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Stan's Trees
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Stan's Trees

by Russell Colletta

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 3, 2011238 views10 comments
This post is admittedly shameful on at least two levels. First, in its reference to Stan Rose and one of his favorite subjects (hope you don’t mind Stan), and second, in how easy it was to get. No long hikes, no scrambling in dangerous locales. It was captured at the rest area on top of Wilkerson Pass a few steps down the dog walk path. Grabbed the shot while my wife was tending to our dog. The biggest danger was stepping in a plunky left by an irresponsible dog owner. But I'm not yet familiar with the routes to more exotic sites and these trees were just too good to pass up. I really like the way aspens can be found with evergreens in the background. So, here's to you Stan, those red aspens are something to see.

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 3, 2011 at 11:15 AM
This is a nice grove of aspen. I have to say I don't see any the red 'mavericks', but that orange is rich and deep. I think you could easily brighten this image as it seems a bit dark. (might just be me)
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on October 3, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Yup Nancy, I agree. The post looks more orange than the processed raw file on my uncalibrated laptop monitor. Maybe something was lost in translation. But the other thing I have learned is that to really highlight the reds, you have to separate them from the yellows. The juxtaposition creates an orange "compromise" in the look. Also, these leaves are "quaking", it was shot with a 2.8 lens wide open, and to freeze them I needed to bump the ISO. Instead, I decided to freeze the limbs and let the leaves smudge. Not sure that was a good choice.
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on October 3, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I love those colors. Love the color contrast between aspen and the dark background
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 3, 2011 at 12:43 PM
lol, thanks for the title, Russell! :biggrin:
Actually most of the red ones arent pure red, theyre more red-orange, except for a real few that ive seen--even the one i posted doesnt quite qualify if you ask me (but i liked it anyways...) Its like the colors of a diamond--the more pure the color, the more expensive it gets.
Well, this shot clearly shows that you dont have to 'scramble in dangerous locales' to get a sweet shot, i think this is terrific, great mix of orane/red and yellow, nice balance. The leaves have a bit of motion blur--but that doesnt really hurt here. Nice! :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 3, 2011 at 5:12 PM
I had a friend accuse me once of not wanting to shoot anything unless there was red in it. It is my quest every year to hunt, find, and capture the red aspen. :biggrin: I'm lovin this shot, Russ! And yeah, maybe just a smidge lighter.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on October 3, 2011 at 6:01 PM
Really cool! I'd also brighten this a bit.
Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 3, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Wonderful glow and color. Gorgeous.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Kane Engelbert on October 3, 2011 at 11:48 PM
Leaf Motion Blur can be corrected with shooting higher ISO's, thus a faster shutter speed. Just assuming you didn't want the leaf blur. Beautiful color!
Registered on June 14, 2009, 63 Posts, 291 Comments
Comment posted by Vlad Sadovsky on October 4, 2011 at 12:19 AM
interesting scene - I like how the color contrasts with dark tone of the background, while the whole composition stays away from the cliche (whit trunks + yellow foliage) scene of aspens. A litle too much dark in between trunks making the balance off for me, may be couple of steps left would yield different arrangement. Nitpick, otherwise i enjoyed the mood here.
Registered on November 12, 2010, 48 Posts, 358 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 4, 2011 at 10:02 AM
I think the choice to smudge the leaves was the right one. I spent two hours yesterday trying to get a close-up of the wind 'quaking' the leaves because I love the dazzle it creates. IMO, you got that. (I didn't )
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments