just sitting here looking at it!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on January 18, 2011 at 11:30 AM

This is just beautiful Kent!

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on January 18, 2011 at 11:35 AM

Aaron F. - There is a darker image blended into the opening in this version. Outside there are low clouds and a fairly heavy snowfall. Though the wall on the right is an absolutely electric blue, the light outside is far brighter.

Bill C. - There was an opening behind me as I took this photo that was tall enough to walk through. The opening seen in the image is probably about thirty feet high. The iceberg in the foreground is roughly ten to fifteen feet across.

Bill M. - I happened to be wearing crampons for the entirety of this trip.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 18, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Amazing image Kent, and so interesting. I'm really enjoying looking at this. What a place! Nice work and thanks for sharing it.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 18, 2011 at 12:29 PM

I like the subtle warm tones of the highlights. Such an awesome view and phenomenon.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 18, 2011 at 12:46 PM

Incredible texture and colors Kent, I haven't seen a shot quite like this before.

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

Comment posted by Mat Malone on January 18, 2011 at 1:08 PM

Looks like another world! Reminds me of a kaleidoscope. The different patterns on the bottom half of the frame are actually the most interesting to me.

I would expect that golden sunsets are a rarity up there this time of year. This is a nitpick, but I can't help but wish that the opening was a warmer color that would contrast with the blue -- but then the lighting inside the ice cave might not have worked either.

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

Comment posted by Kartik Venkatarama on January 18, 2011 at 1:42 PM

Surreal! What completes this image is the "ripples" in the ice catching the sunlight, providing the depth to this scene.

Registered on July 27, 2007, 197 Posts, 830 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 18, 2011 at 1:43 PM

Amazing scene captured here, Kent. Very nice work overall.

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

Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on January 18, 2011 at 2:09 PM

i need to find me an icecave...thats damn sure!

Such a fascinating shot...love the blues in the ice!

Registered on October 13, 2010, 27 Posts, 378 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 18, 2011 at 2:45 PM

Great perspective, and I am so happy that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Wonderfully crafted shot. I really like the detail throughout the cave.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on January 18, 2011 at 3:27 PM

It's a wonderful shot Kent and looks great. I like the reflected light showing off all the contours and shapes.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on January 18, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Some pictures I just have a hard time wrapping my head around, this is one of those ones. I like it very much though, the scale is hard to tell and the colour are awesome. These are all good things I think. I spend more time looking at these types of photo's then any others. Well done Kent.

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on January 18, 2011 at 4:16 PM

very nice cave

love it in all way

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

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on January 18, 2011 at 4:23 PM

Awesome shot Kent! I love the light on the tunnel walls and the fg ice. For me, this ranks up there with your best and most intriguing ice shots.

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

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on January 18, 2011 at 4:55 PM

One of the most unusual and striking ice structures I've ever seen. So beautifully captured, Kent!

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

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on January 18, 2011 at 7:45 PM

Very cool as usual. I love all the specular highlights reflecting off the ice.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 18, 2011 at 10:13 PM

I'm not sure what you aren't sure about. It's amazing to me! The blues, the scale, the highlites, everything. Excellent!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 18, 2011 at 10:47 PM

I love how the reflective highlights seem to be floating here. Very well done on all counts.

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on January 19, 2011 at 1:54 AM

I would love to do some of this type of photography Nice image, love the blue tone in this image

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 19, 2011 at 2:17 AM

Kent, this is one incredible image. Your artistry for me has definitely made this unique with your composition, and how the reflections on the ice have created something of a vortex of light. The square format works perfectly. Stunning.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 19, 2011 at 1:08 PM

Burrrrrr.... I'm cold just looking at this. Love the immediate foreground shapes and textures and how they compliment the surreal ceiling.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on January 19, 2011 at 1:32 PM

Very cool!

I would prefer to have the "doorway" darker.

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

Comment posted by Grant Collier on January 19, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Great shot! I don't see any real issues with PP here. I'm sure it could always be improved a tad but it's spectacular as is.

Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on January 19, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments and ideas. For what it's worth, my dissatisfaction with the "look" of the photo has to do more with feeling than any specific technical misgiving. I was hoping there would be less "hardness", but as I used curves to increase contrast for the purpose of bringing out the more subtle details and textures, the overall effect was a loss of "softness" in the lighting.

On the other hand, people have mentioned that the hard look provides a connection to a less visual aspect of the subject. That's a good thing in my book, and the ice is most definitely painfully hard.

Thanks again.

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

Comment posted by Gary Crabbe on January 19, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Kent: I really like this shot. For me, it's the FG that really ties this one together in a more unique look.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 19, 2011 at 7:58 PM

Kent,

This is awesome and I'm so glad you've posted another ice cave image. I am always amazed and thoroughly enjoy your ice work. This one is no exception.

I too love the foreground and "floor" of this tunnel and the "triangulation" with the sides really pulls the viewer in. Obviously a wonderful "light at the end of the tunnel" capture.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Eric Good on January 20, 2011 at 8:12 PM

Now that's what I would call a bomb proof tube tent.