Yosemite Moments #10

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 3, 2012350 views19 comments

Half way through. I hope you're not too bored yet. Thanks so much for the comments and response so far.

We finally departed El Capitan Meadow. Preston and I had met up with Kyle Krause and we head back to the campground for lunch. This image here was a little later in the afternoon as we made our way to Valley View.

I don't know if it was me that coined the term, but I call stretch of the Merced River, "Cramer's Alley." In reference of course to one of my most admired landscape and nature photographer's Charlie Cramer. This stretch of river runs from about 1/4 before the Valley View pullout, all the way to another 1/4 mile past the Pahono Bridge. Just a wonderful area for river scenics.

Not sure I'm doing Charlie any justice here, but this one has grown on me. What is interesting is being able to catch a scene like this while the river is so low; tufts of grass sprout up and the polished stones of the Merced are exposed.

As always, I would love your thoughts and critiques on this. I'm also going to include a little closer vertical for comparison.

Chamonix 4x5, Nikkor 210mm, f/32, @8s, oh, V50.
Lot's of Tony's masks, luminosity painting, etc.

Thanks!
Lon

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 3, 2012 at 12:39 PM

Here's the vertical, didn't want to be too redundant and make this #11.....

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 3, 2012 at 1:24 PM

Beautiful forest scene, Lon. The rocks and grass tufts in the foreground are great and along with dead wood, provide a great sense of the place. This is a quiet little beauty.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 3, 2012 at 2:09 PM

I prefer the vertical of these two. Less is more, I suppose.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 3, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Nice image Lon but, for me, it doesn't have the same impact of your last few. Of the two posted, I prefer the vertical format best.

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 3, 2012 at 2:30 PM

Lon,

There it is again, that soft directional light that I love so much there in the Valley. It just makes that pine just stand right out. I too like the vertical version better as well. I still get the sense of the river bed rocks and grass while still getting a sense of how tall that tree is. With the horizontal, I feel the additional forest on the left distracts my eye too much.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 3, 2012 at 4:06 PM

A beautiful scene Lon. I love the light and color in this. The horz is nice but I really enjoy the vert comp here! Very nice..

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on December 3, 2012 at 4:12 PM

Beautiful, Lon. Halfway through? Pretty soon you will have covered every square foot of that valley! Great stuff.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 3, 2012 at 6:10 PM

I like the comp of the vertical best Lon. It is simpler and contains all the most interesting elements.

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

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 3, 2012 at 9:11 PM

Another nice image Lon. What I like best here are the tufts of grass in the rocks. Although I like that the stump on the left is not included in the vertical, I would still like to see more of the grass on the right, so I'm somewhere in between the two.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on December 3, 2012 at 10:26 PM

Most photographer's would pass up on a busy scene like this, you've managed to arrange it nicely. I didn't see the vertical until after, I like both versions, but I feel that the vertical is a bit stronger comp-wise. It looks like the highlights could be pushed a little in the horizontal version, some of the rocks feel a little muddy. Nicely seen, Lon!

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 3, 2012 at 11:25 PM

I like both. Busy scenes, but the strong vertical trunk creates a nice focal point. I like the light in the vertical better where the rocks seem to have better contrast and brightness. They're a little duller in the horizontal, though it's not a big issue. I see Zack has already mentioned that it takes a good eye to get a comp out of this. It's instructive to see how you've made this work.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 4, 2012 at 8:00 AM

I like the more focused composition of the vertical which also seems to be more vibrantly lit. Those stones are a really appealing element here.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 4, 2012 at 9:32 AM

Vertical for me too! I like both, and generally prefer the landscape orientation. But, the light seems a little better in the vertical, as well as the simplification.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on December 5, 2012 at 7:30 AM

not sure they're bored but this has less of a response, i see. the stump on the left distracts but i like everything in the 2/3 to the right. maybe a vertical from a portion of that? seems it would work to my eye!!

EDIT: ah ha. i see you think like me, lon - or rather, perhaps, i think like you. just seen the second post and there we are! there might even be a comp out there that includes the darker tree to the right.

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

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on December 5, 2012 at 10:15 AM

First of all, love the mood and light, just so calm and peaceful looking, the color is very natural, and the scene it self is very appealing. Tough choice, but I definitely like the vertical best. Beautiful work Lon.
John

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on December 5, 2012 at 10:38 AM

I love the vertical. More energy and depth. The horizontal post left me felling a little scattered. I really have to get out there some day. You post such inviting scenes.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 5, 2012 at 5:34 PM

Not bored yet man! I always look forward to your work from Yosemite. This one has special appeal for me. It has that "controlled chaos" going on that I like so much. The light is especially nice. And I l prefer the horizontal!

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 5, 2012 at 11:32 PM

Tha'ts cause the horizontal looks more like one of Didl's funky shots

I prefer the vertical.
I can't say i get any strong emotions from either, i keep imagining a black bear walking through the scene and that puts me more at tease...but the presentation is nice.

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

Comment posted by Tom Roper on December 6, 2012 at 10:30 PM

Lon, liking the series so far. As others have said, I prefer the vertical. Maybe that little tree will grow up big like the one next to it.

Registered on January 19, 2012, 5 Posts, 46 Comments