After the Fire + Repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 31, 2012201 views10 comments

This past weekend, following a tip from a co-worker, I went to Kootenay National Park (BC, Canada). It was the tail-end of the Fireweed bloom.

In 2003, roughly 170 sq. km (65 sq. miles) - which is about 12% of Kootenay NP - burnt as a result of a wildfire. 9 years later, the fireweed is gorgeous, and a the lodgepole pines are slowly starting to re-establish.

Taken close to the Marble Canyon Campground on HWY 93S.

Canon 7D
Lens: 70-300mm @ 86mm, 1/60 s @f.16, ISO 400

Comments welcome, thank you for looking!

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 1, 2012 at 1:15 AM

karen - i like this - great layers here and great colours to make them even more pronounced. i'd be inclined to crop off the top (to get rid of those greens at the top) - this would add IMO tension, even claustrophobia to the image.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 1, 2012 at 4:16 AM

This is a fine interpretation of the vegetation typical of Marble Canyon. I second the crop to focus on the main elements. There's also something odd looking about the trees, not sure if it is a sharpening issue but I can't quite put my finger on it..

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on September 1, 2012 at 8:35 AM

Really appealing Karen, and very well presented, and I like the green at the top, just a futher peek into the forest. Very nice indeed.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on September 1, 2012 at 9:52 AM

Very well done Karen. Bravo

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on September 1, 2012 at 12:57 PM

Karen, this is really a story telling image for me, impressively presented. I especially appreciate the color tansitions and diverse layers.

Maybe cropping the top with the greens might help me to concentrate on the burned trunks. But that might be purely a matter of opinion.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Joerg Bonner on September 1, 2012 at 1:24 PM

beautiful image! i agree with kah kit about the odd look of the trees - still, this is a real beauty!

Registered on September 5, 2011, 44 Posts, 221 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on September 1, 2012 at 2:36 PM

This is very nice Karen. I really like the vibrant magentas in the flowers and how they contrast with the scorched trees in the background. I'm in agreement with the others about cropping the green area out at the top of the frame. This would focus and strengthen the composition.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 1, 2012 at 3:24 PM

Really a wonderful image, Karen. I love the feel of this. Great layers and beautiful color. I also agree about cropping the green off the top. I think that makes the comp even more appealing as well. Very nice!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on September 1, 2012 at 7:39 PM

Beautiful layering of texture and colors. Very nice image.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Kane on September 1, 2012 at 11:43 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone. Here is a repost, with the crop suggested. I think it does work well.

I can't really explain the look of the trees - in most of the burnt areas, the standing trees were more widely spaced, often trunks only. In this one spot, the trees are very dense and with lots of tangled branches. I'm guessing the fire raged through this spot very quickly (it wouldn't have generated as much heat, and left behind a denser cover). Looking at a close-up of a section of the trees. Hmmm... there are a few small openings to the slope in behind which has a greenish-blue tinge? Maybe that's what it is?

Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments