REPOST - Matterhorn

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 26, 2011759 views47 comments

Hello, greetings from Switzerland!

Short introduction

I started nature photography few years ago when I came to work in Switzerland.
I fell in love with nature's beauty here, and I wanted to capture this for myself and for my friends.
Originally I am from Hungary, where we don't really have high mountains.
As for my background, I am Architect by profession and I learned free drawing, color theory etc. at the university.
This helps a bit in photography also.

I would like to thank here some of my favorite photographers, whose work inspired me very much:
Marc Adamus
Michael Anderson
Ian Plant
Kah Kit Yoong

the two late Masters:
Galen Rowell
Ansel Adams

and many others... would be a long list.
(I also feel a little bit intimidated by so many great photographers here)

So my first post here I chose a classic image of the Matterhorn from Riffelsee. 2009 September, nice dawn with full moon.

Canon 40D, EF-S 10-22 at 15mm - ekv. 24mm
ISO 100, 1 sec at f/10, Tripod, cable release
single exposure, basic levels, curves, burn-dodge.

Thank you very much for your comments.

Shantikara

Comments

47 comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on July 26, 2011 at 5:26 PM

A beautiful and tranquil scene - a very nice way to start out! Love the soft mood and the perfect comp. Oh, and thanks for the kind mention!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on July 26, 2011 at 5:28 PM

Very nice first post, Tamas. I like the perfect reflection and the colours.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 26, 2011 at 5:31 PM

Oh, thank you very much, Ian! I am honored by your first comment!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on July 26, 2011 at 5:39 PM

The honour is all mine to be able to leave the first comment on such a beautiful photo!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Kartik Venkatarama on July 26, 2011 at 5:41 PM

Hi Tamas,

great first post - I love the reflection and earth's shadow here. I would suggest cropping the image from the left to remove some of the dark, blank space in the image, but other than that this works fine. By the way, interesting name "shantikara" - seems to Sanskrit translating to "be peaceful" or "do peace" !!

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 26, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Thank you again, Ian! That's very nice. (reminds me of the first Matrix movie, when Neo meets Morpheus)

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on July 26, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Tamas - what a wonderful first post - this is quite lovely and definitely one to view large so we can appreciate what a well balanced composition you have made here - the foregroudn detail and reflection of the moon are evident in the smaller image but in the large one you can really see the detail and the lovely subtleties you have captured. Look forward to seeing more!

Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on July 26, 2011 at 6:11 PM

Tamás Valuska said: "Thank you again, Ian! That's very nice. (reminds me of the first Matrix movie, when Neo meets Morpheus)"

You take the blue pill -- the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill -- you stay in NPN and find out how deep the photography rabbit-hole goes. The choice is yours!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on July 26, 2011 at 6:14 PM

Well you needn't feel imtimidated this is a superb picture love the broken up reflection of the moon

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 26, 2011 at 6:25 PM

That's too much, Ian, you gave me a big laugh! I think I will have fun here!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on July 26, 2011 at 6:43 PM

Grand entrance. Well done and welcome :)

aF

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on July 26, 2011 at 6:44 PM

Welcome, nice image

If it were mine, I would crop the left side of the image to match the right side mountain ridge line, to follow the symmetry of this mirror image IMO.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 26, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Fantastic! Wonderful light and colors with a great mood feeling. I love the ice in the foreground water adding a very nice touch and the reflection is awesome! Welcome to NPN.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 26, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Thank you Kartik,
I tried some cropping, but it looses the vastness and the balance. This was my first shot that morning, later I took some tighter composition, that I will post later.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 26, 2011 at 6:56 PM

Fantastic first post Tamas and welcome to NPN! Beautiful light and reflection in a well crafted image.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on July 26, 2011 at 7:13 PM

Wonderful first post, Tomás! I love the simplicity of the forms. I agree with James, that a crop off the left would make for some wonderful symmetry. And if I may further nitpick (after all, that is what NPN is for

), I wonder if you could return at another time in the year to get the moon placement to be on the right of the mountain rather than the left (for better balance), just something to ponder

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

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on July 26, 2011 at 7:57 PM

Very nice first post, and welcome to NPN. I agree with the others on the crop suggestion, as I think that would help to balance the scene quite a bit. Looking forward to seeing more from you.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM

Although I have my monitor calibrated dark for print right now, this is a stunner. Simplicity and beauty.

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

Comment posted by Jean Day on July 26, 2011 at 10:01 PM

A stunning first post and only intimidating to me!

Though I might agree on the slight crop suggestion, it's an excellent comp and I really like the rippled reflection of the moon.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 26, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Welcome to NPN. There is nothing I can to this image. Beautiful.

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

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on July 26, 2011 at 11:27 PM

Hi Tamas - Welcome to NPN! This is really a beautiful image. The simplicity and subtle colors make this really enjoyable to view. I agree with the crop suggestion to add some symmetry for the ridges. Look forward to seeing more of your work.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on July 26, 2011 at 11:43 PM

Welcome! What a beautiful capture.

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

Comment posted by Alex Mody on July 27, 2011 at 2:09 AM

Beautiful work.

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

Comment posted by Alister Benn on July 27, 2011 at 3:50 AM

Iconic location, beautiful image... stands out..

Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on July 27, 2011 at 4:28 AM

Welcome Tamas. A beautiful image - wonderful color and clarity. The light on the mountain is exquisite.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on July 27, 2011 at 4:55 AM

Tamas, this is a sensational capture to my eye, your composition is consistent with this majestic scene in my opinion. The dark areas anchore the composition well for me, I personally would not think of cropping.

Welcome to NPN, thanks for sharing!

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on July 27, 2011 at 6:10 AM

Great first post.

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

Comment posted by Venugopal Thantry on July 27, 2011 at 10:01 AM

Hats off

Registered on May 12, 2011, 33 Posts, 144 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 27, 2011 at 10:42 AM

Welcome to NPN and thanks for the mention too :) This is location I hope to visit one day. The glow on the Matterhorn is obviously the key here but the inclusion of the moon is wonderful too.

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

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on July 27, 2011 at 1:19 PM

Beautiful shot. Love the colors.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on July 27, 2011 at 1:36 PM

A fantastic image! Welcome aboard.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Chikku Baiju on July 27, 2011 at 2:19 PM

Great first post and a lovely image! I also would suggest on a crop from the left for better symmetry.

Registered on January 9, 2010, 31 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on July 27, 2011 at 2:23 PM

Ah ... a classic very well captured. I don't see the Matterhorn in moonlight too often. Welcome here and enjoy your time with this wonderful community.

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

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on July 27, 2011 at 2:32 PM

Tamas,
Welcome to NPN. This is a fabulous first post. The moon, the twilight skies, reflection and curving ridge lines make for a very powerful shot. I especially like the way the curving ridge lines frame the Matterhorn. One minor nit: I'm seeing some slight darkening along the outer edge of the left ridge. Again, welcome! Looking forward to seeing more from you.

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

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on July 27, 2011 at 2:56 PM

Beautiful image to begin your account here !
Very serene and peaceful scene. Though I've been to Zermatt many a times, I never stayed back for dusk/dawn photography. Must try it sometime.

Nice to know that you live in Switzerland. Greetings from Solothurn !

rgds,
Kaushik

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

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on July 27, 2011 at 4:50 PM

Your image brings up great memories. So nice to see the Matterhorn is such an interesting light. Welcome and keep them coming, Tamas!

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 27, 2011 at 5:50 PM

First of all, thank you everybody for the warm welcome here.

It gives me a big encouragement.

It looks like many people are suggesting some cropping.
As I mentioned earlier I've tried some, but then lose the vastness. I also changed lens later for a tighter comp, with the first light on the peak, that I will post next.

Anyway now I tried again, but just slightly. I am afraid to do more.
So what do you think, is it enough?
Also if I crop too much the peak gets too much to the left.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 27, 2011 at 6:08 PM

Floris, thank you for the nitpick. Good idea.

I was at the Matterhorn maybe 5 times to finally get this nice light.
This time I planned for the full moon, and I was lucky with the weather.
But it was a little bit high on the sky for sunrise. And on the left side.

These are the things that is difficult to plan with. I am not sure that it can be on the right also?
Anyway I want to try again some time, but at another lake.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 28, 2011 at 3:06 AM

Thank you Kah Kit Yoong. My dream is to visit New Zealand, your pictures of it are very inspiring!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 28, 2011 at 3:19 AM

Thank you Dorin Bofan! I remember your Matterhorn pictures, they are very nice. I guess you were there also a few times.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on July 28, 2011 at 6:57 PM

You know, I really prefer the original composition (without the crop). It felt very balanced to me. I don't think you could go wrong either way.

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on July 29, 2011 at 1:26 AM

The moment has a beautiful quiet/bold contrast, and I love the high peaks. Welcome!

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on July 29, 2011 at 1:29 AM

Also, I believe your choice to leave this un-cropped was best. I prefer the original, and I'm looking forward to your next post.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on July 29, 2011 at 1:05 PM

Wonderful Shantikara. Beautiful first post.

Welcome!

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on July 29, 2011 at 2:44 PM

Thank you, John! I remember a photo from you, the Morning Glory.

It's very beautiful, I love it.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on July 29, 2011 at 7:44 PM

Superb first shot Tamas...an area I would like to visit.

Ian

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 7, 2011 at 3:34 AM

Landscape is not my genre (at least no just yet!), but I sure can appreciate a beautiful picture, and this one of yours Shantikara is simply magnificent!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments