Making Lemonade [+large version]

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 10, 2012652 views38 comments

It's been way too long since I've been able to get out and photograph, so I made a chicken run to Cape Kiwanda this weekend. (Cape Kiwanda has become a white whale of sorts; I keep trying to catch a great sky there and keep missing.)

Once again missing workable sky color at the coast, I decided to stop on the way home to take a few photos of the wetlands east of Banks. In the past (in my haste to reach the coast) I've repeatedly driven by this area, but admired the winter contrast of the reds of the low vegetation with the green of the moss in the trees.

Nikon D80
Nikon 50 mm f/1.8
1/15 and 1/6 sec at f/16 and ISO 100

Comments

38 comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on January 10, 2012 at 1:30 AM

A beautifully artistic image, John, with quite a watercolor look to it. The red/green combination is indeed very nice, and I particularly like the beetroot reds. I also like the way my eye is drawn in and through to the back of image towards the light and soft yellows. Fabulous processing.

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 10, 2012 at 1:34 AM

Wow...that's heavenly! Unreal looking... that red is something to behold... never seen...though moss on trees is high on the list. What really draws me into the scene are the soft pastels in the background...as if there is another layer undiscovered around the corner. Would love to see a large ...2000 pixels on a side...version so I can escape into this scene.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on January 10, 2012 at 2:00 AM

I probably would have walked straight by this scene, thinking it perhaps 'messy' or hard to frame. That being said, I really, really like this. The colors and depth make it interesting to stare at for a while!

BTW, I took a peek at your gallery here on NPN. Very nice, eye-catching images!

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 10, 2012 at 2:26 AM

John,

Great to see a post from you! I absolutely love this image. Almost painterly. I just love the color palette here and the soft light. Would love to see this in a large print! Thanks for posting this one; truly a joy to view. Big NIT. larger view!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 10, 2012 at 3:07 AM

Nice! The colors work wonderfully together and the processing looks great..

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on January 10, 2012 at 6:36 AM

Simply beautiful! The gorgeous warm color and arrangement of the tree trunks make this sing.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on January 10, 2012 at 6:43 AM

Got to agree with Lon here. We need to see this LARGE!!

Seriously, shots with this much detail don't come over well at the standard size and this one is so full of colour and motion that showing it small is almost a crime. Well, ok, not showing it at all would be a crime...

Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 10, 2012 at 8:06 AM

Wow, beautiful image. I also would like this see this larger.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 10, 2012 at 9:41 AM

Wow, this is magnificient John! Such an eye catching composition and the color contrast is wonderful. You've really knocked this one out of the park!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 10, 2012 at 9:53 AM

Wow! This is beautiful, John. Great comp, wonderful colors, and I love the mood. I too would love to see this large. Looks like a beautiful print waiting to happen to me!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by John Williams on January 10, 2012 at 10:20 AM

Oops. I actually saved a 1200 version, but forgot to post it. I wish their was an option to add it after the fact. In penance, here is a 1600 (986kb) for you detail addicts. Thanks so much for the feedback and comments!!

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 10, 2012 at 10:21 AM

Very painterly and real nice! I wish I could see it bigger to enjoy more of the detail, but I like what I see.

Oops, just found the large version after posting. Thanks! Looks great.

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on January 10, 2012 at 11:46 AM

Very painterly John. I like the color palette and the depth and space of the image. Solid work.

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on January 10, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Glad you got this instead of a seascape John! Love that color combination! Would love to see a larger version!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 10, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Fantastic image, John. The color contrast is extraordinary. The large version you provided is incredible. An astounding piece of fine art.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on January 10, 2012 at 12:32 PM

Beautiful composition. Love the color combination, and the light background gives it nice depth.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 10, 2012 at 12:44 PM

This is really gorgeous John. You make some very fine lemonade.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on January 10, 2012 at 1:33 PM

This is stunning John, I love the colours in this, especially the red of the grasses.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on January 10, 2012 at 1:58 PM

Excellent work John. This screams of Claude Monet. It might work really well in a wider perspective, not knowing what's around it. Creative processing and the colors are just awesome.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on January 10, 2012 at 2:05 PM

A fantastic mix of soft warm colors on this image- Luckily I found your link of the larger version (a joy for the eye)- My best congrats, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on January 10, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Love the presentation here, John. Sharpening and displaying a piece like this is very challenging on the web. Those forests are just magical this time of year in the right light, simplified from the lack of foliage. Very beautiful work with this one. I can't imagine a Kiwanda sunset being any better.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 10, 2012 at 3:11 PM

Wonderful visual treat with the pleasing watercolor effect, well seen and well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 10, 2012 at 4:04 PM

I love this one a lot. Very artistic. Great comp and the processing is spot on. Too bad you didn't post a large version. Great work

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

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on January 10, 2012 at 4:40 PM

The luminosity here is magical and the juxtaposition of pale, almost yellow, green and red works surprisingly well. The details in the larger version are pleasure to look at. So beautiful, John!

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

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on January 10, 2012 at 5:56 PM

What a fantastic combination of colors John. Thanks for not amping up the saturation and keeping them believable. This is one of those better appreciated in print but the larger version helps a touch

Nice work

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on January 10, 2012 at 7:57 PM

The large version is really sweet.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 10, 2012 at 8:29 PM

Thanks for the link to the large version. It really is an outstanding image.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 10, 2012 at 8:55 PM

This illustrates the beauty of wilderness. Well composed
and good choice of shutter speed and DOF.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on January 10, 2012 at 10:09 PM

All I can say is wow! Great work, John.

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 10, 2012 at 10:11 PM

Very painterly image John. I like the mix of greens and reds.

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

Comment posted by Ned Fenimore on January 10, 2012 at 11:19 PM

This is just a great composition, John. I've been admiring it off and on all day. Love the color and the "perfectness" of the trees. Just enough of the background at the top.. I'd sure like to see this in print!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 467 Posts, 2803 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 10, 2012 at 11:21 PM

Has a special simplicity to it! Semi dreamy.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 11, 2012 at 12:07 AM

Beautiful combinations of colors and textures. Very nice

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 11, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Nice one, John! I like the presentation a lot. The fg reds feel a tad muddy, but that likely compression issues.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 11, 2012 at 3:12 PM

Great artistic work to my eye, John. I enjoy exploring all the delightful details and the extraordinary colors.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on January 12, 2012 at 7:47 PM

John, this is just gorgeous! Very creative and very artistic. I'm a big fan of your work, this is one of your best!

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by John Kerr on January 15, 2012 at 7:50 AM

Great color and the triangle shape of the red vegetation draws the eye into the image.

Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on January 23, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Fine colors and subtle feeling of perspective as the eye moves towards the back.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments