Sadness

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 16, 2012769 views18 comments

This is a high-key approach to a misty Deadvlei scene. I tried a handful of different conversions and it was the strong graphic result of the high-key version that appealed to me. A good example IMO that maximum detail throughout (in lights and darks) is not always important. I thought this to be a fitting scene for the December month and therefore made it my Image of the Month; with a little imagination you see dead Christmas trees in the snow! Of course in fact this is a mid-summer dry desert scene!

Happy holidays everyone!

Deadvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Camera Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Shutter Speed 1/25 Sec.
Aperture Value f/18
ISO Speed 100
Lens EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM @ 16mm
FF, Tripod

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 16, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Wow Vincent, this is really striking. Great composition and processing. I love the approach you took.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by INGOMA on December 16, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Beautiful work Vincent! Graphical and so effective! Love it.

Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments

Comment posted by John Clulow on December 16, 2012 at 1:00 PM

I don't like anything about this. It yells out to me "ostentatious". Sorry, I'm just being honest.

Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on December 16, 2012 at 1:10 PM

Well I have to say I find it to be the exact opposite of What John feels. I think it is a refreshing take on a familiar scene. I like the high key approach and the imposed simplicity. I guessed it was the Dead Vlei and was immediately intrigued. The only thing that I am less keen on is the truncated branches at the sides particularly the left hand one
I would have love to have seen the whole tree contained within the frame, I am guessing that perhaps it wasn't compositionally aesthetic to do so for some reason.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on December 16, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Perfectly composed and processed. I'm glad you chose to keep some detail in the trees. Nicely done.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 16, 2012 at 2:42 PM

Vincent,

Great to see an image from you. Stark and wonderful! Fantastic job with the processing. The high-key development does indeed make this look like a wintery, snow environment (although the Christmas tree is a stretch...

)

You've got this so white so white it nearly bleeds in to the web page here, and it's very effective.

This is outstanding. Congrats

Lon

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on December 16, 2012 at 2:51 PM

Love it. Killer shot.

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on December 16, 2012 at 4:07 PM

Vincent, this is awesome.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Richardson on December 16, 2012 at 4:27 PM

Great thought process here, to be able to envision this. It gives a very desolate feel. I like the comp you've chosen here, but to me, the branches stretching out of the frame are a tad distracting, as is the slight merger in the middle-right two trees. Minor nits in an otherwise very different, yet pleasing capture.

Registered on November 18, 2012, 28 Posts, 134 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 16, 2012 at 4:32 PM

I thought this was snow at first, too. I really like what you have done with the processing. The high key works really well to emphasize the starkness of the environment. I would rather the outside trees not be cut off, but a very minor thing. Overall, the image works really well for me.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 16, 2012 at 11:28 PM

I really like this a lot Vincent. The dead trees against the high key background cause me to think of lost souls. A stark and very striking image.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on December 17, 2012 at 12:01 AM

cool, different. the branches on the frame make me feel like i'm being guided down a bright tunnel. i could maybe see a slight crop off the bottom, more of a pano perhaps

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on December 17, 2012 at 10:59 AM

Wonderfully graphic and engaging. An excellent piece.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 17, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Thanks for the feedback all. I understand the comment about the clipped of branches and in the field I did make an image with both trees entirely in the frame. For some reason I liked this one more and felt it pulled the viewer more into the scene. I only processed this one, but after these comments will give the other frame a go too; thanks! It is exactly these kind of constructive comments that makes NPN such a valuable site. Exclusively positive or negative comments without any real content don't help any one of us in creating better images. Members who are struggling to provide constructive feedback should start with reading the The Art of Image Critique.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 18, 2012 at 9:12 PM

This is so cool, Vincent! I agree that this is very appealing, and the title most suitable. Essential detail in the foreground, then you're right, nothing else matters in the way of detail to achieve this stark, grim look. Everything else matters in terms of your adventuresome processing! Way to go!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on December 19, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Fabulous image, Vincent. Love the inviting composition and your unique treatment has made it all the more special.