Fern Spring

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 20, 2012409 views25 comments

Here it is October, and I'm still working on May... Been a slow photo year for me, sorry I haven't been around and contributing much lately.

This is another image taken back in May during our spring ritual in Yosemite. Fern spring has been photographed a gazillion times. I always stop there, more recently to fill up my water bottles - it's sooo refreshing. The other image I'll post isn't always like this, but what happens when a workshop takes over the place.

Anyway, rather than your typical view, I stood over the top of the little cascades to try and catch some of the abstract patterns and colors. Green, big leaf maples leaves and a blue sky above provided the colors.

Really curious to hear your thoughts. Does this work for you? Any comments, critiques always appreciated.

4x5, 210mm, V100F, f/16 @1s

Thanks!

Lon

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 20, 2012 at 6:18 PM

Here's a view of the Fern Springs location during a workshop. CHIMP City!

EDIT: After Nancy Lea's comment, I just wanted to clarify that these two images were NOT taken at the same time. I never would have brought my camera out with this crowd!

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 20, 2012 at 6:39 PM

This is right up my alley and I'm loving it. Beautiful colors and swirls in the water plus the clean, clear falls. I do wish the left side was more in focus but since the slight blur is repeated in the right side water, it works ok. You caught some wonderful patterns but for me, the best part is the falling water. So refreshing to see it looking like water. Absolutely wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 20, 2012 at 6:42 PM

In response to the second posting, I can only say "You've got to be kidding!" I don't see this many people, with or without cameras, in a month. I can't even image searching for a composition around that crowd. Don't know how you do it.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 20, 2012 at 6:45 PM

Love the liquidity and abstract qualities Lon. Wonderful curving lines especially in the green portion.

As for chimping, guess ya can't do that with film though I still keep looking at the back of my Pentax 67II expecting to see an image.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 20, 2012 at 7:00 PM

I don't know if this was a simple decision to come to or not. It is simple in appearance, but probably my favorite image from fern spring that I have seen. Really well seen and executed. The tones, detail, and luster in this are excellent!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on October 20, 2012 at 7:28 PM

I would love to hang this image in my living room.
Highest praise I can give.
Wonderful image.

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 20, 2012 at 8:23 PM

Love those green reflections in the water above the step and the clarity of the falling water! Definitely my kind of image.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 20, 2012 at 8:31 PM

Very nice indeed, Lon. These water shots like this scene can be hard to get all aspects of the stuff right and this one hits a real high note on that agenda. The composition is always a bit subjective, but this one truly adds to the quality of the capture along with the other often harder to get technical items. Normally the glare can stymie the outcome unless a polarizer is used, but then it can dampen things too far at times. Not the case here with the excellent amount of reflective shine overall. I also like how the frame is filled with a perfect slice of this scene...

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on October 20, 2012 at 9:05 PM

I really love this one Lon. The somewhat oily or molten look from the water reflections is really engaging. Beautiful clarity.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on October 20, 2012 at 9:10 PM

Beautiful Lon. I stop there each time as well. Sometimes I am moved to photograph it and sometimes not. I really like the glassy feel to this. Just great and started to get itchy for autumn there.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 21, 2012 at 2:54 AM

oooh, this is soooo cool! One of the nicest stream shots i've seen in a while.

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

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 21, 2012 at 8:23 AM

The clarity and color really makes this stand out beautifully, excellent work with this pretty little cascade. Good eye Lon.
John

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on October 21, 2012 at 9:14 AM

I remember when you shot this. It's quite lovely. The blurred area on the LLC bothers me a bit, but it is what it is, and the image still works for me. Color and tones are right on.

The shot of the horde there reminds me of the day I got to the park--I always stop at Fern Spring--there was a huge workshop there; at least twenty people. The early morning light was perfect, and, of course, pulling out the 4x5 was impossible. So, I just hung out for a bit and watched the antics. It was very entertaining.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 21, 2012 at 9:49 AM

Beautiful, Lon. The water on the left looks like jewels. Excellent image!!!!

You may want to clone out that horizontal line just below center left?

Great second image of the context, with the photo whores, I mean hordes, gathered together at the altar.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 21, 2012 at 1:10 PM

This is perfect Lon. Balance, colors, textures combine to a perfect whole. I glossy print, well lit, will look stunning!

I have a cloning suggestion, perhaps not easy to do: There is a thin horizontal line in the center. I think it is a little twig in the water. For some reason, my eyes go there quicky, perhaps because it is a still object in an an otherwise "moving" matrix? No nits otherwise...

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Gordon on October 21, 2012 at 2:43 PM

Great balance and the colour and texture at the top of the cascade work great

Registered on May 31, 2007, 224 Posts, 1490 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 21, 2012 at 4:13 PM

Yep, thought of Nancy right off the bat.

I don't think one could compose this any better. Fascinating image, and so much for the eye to explore.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 21, 2012 at 5:18 PM

Thanks for your comments folks! I appreciate it!

I think a good call on cloning out that horizontal little underwater pine needle (I think that's what it is.) If this ever sees print, I'll be sure and take it out.

Thanks again!
Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on October 22, 2012 at 2:56 AM

Lon, you show me an exceptional beauty in your image. The calmness of the flow is inimitable.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 22, 2012 at 4:27 PM

It does work for me Lon, it's not the typical view as you say but it's a good one. It looks very natural. I like the reflected colours and the flow in the water. The jagged edge of the cascade is very nicely composed.

Cheers, Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on October 22, 2012 at 5:24 PM

Very graphic with incredible detail. The blues and greens way cool in the reflection. I'm not sure of the vertical positioning of the falls. Maybe a slight angle/diagonal in the frame would make it more dynamic. Water exposure is just perfect.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 22, 2012 at 9:44 PM

Yes! It works for me Lon. A really interesting shot, well done, and I quite enjoy it.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 23, 2012 at 2:22 PM

Oh man, you know I love these imtimate landscapes! This is exquisite Lon. The color, form, and shutter speed are all dead on perfect IMO. There's lots of emotion in this image! One of your finest.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on October 25, 2012 at 1:26 PM

Just lovely, true painted glass.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on October 27, 2012 at 11:48 PM

I suppose this must be an amazing place, judging from your story and the crowds, but I just can't imagine a more beautiful intimate image than this. Looks like it was engineered to produce lovely water flows, but to get this angle, with the beautiful details all in focus, backed up by the soft background, takes some talent and a painstaking study of what makes this place tick. Congrats.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments