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March 2013 GOTM

Gallery: Gallery of the MonthPosted January 24, 20132,682 views44 comments

1/420th!!!

Yeah, that's 1 minute out of about 420 that I spent in these Redwoods that this light appeared! I was working up in Crescent City and planned on staying a day(Friday) after finishing the project. We got done early enough Thursday, that I went and hiked the Damnation Creek Trail that afternoon. It was a good idea because this happened then, and no more dramatic light the rest of the afternoon, or next morning's hike. It had been raining and my Polarizer was all wet and fogged up. I had stopped here to wipe it off and had it off the camera when this light appeared. No time to get it back on as it was not clear yet, and this moment lasted less than a minute! Anyway, it is an amzing place that I will return to again, I'm sure. Those trees, and that forest sure make a person feel small!

D800,
24-70mm,
1/2sec, F/9.5

Thanks,
Chris

Comments

44 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 24, 2013 at 9:52 PM

WOW! What gorgeous, golden light Chris! The heck with the polarizer. Stunning scene without it.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on January 24, 2013 at 10:38 PM

What an extraordinary moment with fantastic light and mood. You've expertly captured it with a great composition. The light / dark contrast in the foreground trees helps provide separation of the tightly spaced trees and the mist helps simplify the composition. Beautiful work, Chris!!

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on January 24, 2013 at 10:45 PM

Well yummy. That light is magic...cpl...well...next time ;0

aF

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 24, 2013 at 10:58 PM

Now that's some really special light. I'm kind of torn on the bush in the lower right, feels a little 'detached' from the rest of the image. Perhaps because it's not catching any of that warm light. I still really like the image, congrats on being able to act so quickly to capture this brief moment of light.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on January 24, 2013 at 11:03 PM

Bam, that's some sweet light!

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on January 24, 2013 at 11:17 PM

This one's a winner Chris. The light gives the trees such amazing depth and I like the balance of dark and light on the tree trunks. The leaves at the bottom help to ground the photo and give it a nice overall framing.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Chamberlain on January 24, 2013 at 11:33 PM

This is one place I have to visit, and hope the fog conditions are just right for some nice light. Looks like the trees have turned to gold. The bright spot on the tree to the left kind of takes away from the shot. When looking at the larger version, there appears to be evidence of over sharpening. Other than that, this is very nice.

Registered on January 6, 2013, 12 Posts, 44 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on January 24, 2013 at 11:41 PM

Awesome light Chris! And what a coincidence that you spent 420 minutes in an area known for more that just it's giant trees...

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on January 24, 2013 at 11:55 PM

Fabulous light here ..and well seen and framed ..well done

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on January 25, 2013 at 12:37 AM

Beautiful light, great subject!

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on January 25, 2013 at 12:53 AM

This was one of the most amazing places I've ever been. You got some incredible light here and you captured it perfectly.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on January 25, 2013 at 1:01 AM

Wow! What a scene to behold Chris. That light is fantastic, as fleeting light tends to be. You captured an amazing scene polarized or not. Nice work controlling the highlights too.

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

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on January 25, 2013 at 3:40 AM

Wow, I could sit and look at this all day. Simply beautiful Chris.
John

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 25, 2013 at 9:11 AM

Special light, indeed. Also really like how the spacing of the trees creates a bit of abstract quality to the verticals. Sometimes it's a tree trunk that lights up, and sometimes it's the space in between.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 25, 2013 at 9:56 AM

Wow Chris, This is wonderful!! Great mood, beautiful light and excellent comp. I love the color and the glow of the light is magical. A beautiful photograph Chris!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Ralph Yakaboski on January 25, 2013 at 11:07 AM

Last summer I spent some time in the Redwoods near Crescent City and never found the light that you captured here. Very well done.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1 Posts, 28 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on January 25, 2013 at 11:26 AM

Love the shiny wet leaves in the lower right corner, which probably wouldn't be there with the polarizer. I can feel the dampness and fog, and the glory of this one moment. Great image!

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 25, 2013 at 12:40 PM

Great light - well worth the wait! I love the feel that the misty/foggy BG gives. The whole image has such a nice, warm glow to it.

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

Comment posted by John Neukirch on January 25, 2013 at 1:16 PM

WOW! All I can say is print it large. It will be a killer image hanging on the wall.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 25, 2013 at 2:13 PM

Golden light which greenery anchors. Depth is such a trial to properly show...even when fog adds force to the effort. This has some ...but I come away seeing mostly the warmth and glow as take-away impression. Nicely done.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 25, 2013 at 2:58 PM

This is amazing.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 25, 2013 at 3:17 PM

Hi Chris,
wow, that's some light! Great to see you got to this part of California for photography! I can certainly relate to this image, this is a magical place.

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

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 25, 2013 at 5:53 PM

Chris this is outstanding! The light is so sweet.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 25, 2013 at 6:13 PM

Very nice light. I hope to see these some day!

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 25, 2013 at 7:54 PM

Yes, Damnation was one of my favorite short trails--especially when the surf was happening! I agree with the others--sweet shot, although I hope you got a vertical cause I think it would be even sweeter tall

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 26, 2013 at 6:42 AM

gorgeous light. the only minor nit might be the separation among the tree just slightly right of centre .... otherwise wonderful image and i look forward to more when you get back there.

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

Comment posted by Brad Clinch on January 26, 2013 at 11:31 AM

Great! In addition to the excellent composition and light I really like the wet shine on the greenery in right foreground.

Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments

Comment posted by Robb Hirsch on January 26, 2013 at 5:05 PM

Wow, that is some gorgeous light! Nicely done to be able to capture something when the light is so fleeting, especially when there's such a short window of time. I know I've found myself scrambling in a similar situation and not been able to capture something meaningful- kudos!

Registered on February 15, 2011, 16 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 27, 2013 at 12:31 AM

Outstanding Chris! Very unique conditions that you got that kind of light WITH the fog! Wow!

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on January 27, 2013 at 2:52 AM

What an enchanting scene. Feels like its out of a fairy tale. Very nicely done, Chris.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 27, 2013 at 1:21 PM

Wonderful light and overall atmospheric conditions in this very selective area, Chris. A truly gorgeous capture.

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 28, 2013 at 1:10 PM

Beautiful! I used to live in the redwoods & am not sure that I ever even saw light quite like this!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 30, 2013 at 4:54 PM

Must have been an amazing experience. Congrats on the WP!

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 30, 2013 at 4:57 PM

Congratulations on this most recent WP, Chris.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 30, 2013 at 6:29 PM

Hi Chris

Congrats on winning the WP well deserved

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on January 31, 2013 at 10:02 AM

Chris,
I missed this when first posted, I'am sure glad to see it now . . . Well done !
Congrats on the WP . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on January 31, 2013 at 11:12 AM

Beautiful!

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 31, 2013 at 1:54 PM

Wonderful scene. Great light and perfect composition.
D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 31, 2013 at 10:49 PM

What a nice surprise! Thanks everyone for the great response to this one. Thank you to the Mods!!!!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 1, 2013 at 12:30 AM

Chris: What a great capture of a wonderful moment. Congrats on the WP. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 5, 2013 at 1:56 PM

Not sure how I missed this the first time....congrats on the wp and an amazing image. You're knocking them out of the park!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Bob McQuade on March 11, 2013 at 9:48 PM

Very nice!

Registered on October 8, 2009, 214 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on March 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM

That is just gorgeous Chris, the light is of course gorgeous but the framing and contrast is also creates the beauty. And then there is the mist... Superb

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on March 21, 2013 at 7:01 PM

That is just gorgeous Chris, the light is of course gorgeous but the framing and contrast is also creates the beauty. And then there is the mist... Superb

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments