Mirror Lake

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 1, 2011119 views12 comments

These reeds were photographed last weekend on Mirror Lake, Porcupine Wilderness State Park in the Michigan UP. I think the B&W processing works, although I'm interested in feedback on the high key approach and how the image might be improved. I searched (unsuccessfully) for a simpler arrangement of reeds, although I kind of like the chaotic arrangement here. C&C greatly appreciated. Large version posted.

6 shots were blended in Helicon Focus for depth of field.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 1, 2011 at 7:26 PM

This is very nice and I'm in total agreement that the B&W processing works. I'd go a step further and say it's integral to the success of this image, as it heightens the impact of the simple lines and forms of the reeds. I could do without the leaves along the bottom but don't particularly mind them, as they do tend to provide a natural frame for the scene.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 1, 2011 at 7:52 PM

I very much agree with Phil's comment. This is a very interesting image that really works well for me.The leaves do make a nice base and I'm not quite sure how this would work without them, so I'll say I think they work as is. I do enjoy this very much. Hope to be in the Porcupine Mts. Wilderness Area a month from now.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 1, 2011 at 8:30 PM

I really like this Matthew and at times I go to great lengths to find scenes like this. The high contrast B&W especially works well here.

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on September 1, 2011 at 8:46 PM

Great. One of those images that provide many areas to look closely upon.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 1, 2011 at 9:20 PM

I absolutely love the reeds and the chaotic (your words) arrangement. Very delicious. I don't care for the intrusion at the bottom though. I think you could crop that out and this woould REALLY sing.

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

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on September 1, 2011 at 10:25 PM

Really neat chaos! I could go either way with the bottom leaves. If I were to keep them, I'd crop slightly from the right so that one dark clump would be less of a distraction.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 1, 2011 at 11:14 PM

Excellent comp with the framing foliage. I almost feel like I should be able to read something in the reeds.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on September 1, 2011 at 11:42 PM

I agree with the others that this really works as a BW image. The foliage in the bottom is fine, but I did a bit of a crop on my screen and the chaos of the reeds gave me a sense of vertigo. I couldn't figure out a focal anchor. Great shot. Either way is a winner.

Peter

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 2, 2011 at 11:41 AM

The B&W presentation strikes me as the perfect choice. Processing looks good too. I would favor cropping out the bottom and side leaves and making this a reed abstract, but it works quite nicely as presented.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 3, 2011 at 2:25 PM

Matthew,

Excellent! I think I'm in a similar camp as some other comments. I think the foliage at the bottom works to ground and frame the scene, but I do really think you have a great natural abstract awaiting by cropping it away. at least as an alternative, I think it would work very well for a simple, chaotic scene (great oxymoron!) Well done!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Matthew Goldsmith on September 3, 2011 at 5:34 PM

Thank you all for your feedback. Seems about evenly split with regard to keeping the reeds. Attached is an alternate, cropped version.

Registered on June 29, 2010, 37 Posts, 286 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on September 4, 2011 at 12:32 AM

The crop has a wonderful sense of mystery. Without the bush at the bottom of the shot to anchor us in reality, this opens up my imagination a lot more and I am drawn further into the image. A fabulous abstract b&w, Matthew!

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