Autumn Regrowth

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 28, 2011273 views13 comments

Hi everyone! This is my first post to the landscape gallery, and despite several thousand images on transparencies (yet to be converted to digital), I realized recently that I'm a little thin on landscape images since going digital last fall!

My daughter, Jenaya, and I wanted to get some images of the fall colours this past October, and made a side trip to a bird sanctuary in Calgary that can combine great colours and interesting birds all in one setting, but we arrived to discover all the colours already on the ground. We still had a great time, and it stretched us to find other natural art to photograph.

As I crossed a small bridge over a creek, I glanced at all the leaves in this beaver-made pond, and immediately recognized there was some interesting potential there as the leaves appeared to be in the process of magically re-attaching themselves to the reflection of the cottonwood tree.

The light was sadly uninspiring, so I dug into my bag, wondering if I still had my old Cokin P172 Vari-Color Blue/Yellow Polarizer in there. Turns out I did, and it significantly helped an already intriguing scene.

I realize this is likely one of those images that is not for everyone, and the filter certainly cranked up the colours, but I liked the overall effect and contrasting tones. I'm certainly very interested to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

Thanks in advance...

Nikon D2X
AF Nikkor 28-70 f/3.5-5.6D @ 38mm
ISO 200
1.6sec @ f/11
Cokin P172 B/Y Vari-Color Polarizer
tripod mounted
slight crop & rotation to improve comp/angle
increased blacks in ACR to add contrast to tree reflection

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 28, 2011 at 3:05 PM

Very neat comp. The leaves really stand out from the water and the tree adds a really nice element. Very nice.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on April 28, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Filtered or not, these colors are sweet! I like your use of the reflection as well. Before I read your description I assumed this was a film photo, it has that 'look' to it.

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Bushnell on April 28, 2011 at 4:06 PM

Love this image. The color contrast are wonderful and the idea of the leaves growing back onto the tree is great!

Registered on April 3, 2011, 20 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on April 28, 2011 at 6:28 PM

I like this very much, John. The blue and gold work well together. Looking forward
to future landscape postings.

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

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on April 28, 2011 at 6:48 PM

Incredibly beautiful and well seen image! This deserves way more comments IMHO. excellent introduction John!!

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on April 28, 2011 at 7:01 PM

lovely image John

love the comp & colors

well done

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on April 28, 2011 at 7:56 PM

I like the blue gold contrast. I also like the composition. It is neat how the leaves appear to be falling from the reflected tree.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Jake Case on April 28, 2011 at 8:24 PM

All around great intimate scene. The warm/cool contrast works nicely, but I think what really pushes this one over the top is the subtle way the leaves and tree reflection lead the eye through the scene. Awesome job, especially in "uninspired" light.

Registered on December 13, 2010, 38 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on April 28, 2011 at 9:46 PM

Love the blue/gold contrast and the composition.

I bought a Singh Ray gold-n-blue polarizer a while ago, tried it, and did't like the result. The filter is collecting dust somewhere in my home. After seeing your picture I think I should give it a try again!

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 28, 2011 at 11:26 PM

Very neat, John . Good eye for spotting this and the processing looks great. Welcome to here.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on April 29, 2011 at 11:17 AM

This is excellent. The blue on yellow color contrast, the reflection and composition are very nice.

As far as using a filter and them cranking up the colors... I don't see it that way. Even if you do have color change from a filter, usually simple color correction techniques in ACR/Photoshop can bring all your colors in line the way you saw them or want them even after having used a filter.

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

Comment posted by Kedar Bhat on April 30, 2011 at 7:28 AM

it looks great even in the thumbnail. beautifully exposed and composed.
I like the reflection of the tree in blue water and the warm color of the leaves

Registered on April 7, 2008, 77 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by Ruben Vicente on May 8, 2011 at 7:06 AM

Amazing sho. The contrasting blue water with the golden leafes. And to be even better that tree silhouette.

Registered on April 9, 2011, 4 Posts, 59 Comments