ESS - 2nd HM

Gallery: EPA 2011Posted June 13, 20113,588 views58 comments

Ephemeral Morning

I ran into fellow Photo Cascadia team member Chip Phillips on Steptoe Butte while we both were leading private workshops. We were treated to some very unique conditions and light on this morning. Always a pleasure to shoot with Chip, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and a very talented photographer and musician. This really was fun to watch, the fog was alive, I loved the way it hugged the FG hill.

This is 2 exposures blended together using my advanced photoshop blending techniques. I am producing a video detailing these techniques. It will finally be ready in June, sorry for the wait. I'll announce it here when It's available for sale.

5D II
70-200L f/4
f/16, iso 200

Comments

58 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on June 13, 2011 at 1:50 AM

absolutely a-mazing ROCKET .......

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 13, 2011 at 3:43 AM

looks gorgeous conditions - well rendered. the fog hugging the hill really works well. nice work in nice conditions!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 13, 2011 at 5:35 AM

It must be heaven!

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on June 13, 2011 at 6:05 AM

The fog and sunrise colors are pretty incredible here. There is a small sliver of sky at the top I might consider cropping off,as it competes with the bright areas in the upper third. The small trees add scale to really complete the shot.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on June 13, 2011 at 6:20 AM

Incredible light. I really like the mood created here. You captured it very well.

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

Comment posted by Bruce Omori on June 13, 2011 at 7:54 AM

Beautiful, Zack!! That's a surreal scene... Must've been a fun shoot!

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on June 13, 2011 at 8:59 AM

Wonderful Zack! Love the mood and the layers of color. Harry pointed out my only nit.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 13, 2011 at 9:00 AM

Beautiful light and color Zack.Had to be pretty special being there to see this. I really enjoy looking at this!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Jason Miles Kirk on June 13, 2011 at 9:06 AM

Very nice, Zack! The foreground trees give this a great sense of scale. That you included the mountain ranges makes me want to see the sun though! This light draws my eye straight up to the top of the frame and my first thought was ' where's the rest?'.

Registered on January 9, 2007, 7 Posts, 55 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on June 13, 2011 at 9:18 AM

Awesome scene and expertly captured!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Noll on June 13, 2011 at 9:28 AM

I have no words! This is mind blowing! Fantastic work, Zack!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 207 Posts, 1083 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 13, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Beautiful Zack - very dreamlike.

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

Comment posted by Art Escobado on June 13, 2011 at 10:02 AM

The atmospherics and lighting are top notch...personally I'd like to see a pano of this with the sun.

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Garrett on June 13, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Love this Zack...totally different view from Steptoe than I've seen before.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 41 Posts, 251 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 13, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Here is a version without the sliver of highlight at the top. I agree it was a bit of a distraction. For those that want to see the sun, believe it or not I did not include it for a reason. I have wider shots with the sun and sunrise, but the sky was actually not very interesting, this is where the action was on this morning. Thanks for all the feedback.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on June 13, 2011 at 11:24 AM

LOve the framing with the hill in the FG! The crop works better for me.

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on June 13, 2011 at 11:45 AM

Wow, gorgeous. 'Nuff said.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Stefan Gimpl on June 13, 2011 at 11:50 AM

beautiful. love it

Registered on May 12, 2007, 26 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on June 13, 2011 at 12:04 PM

Holy crap...this is amazing. The crop works well. What sweet conditions you guys had. I am extremely jealous.

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

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 13, 2011 at 12:22 PM

Thanks guys, I actually didn't crop as I didn't want to lose any room on the top. I used the clone stamp and healing brushes to retain as much of the image as possible.

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

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on June 13, 2011 at 12:24 PM

I could stare at this all morning. What a nice way to start the day. Looking forward to your vid.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on June 13, 2011 at 12:52 PM

2nd version is definitely better although I the first version is pretty darn good! The reds look a little hot on my screen. Regardless the comp is excellent and perfectly captures this wonderful scene. I feel as though I am a part of it all! Good work all around!

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on June 13, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Beautiful conditions and perfectly captured. The small crop in the repost looks great.

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

Comment posted by Scott Miller on June 13, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Looks great Zack, awesome conditions.

Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 13, 2011 at 1:14 PM

One more repost with the reds toned down a bit in the bright area. This looks perfect in photoshop and in my test print, but still looks a little hot on this web version.

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

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on June 13, 2011 at 2:20 PM

Wonderful, the clouds are creating a well balanced harmony

Love this

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

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on June 13, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Really dreamy! Spectacular scene, Zack.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on June 13, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Absolutely breathtaking.

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 13, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Wow !! Stunning work indeed

best of light man

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 13, 2011 at 5:15 PM

Oh, MOMMY! What a phenomenal image of an incredible scene.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 13, 2011 at 6:19 PM

Lovely shot. The cloud sneaking over the foreground hill is very cool and the lighting is spectacular.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on June 13, 2011 at 6:53 PM

Phenomenal, awesome image, Zack. One of the most unique and beautiful images from Steptoe. This had to be an amazing experience. Fantastic.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on June 13, 2011 at 7:58 PM

Beautiful shot Zack. Looking forward to seeing your blending video.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on June 13, 2011 at 8:04 PM

Wow! This is fantastic Zack

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

Comment posted by Abdullah Alhuzimi on June 13, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Amazing lighting and a very smooth blending

Registered on November 13, 2010, 13 Posts, 60 Comments

Comment posted by Tad Bowman on June 13, 2011 at 10:42 PM

Beautiful image. Love the colors and layers

Registered on August 15, 2006, 25 Posts, 79 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 13, 2011 at 10:58 PM

Very unique and beautiful, Zack. What incredible light and shooting conditions.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on June 13, 2011 at 11:16 PM

Yes, yes, yes!!
You've captured one of those moments that make me love nature!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 14, 2011 at 3:33 AM

Outstanding Zack! I love the luminous quality of the clouds. I will be very interested to read about your processing technique. This would have also been a great subject for a timelapse!

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on June 14, 2011 at 9:05 AM

I'll happily add #40 to this stunner Zack. Beautiful scene, and congrats on the skill to visualize and capture it so well.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Hey Mike, I was thinking the same thing as we . Both a time lapse still and video would have been pretty incredible.

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

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on June 14, 2011 at 12:03 PM

Awesome image Zach!!

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

Comment posted by Kyle McDougall on June 14, 2011 at 2:31 PM

Wow, what an image! I really like to cloud break revealing the trees in the f/g. Stunning!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 9 Posts, 52 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on June 14, 2011 at 4:31 PM

Amazing,what else could I add?

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on June 14, 2011 at 5:42 PM

Wow...just wow. That is one of the coolest fog shots I have ever seen.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Shaun Mazurek on June 14, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Simply sublime! Excellent color, light and composition. This is very compelling :)

Registered on June 12, 2010, 21 Posts, 162 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Lessard on June 14, 2011 at 8:02 PM

Fantastic Zach! I love the rippling hills and fog! The light is awesome. Great job!

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

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on June 15, 2011 at 2:00 AM

WOW...just wow Zack! Very amazing!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on June 16, 2011 at 12:32 AM

Very cool

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 22, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Eerie and moody - love it!
The fog, colours, and sunrise combine for an exceptional image
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Edwin kats on June 23, 2011 at 3:05 PM

OMG

Breathtaking.

Edwin Kats

Registered on April 24, 2006, 177 Posts, 399 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 27, 2011 at 6:56 AM

What a moment! Congrats on the pick, Zack - well deserved.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 6, 2011 at 10:52 PM

GREAT conditions and image!

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

Comment posted by Shawn Thompson on July 21, 2011 at 2:30 PM

This is phenomenal on many levels. So many different elements combine to make a superb image. Well done.

Registered on July 20, 2011, 22 Posts, 102 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 3, 2012 at 1:11 AM

Congrats on the 2011 win!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 3, 2012 at 8:37 PM

Gorgeous. Congratulations

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 4, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Good thing you won an EP, Zack--otherwise i would have missed this cool shot!

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

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 8:57 AM

Congrats Zack

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments