Gulf Side

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 10, 2013383 views19 comments

I have made several night hikes to the edge of NH's Great Gulf Wilderness, looking for interesting comps. along the ravine during sunrise light. Winds are usually a factor, and I wanted to create an image that reflected the high winds along the ridges of the Presidential Range. Some of the most interesting light on this morning was just before sunrise, as clouds moved in quickly and blocked the strong directional light that usually takes place when things are clearer.

I wanted the FG sedges to reflect the 40 MPH winds on this AM, so I rendered them a blurred. They looked like wheat fields in the mid-west. I'm wondering if they are too blurred for most viewers to get that feeling. It seems obvious to me, but I may not be as objective. Any other feedback welcome. I have considered cropping out the small water body in the distance, but I figured I would show the full image.

5D II, 17-40L ISO 1250; 2 vertical images stitched; A blend of 2 images for DR

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on September 10, 2013 at 7:46 AM

this is really nice, I like it

everything works great

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 10, 2013 at 9:21 AM

Gorgeous light Harry especially on the foreground grasses. The motion blur of the grasses works well.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on September 10, 2013 at 9:41 AM

Pretty cool Harry. On the fence about the motion blur only since I think the texture in those grasses is so interesting. It might have worked better if the brush in the lower right was more blurred too. Processing is great, I love the subtle light in the valley.

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

Comment posted by Jim Salge on September 10, 2013 at 12:03 PM

One of my favorite places...beautifully captured! I like the look of the sedges moving, it's authentic to the experience on the Presidential Range. Great light over the peak, and not much you can do about reflection pond without losing something else important off the side!

Overall...

Registered on February 23, 2006, 269 Posts, 2210 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on September 10, 2013 at 12:05 PM

This image has such a wonderful mix of colors and textures. I don't mind the blurred sedges, in fact I think it accomplishes what you want. I probably would take out the little lake in the upper right corner. My eyes want to go there anyway, but it is a tad distracting. The light is great here, and that sky!

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

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on September 10, 2013 at 12:09 PM

Maybe just a little less blur would have been better Harry, but that's really minor. Love the light, and also how this image illustrates the U shaped glaciated valley. I was more impressed by the scale of the Presidential Range than I thought I'd be when I was there. There was only a slight 70 mph breeze blowing when I was on the summit of Washington...

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 10, 2013 at 12:10 PM

What a beautiful scene this is, Harry. The light, colors and mood are all wonderful. I think the blur of the grasses works quite nice here as well. I can see Navin's point about maybe working a bit better if the lower right corner grass had more movement, but still this does work just fine as is. I like your comp too. Nice job on this!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on September 10, 2013 at 4:04 PM

lovely soft light and what a beautiful sky... I would prefer slightly less blur, but your point certainly comes across... nothing much you can do about the distant lake, unless you want to take the liberty to clone it out (which I personally would consider going too far)

PS: I haven't commented for a while, but wanted to say how much I enjoyed your photos from Patagonia

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on September 10, 2013 at 7:01 PM

Beautiful Image Harry. Love the blurred grasses.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 10, 2013 at 7:36 PM

Very nice, indeed, Harry. The lake in the background grabs my eye, but that's minor. I love the foreground, but I think a little less blur would be nicer because I like the color and would love more detail there.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on September 10, 2013 at 8:05 PM

Beautiful color and light.The blowing grass gives this a different feel that sets it apart from the typical grand landscape.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on September 10, 2013 at 8:05 PM

Love the color and tones and textures in the foreground grasses. While I would have preferred a little less blur in the grasses, I think your intent of giving the viewer a sense of the high winds has come through and yet there is still enough detail in the grasses. Your composition itself has wonderful movement, with the eye moving from the grasses, down and back along the valley to the lovely colors in the sky.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 10, 2013 at 8:42 PM

Thanks for the input - I would have liked a little more detail as well in those sedges. I am working up another shot, slightly different comp that addresses some of those short comings. Consistent high winds tend to keep the sedges more stationary in a wind blown position, while gusting wind can spin the grasses around and produced too mush blur in some of the grasses. Thanks again!

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 11, 2013 at 12:47 AM

Nice one, Harry! I agree that the one lake is a bit of an eye pull--but that's minor and personally im ok with the blur. works for me.

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

Comment posted by Bill Reid on September 11, 2013 at 10:09 AM

Wonderful colors, tones and textures in this Harry. I like the wind blown sedge as it moves me into the valley area. Processing looks just great.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on September 11, 2013 at 3:33 PM

Everything works together perfectly in your image for me, Harry. I especially appreciate the wondeful natural colors.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on September 12, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Didn't see this one before, nice scene, and the windblown grasses remind me of the Adirondack High Peaks. Maybe tone down that distant lake a bit?

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 15, 2013 at 10:22 AM

This is wonderful Harry. The tonal range is perfect. The movement is dramatic. Nicely done.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on September 16, 2013 at 1:32 PM

All I have to say is that this is beautiful!!

Registered on August 31, 2011, 28 Posts, 175 Comments