Moon over Black Balsam

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 9, 2011158 views7 comments

Moon over Black Balsam Knob, near Brevard, NC. This was taken 30 minutes after sunset. The fog was rolling through the valley. I had about a 1 minute window to shoot this before the peaks were fully engulfed. A few stars are peaking through already. The moon was about 1/3rd full, but appears as a sphere due to the brightness relative to the rest. This was one shot, processed twice in ACR to brighten the foreground just a bit.

Canon 5DII, 16-35mm @ 19mm, 20 seconds, f5.6, ISO 1000, cropped 20% from left & bottom.

Please view large version for more detail.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 9, 2011 at 11:55 AM

I like the layes here Wick as well as the subtle light on the foreground rocks and the touch of pink in the sky.

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

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 9, 2011 at 2:31 PM

Beautiful scene for sure. Love the soft light and the muted colors. You really have to look at this large to take it all in. Great image Wick.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 9, 2011 at 6:17 PM

Need to look at the larger version to fully appreciate this photo. I like the hills sticking up through the fog and the sunset colors. If it were me, I'd eliminate the moon, it draws my attention away from the rest of the photo. I think in 20 seconds there will be enough lunar motion to cause blurring.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by INGOMA on August 9, 2011 at 9:18 PM

That rolling fog is stunning, Wick! I would suggest that you make this a panoramic crop with attention focused on the layered hills and that beautiful fog. The upper part of the sky is pretty but I feel it is separated quite a bit from what is really interesting here. A Lovely scene you captured here!

Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 9, 2011 at 9:25 PM

Very moody shot, Wick. I like the atmospherics here and the dark foreground works here as it adds to the mysterious feel throughout. There are lots of interesting layers to lead my eye throughout the scene. Great work!!

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

Comment posted by Wick Smith on August 10, 2011 at 8:09 AM

I toyed with the cropped idea & after further consideration, I agree. Here's a cropped version that does seem to be cleaner with less distracting elements. Thanks for the comments!

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 12, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Not sure how this one got past me until now. Anyways, this is beautiful! I agree with Dean that you have to look at the large version to really take it all in. Just fantastic. As much as I like this the repost is even better in the pano format. I would love to see that large. Very nice work, Wick.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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