Laced In Light

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 25, 2011600 views28 comments

This is one from last winter, as my shooting from this winter has been quite lackluster.

A few buddies and I made the short snowshoe into this part of Mount Hood's White River. All the elements came together on this morning; fresh snow, great light, clean water (which is hit or miss sometimes on this river).

This was a blend of 4 images. One for the sky, one to control the highlights on the mountain, one for the snow areas, and one for the shadow areas in the trees and water. The blend was done by hand with a Wacom Tablet. Color work was mostly done in ACR. Some dodging and burning to help add to the atmosphere and accentuate the light in the foreground. A little softening up in the background and a little texture increase in the foreground.

It may be a little intense for some, but the light this morning was some of the most vibrant I've ever seen. Any suggestions or critiques will be accepted with open arms. Thanks all!

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 25, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Well, looks pretty darn spectacular to me. You've done a masterful job controlling the dynamic range and the saturation appears perfect. Really, I could go on and on about what I like . . .

One tiny nit if you're interested. I'd clone out that little rock or bit of the bank that just nudges its way into the very bottom of the frame about 1/3 over from the right. I wouldn't mention it, but I feel like you've got something here that's pretty much perfection so even the tiniest thing is worth throwing out there.

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

Comment posted by Jared Atencio on January 25, 2011 at 7:51 PM

The cloud timing and action is perfect here! That cloud sweeping over the peak and getting the light is just breathtaking. Great control of exposure and tones, really nothing i could possibly nit about.

Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 25, 2011 at 8:19 PM

Wonderful cloud motion over Mt Hood Ryan. Beautiful color too!

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on January 25, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Unreal really. Looks like the clouds are coming up from the trees and wrapping around the mtn. Killer.

aF

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

Comment posted by Chris Martin on January 25, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Wow. Gorgeous!

Registered on September 1, 2008, 2 Posts, 24 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on January 25, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Beautiful conditions, wonderfully composed, and expertly processed!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 25, 2011 at 10:19 PM

This is excellent, Ryan. Gorgeous light and composition.

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 25, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Just spectacular colour tone. Love how the wisp of cloud is hugging the top of the peek. Fabulous image!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 25, 2011 at 10:38 PM

This should have twice as many comments. This is absolutely gorgeous, and no easy feat to blend 4 images this well.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 25, 2011 at 10:38 PM

Spectacular! Blend looks really good, love those clouds around the peak.

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

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on January 25, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Love the comp, light is spectacular, pp excellent

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 26, 2011 at 1:23 AM

gorgeous scene ryan. that is pretty intense! i don't mind it too much, really, but wonder only about the blues to the left?

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

Comment posted by Todd Caudle on January 26, 2011 at 1:34 AM

Oh, this is just sick! To say all the elements came together might just be the understatement of the year.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 472 Posts, 3705 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on January 26, 2011 at 3:24 AM

Excellent composition of this lovely scene. Beautiful colours and some fine processing.

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

Comment posted by Alex Mody on January 26, 2011 at 4:18 AM

Lookin' good, dude. You're right- everything sure did come together for this image.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on January 26, 2011 at 9:10 AM

Impressive shot, Ryan.

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

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on January 26, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Beautiful scene. It feels cold and sweet at the same time.

Very nice composition and great light, Love this!

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

Comment posted by Ryan Montgomery on January 26, 2011 at 11:15 AM

Great leading line and color. My favorite part is the soft swirl of the clouds around the apex of the mountain

Registered on January 14, 2011, 23 Posts, 26 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 26, 2011 at 11:40 AM

You did a great job processing this image. This looks gorgeous to me .
There's everything in it to make this one a real winner: beautiful spectacular sky, great light, fresh snow and the soft flowing water....

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 26, 2011 at 12:04 PM

Dunno if it was this one or another from the spot, but always been a fan.

Only nit is that rock in the bottom already mentioned.

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

Comment posted by Mat Malone on January 26, 2011 at 1:26 PM

Wonderful! This is just about as good as it gets. We see a good number of images from White River so it's easy to compare comps, and I think this one stands out. Especially the way that the river wanders through the frame but doesn't take up so much space that it detracts from the snow field. The color is intense but I believe it. I wasn't going to mention it, but since Phil commented on it I will note that I did notice that rock as well.

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

Comment posted by Doug Roane on January 26, 2011 at 2:50 PM

Fabulous image - the colors and comp is excellent, and the blend is perfect!

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on January 26, 2011 at 3:05 PM

A very beautiful shot with great lighting and an excellent composition.

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

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on January 26, 2011 at 4:58 PM

Very striking image Ryan. Do you find the Wacom tablet an advantage in these complicated blends?

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Dyar on January 26, 2011 at 5:39 PM

Thanks everyone. I do agree that little bit of rock to the left is a tad distracting. I will hit it with the clone tool and see if it helps.

Barry, for what I do, I find the tablet invaluable. For any type of masking or brushwork, it is absolutely amazing... and fairly intuitive to learn and use. I recommend them to everyone.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 22 Posts, 129 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 27, 2011 at 1:52 PM

WOW!!!!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on January 28, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Spectacular, Ryan! I particularly like the lenticular hat!

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

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on January 28, 2011 at 1:42 PM

Wow, that's some killer light!! One of the better shots I've seen from this spot. The clouds curling over Hood really put this one over the top. My personal preference would be to tone down the magenta and blue (top left) just a little. What a light show!

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