Snake River Overlook + 1

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 3, 20141,581 views17 comments

Snake River Overlook, Grand Tetons National Park, WY

Rained for three days until the last afternoon we were there.

With regard to the comp: Ansel Adams made an image at roughly this location in 1942. It's one of my favorite images and I suspect that's true for most folks. Since then the trees have grown up and the evergreens in the lower left may actually be second generation. I don't know the growth rate but because of the trees there's not really a decent shot that I could find that included the lower part of the S in the Snake river. I did see one photographer standing on the guard wall at the site and shooting with his tripod held up in the air and a small camera on top of it with a release. Not being totally insane I didn't try that. It looked to me like the trees near the river would still interfere with the composition. Also, I would have preferred to use my 100mm Zeiss on this image but couldn't because I needed about 120mm to get through two trees that are framing this scene but aren't in frame. Clouds, rain, trees and crazy photogs aside, trying to get an image here was a lot of fun. Being at the site was sort of like attending a photography party.

Nikon D800
Nikon 70-200 at about 120mm
LR, PS, TK's actions

Comments and suggestions welcome.

pat

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 3, 2014 at 11:30 AM

A truly magnificent landscape Pat, the comp looks a little out of sorts but I like that. Nice lighting hitting the near ground and a majestic back drop. If anything I would pull back the blue/cyan appearance in the dark cloud above the mountain.

Cheers, Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 3, 2014 at 11:38 AM

An unmistakable site, Pat. This is a favorite overlook for many of us who have been here. I like this but can also throw in the mix a wish for seeing the mountain tops too. This came out very nice for the rough weather you had overall.
I've experienced the same look a few times on visits here, including a comment from a local standing by me who said: " well that's the Tetons for you". He lived down the road and I was over 1000 miles from home.....

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 3, 2014 at 12:27 PM

Gary,

Thanks for the suggestion on the blue/cyan. Here's a repost with some blue pulled out - blue/cyan - my nemesis color. (smile)

Paul,
I'm not good enough with the clone tool to address the mountains. (smile) I spent about 4 hours throughout the afternoon at the site and saw photographers come and go waiting for the mountain top to clear. This was the last shot I made before the light was completely gone.

Thank you both for the comments. I appreciate them very much.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on October 3, 2014 at 12:37 PM

Pat: Classic for a reason. One of my favorite places on the planet. The light and atmospherics make this a real winner. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 3, 2014 at 11:11 PM

Yeah, Pat, the weather was pretty bad, but finally cleared out yesterday (some) and today very nice. I like this a lot, especially, those fine curving lines from the ancient river levels and how they work with the curve in the river. Not being especially familiar with the classic Adams image (and I've got it in a book), I'm not bothered by the missing mountain tops and trees. I do like the reduced blue/cyan and the lighting in the foreground.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 4, 2014 at 6:32 AM

Gorgeous scene Pat, and your composition works beautifully. Cant make up my mind which one I like best. I'm going with your original post, for no other reason than it appeals just a tad more to me. Beautifully seen and presented.
John

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

Comment posted by Gary Reed on October 4, 2014 at 8:47 AM

Great shot Pat, next time just bring a 40 foot ladder and a friend to hold it while you climb to the desired height...problem solved. (why can I envision a 3 stooges moment...and a broken arm, camera or both)..Anyway... Love the shot. The re-post is better.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 4, 2014 at 10:16 AM

Paul,
I'm not good enough with the clone tool to address the mountains. (smile) I spent about 4 hours throughout the afternoon at the site and saw photographers come and go waiting for the mountain top to clear. This was the last shot I made before the light was completely gone.

Pat, I've seen several sunrise and sunsets from this spot over the years. One of my favorite stories was from a sunrise setup. I was there way ahead of the sunrise and setup with my medium format gear at the time. A few more guys climbed over the wall and setup near me but not blocking any views or in the way. There were of course several general tourists in the parking area with point and shoots taking it all in too.
All was going well during the sunrise when all of a sudden some fool climbs over the wall carrying every piece of equipment he owned, and his lunch too I think, when he slips and slides down the hill and took out the two other guys near me setup and shooting. I had a good laugh on that outing.

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 4, 2014 at 11:50 AM

Paul,

We did four sunrises at Oxbow and four afternoons/sunsets here. Based on what we saw, Terri and I joked about opening a hot dog or coffee stand at both sites. Oxbow was generally worse and we weren't the first ones there even arriving an hour before sunrise. Obviously this area is beautiful but I think it's unlikely we'd go back. One of the things we enjoy about photography is the relative solitude. Fortunately there are still lots of places we can go off season where there aren't crowds. We certainly enjoyed the trip but were both glad to get back and hide in the peace and quiet of Denver. (smile)

I envy you Joshua Tree and the Amboy Crater area, if they're still as quiet as they were forty years ago.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 4, 2014 at 12:11 PM

Thanks Gary.

I think we actually saw a couple of Three Stooges moments while we were there.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 4, 2014 at 3:34 PM

I envy you Joshua Tree and the Amboy Crater area, if they're still as quiet as they were forty years ago.

Pat, although these areas are on the constant strain with increased population, my morning shoots are very peaceful with no one around.....thankfully. Like you and Terri, I enjoy being out away from ANY crowds. Part of that comes from me fighting crowds at the drag races when I did that jig for 20+ years.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 4, 2014 at 3:50 PM

For some reason, I like the first better, although blue/cyan is the first correction I try to make. I've seen a lot of Adam's pictures, but I don't remember this one. I can well sympathize with you on the beauty reluctantly shared with a crowd of folks whose aim is at best to be photographed with all the beauty as a backdrop.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 4, 2014 at 3:58 PM

Thanks Phil, John and Mark.

I still prefer the first too because of the color complements between the sky and the yellow Fall colors. My floral images were frequently intentionally slightly over saturated in blue/cyan as well. I do think the second is more accurate. If I print this at some point, I'll most likely print the first version though.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 4, 2014 at 6:34 PM

"I'm not good enough with the clone tool to address the mountains."

No problem, Pat. I believe a mountaintop addition tool will be in the next version of PS.

I like the like the mood conveyed by the atmospheric conditions and the nice light. The mountains are fine w/me even w/o the tops.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on October 5, 2014 at 2:23 PM

Great interaction between light and landscape. I like all the elements in the image. Nice to see snow on the mountains. The crowds at the park are insane.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on October 5, 2014 at 6:44 PM

OK, I'm the odd man out, here with blue/cyan: I think a saturation of those two colors between the OP and the repost would work.

All in all, I really like the image, Pat. The composition balance nicely and the light is gorgeous. Nicely done.

--P

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 6, 2014 at 5:58 PM

Very nice conditions captured well at this famous spot. Real nice.

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