Alienscape

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 8, 2011423 views21 comments

My first post in this gallery. I shot this one in late 2009 but I reprocessed it a couple of months ago. I'm curious what's your verdict. I'm not very satisfied with the composition and the foreground's not sharp enough but I like the colors and it was the first nightscape image I was actually pleased with.

Natural phenomenon The Rocky Mushrooms near Kurdjali, Eastern Rhodope Mountain, Bulgaria. The rock formations in the shape of mushrooms are carved in rhyolite volcanic tuffs. The pink color is due to the mineral clinoptilolithe and blue and black spots are from manganese concretions. The green color is due to the mineral celadonite. The rocks are 2.5-3 meters high.

A single one-hour exposure started about two hours after sunset. Foreground is moonlit.

Camera: Canon EOS 30D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
f/6.3
ISO 125
Focal length: 17mm

Thank you for your comments and critiques!

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on February 8, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Hi Boris...

Lovely shot, Nice tones and composition. Spot on.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on February 8, 2011 at 6:29 PM

Slight bit of noise in the sky, but the overall result is awesome. I like it very much. I haven't seen this spot before either....

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on February 8, 2011 at 6:36 PM

I really like the comp. The foreground is a great subject to go with the star trails. Sure looks like another planet.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Crabbe on February 8, 2011 at 7:20 PM

A beautifully done shot. Looks like a total alien landscape.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on February 8, 2011 at 7:34 PM

Boris, this really works nicely. Between the star trails and formations this is other worldly for sure.

I see this was taken before you got the RB67 too.

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

Comment posted by Greg Lessard on February 8, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Hi Boris,
This is a great shot! I think its plenty sharp, at least at this size. The foreground tuffas almost look like a movie set. Nice work.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 38 Posts, 219 Comments

Comment posted by Rodrigo Sandoval on February 8, 2011 at 8:38 PM

Boris,
Outstanding first post and a wonderful nightscape indeed. I'm just learning myself to time and compose shots like these. I like the lighting on the rocks, especially being the moon light. I also noticed the subtle lack of focus on the foreground, but I think it's just a small detail.

Registered on April 4, 2009, 13 Posts, 254 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on February 8, 2011 at 8:46 PM

It definitely looks like another world. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on February 8, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Fascinating place, Boris! I'd definitely say get out there again and keeping working this concept. The biggest critique I have is that I find the foreground lighting a bit too flat - almost seems 'flashed'. You can probably help some of that with a little contrast adjustment.

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 8, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Well that's pretty incredible. Full moon light on this? Great work and overall I think the comp does work with a slight off balance feel to it. Great landscape. Do you remember what the temperature was then?

aF

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

Comment posted by Yan Zhang on February 8, 2011 at 10:06 PM

A nice shot. It would be great if a complete cycle of star trails is presented.

Registered on April 10, 2010, 28 Posts, 292 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Myers on February 8, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Really interesting picture and very nicely composed. If you can find some way to make the foreground stand out a bit more, it would be worth considering.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 8, 2011 at 11:07 PM

That is a very special picture, Boris. What a fascinating place the the light looks good.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 8, 2011 at 11:32 PM

Very cool shot. The surreality of startrails combines well with the weird landscape.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on February 9, 2011 at 1:00 AM

Nice shot Boris!

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

Comment posted by Boris Pophristov on February 9, 2011 at 2:14 AM

Thank you all! Aaron, it was a quarter moon if I remember correctly. The temperature was about 4 degrees Celsius (39 Fahrenheit).

Registered on February 1, 2011, 15 Posts, 73 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on February 9, 2011 at 5:06 AM

Another fantastic composition he Boris ...love the placement of the elements ...well done ..

Balan Vinod

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

Comment posted by Guy Tal on February 9, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Fascinating formations and I love the mysterious lighting. Beautifully done!

Guy

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 9, 2011 at 12:19 PM

Crazy cool and unique place. Definitely looks alien. The foreground does have a different lighting to it... almost looks like it was flash... but I know it wasn't. I love the sky.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Boris,

Welcome to NPN and the ES&S/Landscape gallery! What a terrific and other-worldly first post. The moonlit landscape almost looks like studio lighting, but a very cool effect in this alien looking landscape.

Great job with the overall exposure and star trails. My only small nit would be that in the large version the closest mushroom looks a little soft. Probably just some sharpening for the web?

Overall, great job with this. Welcome aboard! We look forward to your images and participation.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 10, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Another interesting nightscape Borris.

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