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Yosemite Moments #9
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Yosemite Moments #9

by Lon Overacker

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 1, 2012335 views22 comments
I know this one is nearly identical to #5, same twin black oaks and almost identical composition. Two different days and lighting conditions though. #5 was late in the day, heavy overcast, diffused lighting. This one is the following morning, clear skies and reflected light from El Capitan, which is directly behind me.

I like the color and light a little better in this one and I think the meadow is more accurately depicted here.

Sorry for the redundancy, but would like your thoughts on this one as well. Your comments and critique always welcome.

4x5, Nikkor 210mm, V50, f/32 @4s
Tony's masks and actions.

Thanks!
Lon

Comments

22 comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on December 1, 2012 at 3:59 PM
The light in this one is, I think, nicer than previous post. The foliage has a cooler tone that goes well with the frosted meadow grasses and compliments the warm underbrush. This is truly a lovely scene. Well captured
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on December 1, 2012 at 4:13 PM
This is an excellent capture of favorite lighting conditions to me, Lon. Separation of colors is spot on to my eye. I also appreciate the foreground textures a lot, leading me nicely to the trees in the midground. The composition is interestingly balanced for me by the diagonals of the trees and rockface together with the horizontal of the fallen log.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 1, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Beautiful, Lon! Gorgeous Yosemite meadow scene. The foreground looks to have a bit of a strange color cast, maybe cyanish? Gotta say, this is an absolute beaut!!
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on December 1, 2012 at 4:47 PM
I like this as much as #5, Lon. Good color and nice FG. I have no suggestions for changes.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 1, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Lon,

I like this one better. Even though #5 was more saturated, the wider angle on this one gives a better context to the autumn scene. I also like the better detail in the FG grass. It is funny how we remake similar photos when maybe deep down we are not satisfied with what we already made.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on December 1, 2012 at 5:23 PM
My favorite. FG has it all, the light is sweet. There are so many tones in this image that just work together beautifully. TFS!!
Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments
Comment posted by Natalie Mikaels on December 1, 2012 at 6:24 PM
I'm such a fan of your work Lon. You have an incredible eye, and I learn a lot from you.

Best,
Natalie
Registered on November 3, 2011, 45 Posts, 181 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 1, 2012 at 6:43 PM
You capture such elegance in your tree images Lon. The two center trees seem to be dancing. Gorgeous color throughout. The rust colored plants and snow in the foreground compliment the whole scene.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 1, 2012 at 6:50 PM
I've been so busy this week that I haven't gotten to NPN to watch your unfolding portfolio of the the place. Haven't seen the previous one yet, but may as I leaf through images. This is gorgeous. Is that frost on the grass? It sure creates some nice contrast with the red-leafed plants. There is just so much to like here that it took me a bit to spot the echoing shapes of the trees. Well done all around.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 1, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Fascinating comparison. I prefer the added warmth of the earlier post and the extra eye movement due to your emphasizing the leaning trees. The foreground in this version is more interesting but the trees play a lesser role and they're my favorite part.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 1, 2012 at 7:12 PM
Thanks for the comments so far folks, I appreciate it.

Natalie - Thank you!

Thought I would also jump in about the frost and/or snow. And these references came up in the Leidig meadow grasses images as well. Actually there was no frost or snow. It wasn't even cold enough. The lows were mostly around 40 and after that 1st day of rain, the meadows were mostly dry. Usually boots and pants get drenched traipsing through the meadows and tall grass, but that wasn't the case.

Interesting Tony that you would pick up on the thought of frost (totally understandable,) but I say this because I used your Burn/Dodge layer with both Darks and Lights luminosity masks to paint and accentuate the difference between the light, pale grasses and the darker ferns. I guess it does kinda look like frost.

Just for grins, here is the same pair of oaks from 1995. In a bit better shape back then. And notice the big ponderosa from 1995 - is now the gray horizontal log after falling down some time after I took to original image. It's amazing how short our lifespans are, yet we can still observe changes like this over time. I think that's cool.

Thanks for all your keen observations.
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 1, 2012 at 7:15 PM
I like the mix of color from cool to warm, and the frost adds a nice touch.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 1, 2012 at 9:35 PM
Beautiful... :smile: Wonderful work Lon

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on December 1, 2012 at 9:49 PM
Very nice simple capture in Yosemite! Man the web sharpening here was done exceptionally.
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on December 1, 2012 at 10:46 PM
This group of trees has received a lot of exposure on this forum recently (pun intended :wink: ) and for good reason. I find it interesting to see the differences in how the scene has been interpreted. Comparing your images #5 & #9 it is also interesting how the lighting can change the scene and convey a different mood. That aside, this is a great composition with beautiful color. The more subdued color and wider angle of view in this image compliments the other image nicely. Hard to say which one I like the most - this one evokes more of a moody feel with the subdued color and the cooler color temperature. Both are very nice.
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on December 2, 2012 at 2:35 AM
Another stunning image, Lon. Perfect composition (again), and a gorgeous palette of fall color in the leaves. Love how the reds of the ferns (or whatever they are) contrast with the frost and grasses in the meadow. Incredible.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 2, 2012 at 11:44 AM
The light in this one is really nice! Also the tonal separation in the foreground is really nice too! I like the yellows in the grasses from the other, but still favor this color contrast a bit better. REALLY NICE! :wink:

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on December 2, 2012 at 12:20 PM
You have a lot going here Lon, all of it gorgeous I might add, I also thought you picked up a little ground fog in the fg grasses. Beautiful scene Lon, as always.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 3, 2012 at 1:19 AM
I missed #5, but I think I prefer this one. I really like the lower quarter - the meadow looks excellent, the darker brown plants adds so much interest to the lightbrown grasses. And the granite/tree background never gets old for me. A very fine image, a strong piece of this current series and also a good addition to your overall yosemite portfolio.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 3, 2012 at 12:12 PM
This would be my favorite of the series so far, Lon. Outstanding light and comp. This just invites me to walk into the scene. Maybe for a little more tonal balance you could lighten the left foreground just a touch. It's just dark enough to pull my eye there a little. Fantastic image! :toast:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 3, 2012 at 11:16 PM
You and your Yosemite trees! Spectacular colors this fall and your trees really came through again. I enjoy the foreground leading up to them and how it completes the whole scene nicely. :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on December 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Perfect lesson in composition here Lon, I think the backdrop and foreground grasses show the oaks off beautifully. Very natural looking and sublime details.

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