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Interstate Oasis & Repost
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Interstate Oasis & Repost

by Harry Lichtman

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 22, 2012666 views30 comments
This view looked more like something you might find in a National Park out west. It is actually a small low wet area surrounded by some of the biggest and busiest highways on the seacoast of New Hampshire. The look is serene, but the constant buzz of cars and trucks at all hours is anything but that. 50 feet behind me and 300 ft. in front of me was the Spaulding Turnpike, to the left of me Route 1 and Route 95 up the east coast. My low camera position prevented the highway in front of me from being seen behind the distant burm. This was a sunset, but I think a sunrise has more potential as long as the skies cooperate. I'll be heading out in the mornings before work while the flowers hold up. Police took notice since I was near the major highways but in the end let me do my thing :biggrin: A mix of lustrife (which appeared to glow in the dim light) & goldenrod.

Larger Version Included

6 images focal blended for the FG @ ISO 1250, another exposure for the sky @ ISO 800 to minimize noise.

Comments

30 comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 22, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Wow - hard to imagine the scene you describe. This image feels remote. Besides the great light, color and composition you have done a marvelous job hiding the surroundings.
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 22, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Fantastic view Harry. I live less than an half hour from here but have never tried to photograph the area. Beautiful light and color. Great capture.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Jared Atencio on August 23, 2012 at 1:06 AM
The large image is great. Sometimes I actually love sneaking in the "nature hidden amongst the sprawl" scenes just to demonstrate that beauty can be found all around us for those looking for it. Good stuff.
Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 23, 2012 at 2:29 AM
Love this flower field. What a great profusion with amazing color. If possible I would try and shoot this in overcast light where you could also see detail in the trees. Another reason is that the colors don't quite mesh between sky and flowers IMO. I would love to see a shot of this in the morning if you get a chance. Just some suggestions to an already beautiful image.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Anderson on August 23, 2012 at 7:16 AM
Beautiful colors Harry!
Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 23, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Thanks for the input.
Dean - That back row of trees is abit of a challenge, as it was much more shaded than the field. It should be more even at sunrise- we'll see! Thanks.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 23, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Nice mix of colors! A beautiful shot, Harry. I see zero reason to keep the top--see the title of my post below :wink:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on August 23, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Beautiful colors in this Harry! Fine image!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 23, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Spectacular! I like how the purple loosestrife coordinates with the upper sky. The flowers are spectacular. It's a very minor nit, but I wonder if you could pull a bit of color out of the trees.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on August 23, 2012 at 10:45 AM
What a color riot Harry. Nice "urban" grab!
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on August 23, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Beautiful colors. I knwo the problem of excluding "man made things" in my pics since i'm living here in switzerland. you did a good job here.
Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments
Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on August 23, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I really love the contrast between the flowers
I wish if the FG or the flowers area is a bit darker :smile:
Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 23, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Great shot with wonderful deep colors, Harry.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 23, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Stan - Not sure what you are referring to. Did I miss a post somewhere? :confused:
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 23, 2012 at 4:32 PM
This is a slightly different comp. of the scene with some of the suggestions incorporated into the processing and cropping. A bit off the top for more of a 4 x 5 format, and generally a warmer white balance. Lighting and clouds were a bit different, taken prior to the original post and so is the feel of the image. Hopefully more detail in the far trees and the crop emphasises the flowers more.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 23, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Beautiful Harry. I love the rich color of the flowers, and the sky color makes it even nicer. Glad the Police didn't haul you off!
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 23, 2012 at 5:13 PM
I'm sure there will be a difference of opinion but I like your second shot better. Better detail as you stated. Both are great shots. I would take advantage of this spot which I'm sure you will. Great job Harry!
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 23, 2012 at 8:05 PM
Harry, I just saw your repost. I personally prefer the mood of the original post. I think Stan was referring to the rule of thirds in his comment (his most recent post was titled "Thirds") and the fact that this more or less has a centered horizon. I don't mean to be disrespectful to Stan nor do I intend to start a debate about the rule of thirds, but I personally think this image is aesthetically pleasing as presented and I think it holds interest throughout the frame.
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on August 23, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Thanks Brian, I get Stan's comment now! I think a crop of the top of the original is an improvement - I do like the color pallette and flower arrangement a little better too.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 23, 2012 at 8:43 PM
I think what appeals to me about the full-frame sky and the original color palette of the original post is that the bluish purple portion of the sky compliments the color of the purple flowers so well. Of course I'm also a fan of the more prominent warm / cool contrast of the original post. So in this regard I respectfully disagree with Stan and see a lot of reason to keep the top!! :wink:
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Marco Crupi on August 23, 2012 at 11:51 PM
Wow Harry! This is just beautiful! The colors are so vibrant making the flowers jump out of the screen. Great shot. I also think the warmer version adds to the already very powerful visual experience. Good work.
Registered on April 22, 2012, 14 Posts, 69 Comments
Comment posted by David Edwards on August 24, 2012 at 5:42 AM
A beautiful capture of color Harry. The repeating purples from flower to sky is really nice. I don't like the repost nearly as much as the original.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 24, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Absolutely stunning. Love the vibrant colors and silhouetted trees. Very, very nice
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on August 24, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Lovely, Harry. Great colors throughout with a complementary sky. Although I
suspect that the colors in the second version are more authentic, I prefer the
first posting.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on August 24, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Beautiful image with sweet light -- nice work! Love the backstory, too.
Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 25, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Love those vibrant colors Harry! The large version is especially nice!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Smorra on August 26, 2012 at 12:12 AM
This is outstanding Harry. Nice find between 2 roads! I really like the magentas and yellows in the flowers and the sky is icing on the cake. I prefer the colors in the original post.
Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 26, 2012 at 9:15 AM
#1 for the colors, #2 for the comp :wink:
Brian & others: i never feel 'dissed' for a difference of opinion--our opinions all mean squat here, the votes that count are the ones where $ is involved (hey...maybe we should require a fee for each opinion, then at the end of the year use the income to purchase an NPN sailboat that is free for all NPN members... :jump: )
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 26, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Beautiful! I like the original the best of the two. I think it looks nice as is but a crop of some of the of the sky works great here too, at least for me... :smile: Nice work here Harry. I like how you managed to to capture this with no trace of the highways around it. It feels very peaceful, even if it wasn't. Wonderful colors!!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on August 26, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Nice color display. :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments