Woven

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 6, 2012833 views32 comments

Spring is just around the corner here on the Olympic Peninsula so thought I would post an image from a few years ago. This is a willow set against an aspen forest in the Matanuska Valley of Alaska in the early spring. Took me about three yearly attempts (back when I lived in Alaska) in the spring before the willow was in full "bloom" (for want of a better word) and the image I had envisioned came to fruition. Maybe a little too busy but I like how the aspens created a woven background for the willow. Would appreciate your thoughts on this image.
4x5, 210mm, Velvia, warm polarizer. M1 scan, Tony Kuyper's masks and other masks.

Large image provided but suffers severely from compression. Maybe too much compression to be any good.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions.

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on March 6, 2012 at 11:36 PM

Your persistent really paid off! It is rich in textures and has wonderful colors. I don't think it is busy (especially the smaller version.) The top of the larger photo does seem slightly crowded, but I assume it is mainly caused by too much JPEG compression and web sharpening. I believe that a large print will be stunning to look at.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on March 6, 2012 at 11:59 PM

Vance I really admire your work and this is not exception. It is always a satisfying experience to make an image that your had visualised before. Fabulous creation, congratulations on this image!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Manning on March 7, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Just a thought... In pshop add an 85 warming filter at about 65%. It will bring the violets out and increase the golds. It will also kill the blue cast on the trees, which to me, isn't helping the shot..

Registered on October 17, 2011, 13 Posts, 44 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on March 7, 2012 at 12:31 AM

vance - compression isn't your friend here but this is fabulous. your patience is evident here. well conceived.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on March 7, 2012 at 3:11 AM

Wow, I'm just imagining this piece of art printed on a huge scale and hanged to a wall .. Excellent

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on March 7, 2012 at 4:52 AM

Fan-freaking-tastic!!! Before I read the description the impression I got was of color and texture weaving through the trunks. I would love to see a print.

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on March 7, 2012 at 7:18 AM

I love how the foreground tree breaks up the vertical lines of the background and all the subtle hues in there are just wonderful. Great shot.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on March 7, 2012 at 7:34 AM

Simply spectacular !

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 7, 2012 at 9:25 AM

This is fantastic, Vance. Beautiful composition and the color is wonderful. I would love to see this as a large print. I think that would be the only way to truely appreciate this. I love it!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on March 7, 2012 at 1:30 PM

I can only imagine how fantastic this looks as a print. The larger version is still pretty good, though. Absolutely love it!

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

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on March 7, 2012 at 2:39 PM

I like it, Vance. It's all about the details. Would make one hell of a puzzle.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on March 7, 2012 at 2:58 PM

I also agree that compression is killing this Vance, but it is a beautiful and captivating shot nonetheless. I'm sure a really large print would be wonderful to view!

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on March 7, 2012 at 3:58 PM

A lovely composition, Vance. Wonderful colors, tones, and textures.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on March 7, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Another outstanding image, Vance! I agree the only thing I would change would be a slight crop off the top to make the willow and the purple hues on the left even more prominent.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 7, 2012 at 6:15 PM

Very sweet, Vance! It does not strike me as busy at all, just beautiful.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on March 7, 2012 at 8:01 PM

Vance,

I don't see this as busy either. The fine detail I am sure in a big print is stunning. I love the contrast between the FG tree and the aspens tapestry in back. very nice.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on March 7, 2012 at 9:37 PM

Beautiful Vance, I like how the willow stands out so well against the gold trunks of the aspens. The blues of the willow tree look a little strong, at least on my uncalibrated monitor. Nice vision!

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 7, 2012 at 10:26 PM

Such great lines in this, Vance. I really like how the golden-leafed tree adds a nice counterpoint to the vertical lines. I agree that you might cut back on the blue just a bit. This is definitely one for the printer! Nicely done!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Chrysanthou on March 7, 2012 at 11:52 PM

I think it's gorgeous. Passes the 'wall test' (i.e. would I hang this on my wall to look at forever and ever?) for me! This begs to be printed.

Registered on December 18, 2007, 71 Posts, 1191 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on March 7, 2012 at 11:57 PM

In my general absence, I'm so glad I didn't miss this, Vance. It's wonderful!

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on March 8, 2012 at 2:09 AM

This is just lovely. A beautiful composition and the light is gorgeous. Its the kind of photograph I really love to see.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on March 8, 2012 at 1:24 PM

Vance, your image is great artistic work for me. The curved tree in the foreground makes for an amazing counterpoint to the verticals and keeps an interesting tension in your composition. I would really like to explore this image as a large print.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on March 8, 2012 at 2:22 PM

Your forest images never cease to amaze me Vance. The vertical element of the background trees set up a nice separation from the foreground tree and the broad spectrum of color adds to the impact. A beautiful tapestry of nature.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on March 8, 2012 at 9:42 PM

Excellent, Vance. Just love how that one willow tames all the chaos. Perfect title.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 9, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Oh man, this is sweet! Love the color and texture of the small version (can't pull up the large version at work). I would love to see this printed large.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 10, 2012 at 3:00 AM

What a gorgeous tapestry Vance! While compression is killing this on the web, I can image how beautiful this would be in an ultra large print. The range of colors and detail is amazing.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 12, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Vance,

I couldn't let this one go by without letting you know that I love this. It's not very often that one can find a subject that is full of clutter and chaos and boil it down to just a couple of simple elements. Yeah, compression and sharpening wreck havoc on these type images, but actually the large version shows very well.

Beautiful work Vance.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on March 12, 2012 at 4:15 PM

Gorgeous shot Vance, I love the light and organised chaos in this. Beautiful.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Jon Daining on March 13, 2012 at 4:32 PM

A wonderful demonstration of previsualization. Would make a stunning large print.

Registered on February 25, 2012, 25 Posts, 191 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 14, 2012 at 11:21 AM

Excellent woven tapestry of fall colours here.
Wonderful light and subtle colours.
Congrats on a fine WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 16, 2012 at 9:22 PM

Hi Vance

Love the title, nature is the ultimate artist. and you captured it's beauty perfectly... the way the colors and the lines are intertwined is just awesome.. Congrats on a well deserved WP