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Elephant Rocks
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Elephant Rocks

by Matthew Goldsmith

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 11, 2012297 views11 comments
This image was created last Sunday evening at Elephant Rocks SP, which is about 90 minutes from St. Louis. The region was once known for quarrying a large amount of pink granite, and two old quarries are within the confines of this state park. The huge boulders on top of the tor are supposed to resemble pachyderms. I liked how they seem to tumble into the lush green woods. This is a blend of 4 images for dynamic range. Large image posted. C&C always appreciated.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by David Schwaegler on April 11, 2012 at 4:38 PM
I like the composition and the way the top boulders loom over the landscape. On the large image the greens look a little funky -- posterized? Maybe tone down the saturation on those.
Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Diffley on April 11, 2012 at 8:15 PM
Thanks for sharing this image. I really like it. Nicely done with the HDR. In post processing, I would be tempted to add a little more saturation to the clouds at the top middle. Too bad there was a cloud available to provide a reflection in the puddle of water (-:
Registered on April 8, 2012, 52 Posts, 279 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 11, 2012 at 8:41 PM
The composition works for me and I light the light and color contrasts. I think most who view it will immediately think "HDR" because of the somewhat unusually warm, saturated colors and overall tonality. Whether that's good or bad is a matter of personal preference.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Smith on April 11, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Bold and successful! Like the massive doughy looking boulders lit up so well to compliment the sunset and tinted foliage. Great comp and sweet with that pip of water and lichen on the rocks.
Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments
Comment posted by Derek Yow on April 12, 2012 at 8:13 AM
Really neat perspective Matthew. The textures and color of the rocks is perfect.
I visited this park many years ago with my Dad while on a motorcycle trip, and I hope to get back there sometime soon.
Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on April 13, 2012 at 4:42 AM
The composition is nice, as is the subject and the light. Once again the HDR effect affects the shot too much for my taste. I still want to see the HDR technique as an aid to overcome technical limitations of the camera and not to work as an effect filter. In this case you might have got away with a nice blend with masks as well, especially as the blocks of tonality are very well defined. One more thing, the blue in the pond doesn't match the more cyan hue in the actual sky. I know that the sky might be cooler straight up, but still it's a too big stretch for me - I would bring the hues closer together. Hope that all makes sense to you. Keep it up and maybe rethink the HDR process.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Prower on April 13, 2012 at 5:43 PM
An interesting location and interesting composition. Nicely blended images.
Registered on February 5, 2012, 24 Posts, 167 Comments
Comment posted by Matthew Goldsmith on April 14, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Thank you all for your helpful comments. I appreciate the feedback n the processing. I've tried to blend the images manually but not yet managed to get the horizon looking right. I'm going to take a lesson and then re-post the image. Andreas, thank you for also pointing out that the blue hue in the reflection does not match the sky. I see your point.
Registered on June 29, 2010, 37 Posts, 286 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on April 14, 2012 at 5:57 PM
I really like the soft ilghting here - never would have guessed this is Missouri!
Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 14, 2012 at 7:56 PM
I'm very much enjoying this image. It's not an iconic place, but elements and light are working together here very well. You've composed this very well, and that's what holds it together, I think.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Jean Day on April 15, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Nice work on the blend, wonderful colors and textures...makes me want to explore the other side of those rocks!
Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments