Mossy Embrace

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 27, 2012556 views25 comments

It has been an insanely long time since I last posted on this site. I don't have a good excuse, either. Since last fall, I have been super busy with school, shooting, and workshops, and I just sort of forgot about NPN. That's not cool! I can't think of any other place on the internet that I have learned more about nature photography from than here.

Here is a photo I took in the Columbia River Gorge. It was really hard trying to make something happen in this tangled mess of vine maples. It looks a bit crooked, but the ground was sloped that way.

Thanks for looking. If you care, it looks a little better on the dark background of my website. (print URL above)

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 27, 2012 at 4:33 PM

Lovely "rain forest" green. I would love to see different takes on this. The leading lines are strong and take the eye inexorably to the center of the viney maple. I just wish it wasn't dead center, but maybe in the instance it doesn't matter so much. This is a very strong, very complex photograph, and the focal point is not as important as the lines leading to it.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on April 27, 2012 at 4:36 PM

Nutso...great use of space.

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on April 27, 2012 at 5:22 PM

hey alex! i think you did a great job in finding strong lines that mirror each other as they touch each corner of the frame. this seems to be tough in a forest like this

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 27, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Excellent luminosity, light, color, and order in your comp, Alex. This is one heck of an achievement to frame the main subject tree and have leading lines in from the corners. Outstanding eye!

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

Comment posted by Jon Daining on April 27, 2012 at 6:34 PM

Alex, it's definitely a tangled mess in there as you say! I can see how it would be very difficult to isolate a scene here, but you have done a fine job. The simple color theme helps to unify the image.

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on April 27, 2012 at 7:16 PM

An enchanting scene...light on the forest floor is handled well...I enjoy all those twisting branches. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on April 27, 2012 at 7:28 PM

There's a few places here in Colorado it is really tough to find a good composition in aspen groves (then, of course, there are thousands of places where it's 'easy' to find...). This seems similar, and yet you've found a good, solid, dynamic scene with lots of interest and color. I love the photo! Up toward the top middle of the frame, there may be a few 'eye catchers' that could possibly be toned down, but that may be far too picky... TFS!

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on April 27, 2012 at 8:41 PM

Works for me.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on April 27, 2012 at 9:20 PM

Beautiful, Alex! I really like all the leaves on the forest floor in addition to the nice vines. You did steal my image title though

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 27, 2012 at 9:49 PM

Comp works very well Alex. If I have not seen these rain forests myself, I would say the greens are over the top but I know they are not. Beautiful work!

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on April 28, 2012 at 12:12 AM

You have presented a good composition with lines that do well to organize this complex dense scene

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on April 28, 2012 at 1:42 AM

I like it, Alex. Great light!

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

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on April 28, 2012 at 11:23 AM

I can well understand the difficulty of the composition. This however is really, really well done. The color is awesome too!

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 28, 2012 at 11:34 AM

Hey Alex, good to see you again! I thought this was the Hoh from the thumb--a real tough subject for sure. I like what you did here, great perspective and nice balance. If i struggle to find a nit, the bottom half corners see a bit dark relative tot he middle. Otherwise, looks great!

EDIT: Huh, i just checked out your site version--it looks fine there! Not sure why the post here would increase the contrast

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

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on April 28, 2012 at 1:08 PM

Good job with the comp Alex, IMO. Gorgeous greens and that luminous green light that you only see here in the PNW! I think this image has great impact. Well seen!

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on April 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Wonder Alex. I love the lines and the very natural looking greens here. Great comp too.

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 28, 2012 at 3:50 PM

Awesome work from a tough place, Alex. I really like what you did here. I love the glowing light and the beautiful yellow/greens. Excellent work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 28, 2012 at 8:19 PM

Chaotic elegance here, Alex. I feel this is reaching out to get me.

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on April 29, 2012 at 2:38 AM

Incredibly strong composition Alex. I've admired this one several times now. Great work!

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

Comment posted by David Edwards on April 29, 2012 at 3:17 AM

Excellent work structuring the elements into a cohesive comp. Super-lush greens and fabulous filtered light really make this one pop. The whitish leaf slightly right of center seems to distract my eye... perhaps a clone out there might help.

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

Comment posted by Todd Bielby on April 29, 2012 at 9:27 AM

Love the greens and dof here Alex.

Registered on March 10, 2011, 169 Posts, 392 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 29, 2012 at 9:45 PM

Neat image. The leading lines keep my eyes moving and the greens are wonderful. All those branches reaching this way feel a bit ominous.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on April 30, 2012 at 10:40 PM

Wonderful capture, Alex! This is my kind of monochromatic. You could have entitled
this "Tentacles". Please post more images from your "Gorge" trip.

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

Comment posted by Kyle McDougall on May 1, 2012 at 9:05 AM

You've done a great job here Alex with the composition. I can only imagine the challenges of trying to organize everything into a pleasing arrangement. Love the vibrant greens!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 9 Posts, 52 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on May 1, 2012 at 9:43 AM

gives new meaning to the word "treehugger" - hehehe - sweet one bro!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments