The Island Paradise

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 23, 2012512 views12 comments

Brittany, FRANCE

Now here's a landscape most of you guys won't be familiar with. One of the most dramatic landscapes to be found in France is on the appropriately named island of Belle Ile en Mer. This location was a favourite of Monet who painted it many times. These are just about the tallest rock stacks I have seen anywhere.

I realize that the balance in the sky is dark compared to the foreground but this is the way it had to be processed to hold colour in the sky while keeping the flowers light enough not to become too dull.

Canon 5DMkII, 16-35mm, GND filter, single exposure.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 23, 2012 at 10:22 PM

I really like the color palette and light balance even though it may be unconventional Kah Kit. Gorgeous light throughout.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 23, 2012 at 11:13 PM

The flowers "pop" nicely and the overall scene is nice, but I think it needs more shadow detail in the rocks. Easy to see why Monet was attracted to this place,

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on June 24, 2012 at 1:21 AM

Very nice colors and comp Kah Kit. The foreground flowers really make this scene work for me. Well done.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 24, 2012 at 4:39 AM

Looks like some beautiful scenery Kah Kit. I like the way the flower and sky color bring the image together. Lovely glow on the rocks too.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 24, 2012 at 10:10 AM

I like the comp and the light, and the flowers make a nice foreground. I agree with Bill that it still needs some balance. It might balance better with a dark background.

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

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on June 24, 2012 at 12:35 PM

That is a beautiful scene Kah Kit. You really found some beautiful colors. You might try lightening up the hills on either side in the middle of the image. I think it might blend the sky and FG flowers a little better, maybe not but I'd give it a try.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on June 24, 2012 at 1:53 PM

Beautiful scene and you did a good job here. I'm glad to see some images from french since there are great landscapes.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 24, 2012 at 3:47 PM

The purples of the flowers work nicely with the sky. I do think the transition is a bit harsh on the eyes - as others mentioned brightening the rocks would help even that out I think.

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on June 24, 2012 at 4:34 PM

The shadows have been mentioned, and I don't mind the sky/foreground light mix. I would darken the rock on the right, above the flowers but down below in elevation. It looks like disturbed land to my eye and def grabs my eye. Maybe just me, but I think a bit of burning would help.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 24, 2012 at 9:30 PM

Nice scene. Middle ground maybe seems a bit lost in the shadows. Seems too dark relative to the foreground.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 25, 2012 at 5:16 PM

Yep, you sure picked some tough DR, KK

The struggle is always to find a good balance so it looks natural--i think you could raise the shadows quite a bit, and darken the fg just a little. A gorgeous scene for sure, and worth a little pain in processing.

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on June 26, 2012 at 6:13 PM

Wow...what a location. Killer shot. So much possiblity down at that beach too. Woah. Well played sir

aF

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