by Thomas Haney
I'm back at the West Yellowstone Smokejumping Base for the summer and was able to spend this past weekend in the park. I'm number one on the jump list so I don't imagine I'll be around for long, so I'll try and spend as much time in there as I can before the mid-summer crowds arrive.
When I drove in early Saturday morning the fog was extremely thick, and I thought it might be good conditions for a shot of one of the beautiful pools in the Mid-Geyser Basin. By the time I hiked around and found the right pool the fog was starting to break up a bit, and I got this image of a dark, gloomy morning contrasted with the beautiful colors of the pool.
I appreciate any thoughts you all have on the image and processing.
Canon 5d Mark iii, 16-35mm lens, 1/100 sec at f/11, ISO 250
Comments
12 commentsLove the ominous feeling this gives me with that pool.
I like the mystery of the image and the refletion of the sun in the pool. I do wish there were a little more detail in the dark areas. Nicely sceen.
Love the isolated blue in this otherwise almost monochromatic image.
Beautiful colors and details in the pool, Thomas, and the comp with the reflected Sun really works well. I think this has an almost moonlit quality as is. On my laptop, this looks more like an early sunrise shot (except for the obvious position of the Sun!) than a daylight shot, however. It's beautiful, but for this time of day, appears to be underexposed. It may be a delicate balance between exposing/processing for the heavy fog and the actual brightness at the time, so people who were not there can only say what they MIGHT expect to see. Having said that, it's always easier to get people to connect with an image if you don't have to explain it (for instance, noting that it looks underexpose, but it really was that dark). Since you were the actual witness, the choice is yours, and this is still positively a keeper.
Hauntingly beautiful, Thomas. I love rising mist and deep blue pool. Could be a cover photo for a Steven King book. Bravo.
Very ethereal Thomas. I like the ominous look and feel. Although the area surrunding the pool is very dark, I think it accenuates the mood and turquoise of the pool.
Stay safe. BTW - My son is on the USFS fuels crew this summer in Salmon-Challis ID.
I like this a lot. For me this has a surrealistic quality that doesn't represent reality so much as a dream-like impression of the main subjects. The tourqoise pool within the mist could symbolize many things. I just find this interesting to interpret. I guess what I like about it is that it's not obvious but lets you play with it. Modifying this to look more realistic would be a mistake. Nice job.
I like the dark presentation, the vivid contrast of the pool and the mysterious appearance of the sun.
The first time I saw this picture I liked it for its mysterious mood. The fog, the dark area, the light and the reflection in pool all of this turns around your title. I find it beautiful as is, it respects the Lethal Beauty. Very nice work.
I love the mood and comp, Thomas. Great timing and great execution.
Beautiful and mysterious! Nice work Thomas.
Nick Bristol Lone Rock, WI.
Congrats on the well-deserved WP! The mood is haunting...as if the pool were itself alive and seizing the colors and life from its surrounding...a color and beauty predator! Yet this is enchanting and we know would delight and dance as the sun broke through.
Stay safe this summer and enjoy!