Break in the Storm

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 18, 2011163 views18 comments

I was fortunate to experience all kinds of dynamic weather on my recent fall colors trip, including waves of this beautiful thunderstorm coming and going all afternoon over the Sneffels Range in southwestern Colorado. Here, the clouds break while rain continues to fall over Mount Sneffels, one of the most striking peaks in Colorado.

5D2, 24-105 @ 105mm, f/14, 1/80 sec. Single exposure. Conversion to b+w in CS4 and processing with luminosity masks.

Thank you in advance for any comments, especially on the processing.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 18, 2011 at 1:53 AM

I like how you highlighted the peak Sarah. That storm adds some really nice drama to the image. Fine B&W.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 18, 2011 at 3:12 AM

Beautiful B&W image Sarah. Love the drama in the sky and contrast.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on October 18, 2011 at 8:44 AM

Beautiful rendition of this iconic peak. I might suggest cropping off the black band at the top of the image, as there are some nice blacks on either side of the highest cloud. Could make a wonderful pano as well. Nice channge from the standard view of Sneffles.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 18, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Great texture in the clouds, looks awesome!

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on October 18, 2011 at 9:59 AM

I really like this one Sarah. Great B&W processing and wonderful looking clouds. The darker mountains in the background really do a great job to put focus on those peaks and the fantastic looking stormy clouds. I also like how the darker bottom and top frame the entire picture within.

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

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on October 18, 2011 at 11:07 AM

Great platinum tones Sarah. Colorado has some beautiful mountains.

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

Comment posted by John Mumaw on October 18, 2011 at 12:25 PM

An excellent b&w image, Sarah...very dramatic! Love the sihouetted hills in the bottom.
I could also see cropping the top for a more even balance.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 18, 2011 at 1:26 PM

Wonderful b&w. I love the drama in the clouds and the nice contrasts in the peak. I think you could probably do away with the fg hills altogether. IMO they aren't contributing to the overall impact of this image. The falling rain is a nice bonus.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 18, 2011 at 3:09 PM

That is one powerful image, Sarah. Love how you sandwiched so much drama between the darker edges of the frame.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 18, 2011 at 5:10 PM

Excellent conversion, Sarah. Very dramatic, and dynamic. Very well done!

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on October 18, 2011 at 6:12 PM

I like this B&W image Sarah

Neat composition with lots of drama! The snow on the mountains adds some nice texture as well.

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

Comment posted by Jason Kim on October 18, 2011 at 6:24 PM

I really like the drama in this, and the vertical format. I think it might feel more balanced if the richest darks at the top and the bottom of the image matched each other in intensity (lighten one or darken the other?).

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on October 18, 2011 at 7:15 PM

I really like this, Sarah, and the conversion helps accentuate the wonderful lighting that you captured. No real nits from me though I could see some of Harry's cropping suggestions working nicely.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on October 18, 2011 at 8:37 PM

very cool. i like the very black of the silhouette

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Atencio on October 18, 2011 at 9:54 PM

Dramatic indeed Sarah! I love the graphic elements here and the exposure is just perfect. Def a unique take on Sneffels! Can't wait to see the rest of your fall shots.

Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on October 18, 2011 at 10:02 PM

Thank you for the kind and helpful comments, everyone. I think I will experiment with the crop suggestion for the top, plus possibly balancing the tones between the top and the bottom. I really appreciate the feedback.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on October 19, 2011 at 2:16 AM

Beautiful B&W Sarah, a slight crop from the top would emphasize the peaks even more I think.

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

Comment posted by David Edwards on October 20, 2011 at 2:59 AM

A beautiful image, Sarah. Love your b&w conversion and processing. The tonal layering of the comp is wonderful and creates some wonderful depth and interest. The light in the sky is just magical. I could see sending the sky darks even darker, but that's just me. Love it.

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