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January 2013 GOTM
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January 2013 GOTM

by Youssef Ismail

Gallery: Gallery of the MonthPosted December 10, 20123,031 views25 comments
Autumn To Winter

Thank you for the feedback on the Morning meadow photo. I was not so thrilled with it myself, but isn't that always the case that the photos you like best others like least and vice versa?

So after some breakfast and a little downtime, we headed back out and worked our way along the Merced river. We ended up at a location where we were standing on some exposed rocks that are normally under water. I have never been able to stand there in the past.

There was this small cascade that drained out a fairly large pool that reflected the maples. My interest was the cascade and reflection. The pano crop was intended from its inception. I really like the transition from the warm colors to the cool colors.

4x5, Nikkor 300mm, f45, 12 sec, Fuji Provia 100F in open shade.

Comments

25 comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 10, 2012 at 10:03 PM
I love the sweep of light here Youssef as well as the mix of warm and cool color.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 10, 2012 at 10:29 PM
The pano crop works well and I like the transition of color and light across the scene. The pocket of leaves on the lower right also add a little extra color. Nicely done.
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Todd Liotine on December 10, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Youssef, beautiful tones captured with a very effective comp, well seen.
Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on December 10, 2012 at 11:26 PM
This is outstanding in every aspect :toast:
Well seen and shot. :wavey:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 10, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Beautiful comp, Youssef, love it, another winner :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Cross on December 11, 2012 at 12:37 AM
Really neat image. Great eye to pick it out. Would be easy to walk by. The pano presentation is a good way to showcase this one.
Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on December 11, 2012 at 9:15 AM
The warm/cool color contrast is eye catching Youssef, and the pano format works really well here to accentuate the water flow. Excellent image!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on December 11, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Beautiful color and streaming water. Funny, my mind wants this reversed, flowing left to right. Someone once told me that's a Western mindset. But that's my problem. Beautiful image!
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 11, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Youssef, This is wonderful! The light and colors are beautiful. I think your long exposure worked so well to create the mood. The panoramic format was a great way to showcase this. The larger version is really worth the look and I bet this would make a wonderful print! :toast:

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on December 11, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Very interesting transition from warm to cool colors. Well seen. Most people would have probably walked by and miss the potential in this scene.
Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 11, 2012 at 12:10 PM
This is just great Youssef!
A very interesting concept, executed so well. I like the pano crop, a very effective format for this type of scene!
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 11, 2012 at 1:18 PM
So, so sweeeeeeeeet! Love this, Youssef, just love this. :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by Danny Laureys on December 11, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Very nice, love the colors in this. :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments
Comment posted by Justin Richardson on December 11, 2012 at 3:02 PM
I love the painterly feel here. Very nice exposure for the water..excellent!
Registered on November 18, 2012, 28 Posts, 134 Comments
Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on December 11, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Wow, this came out beautifully Youssef, the panoramic concept works great. We all came back with some beautiful images from the area. Very nice meeting and shooting with you that weekend. Hope to see ya this winter.
Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 11, 2012 at 9:39 PM
Great vision and forethought here Youssef! Beautiful transition of color from warm to cool - a perfect setup for your vision of a panoramic.

Only a couple small suggestions. If it were mine, I would take a TK B/D layer using perhaps Super Brights or Bright Lights and paint down the highlights in the leaves at the bottom, and some hightlights up top as well. The other thing, and I hesitate to comment on the blue, because what is being reflected in the cascade? blue sky, of course! To me though, it's a little on the purple side. I think that works well right at the beginning of the cascade where the clear water takes form and reflecting the blue sky, but once the water gets to the left in the whitewater, I kind of expect a little less blue over there. Not sure if this matches your thoughts, but I thought I would toss that out there.

Again, great vision and execution. It continues to amaze me how 5 photographers can stand in literally the same location and come away with 5 different images. Chris posted his earlier, Kyle showed me his, and I've yet to post mine. Each and every image different than the other - yet we all had the same viewpoint. fascinating stuff.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 11, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Lon thank you for your thoughts. I was concerned about how blue the white water was as well. I did remove some blue, maybe not enough. That phenomena has always intrigued me as well. It is mysterious for sure.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 11, 2012 at 10:17 PM
very beautiful, Youssel. I especially like the transition from warm colors to cool. I also like the clump of leaves in the LRC. whites appear to be slightly blown.
Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on December 12, 2012 at 2:55 AM
I am really enjoying the flow offered by this composition and the panoramic aspect ratio. Very nice, Youssef.
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 12, 2012 at 11:44 AM
:toast: Great idea here, Youssef. Your visualization of how things would come together looks to have worked out perfectly. Wonderful capture. :cool:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 12, 2012 at 5:37 PM
Wonderful luminosity, color, clarity and comp. Very well done!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 12, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Fantastic pano, Youssef. The colors and textures here are all superb.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Drew M Wright on December 13, 2012 at 2:16 AM
Love the vision and comp; nice work Youssef.
Registered on June 18, 2008, 23 Posts, 106 Comments
Comment posted by Adam Smith on January 1, 2013 at 3:49 PM
:o) I enjoy the color, the use of the frame, and the smoothness. Could you email me and walk me through the process of doing the border the way you did. Thank you
Registered on November 21, 2012, 16 Posts, 107 Comments
Comment posted by Andrey Antov on July 5, 2013 at 3:58 PM
A great shot!
Registered on March 18, 2008, 292 Posts, 341 Comments