Char Puzzle

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 27, 2015178 views17 comments

If Preston is going to do grasses, I guess I'll just have to do bark. sad

This is the same log that Harley captured his "Charred and Frosted" image posted not too long ago - although we worked this log independently not knowing what the other had seen. I was mad that I didn't see that lone stem of grass that Harley saw.

There's just something that draws my attention when you see frost on top of burnt log - fire and ice kinda thing.... Anyway, this is just a detailed section of this log. The little sections of char remind me, slightly, of puzzle pieces. I've turned this vertical from original (the log was laying in the meadow.)

Your thoughts, critique and suggestions always welcome.

Thanks!

Nikon D800E
Tamron 24-135mm @65mm
f/16 2-image stack

edit: someone mentioned on a previous image about sharpening. I'm noticing here that the larger view isn't as sharp as when I view it in PS - same size, etc. Does anyone know if there is anything happening programitcally that resaves these images before posting the larger view? Curious if anyone has noticed this on their images. Or if I need to re-think my sharpening method for the web.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on November 27, 2015 at 4:18 PM

I love the study of lines, forms and texture here. Well seen

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 27, 2015 at 4:37 PM

Lon, This really does look like puzzle pieces! I like the blue / gray color in this and what wonderful textures and detail. Very nicely done!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Igor Hoveijn on November 27, 2015 at 4:40 PM

I very much like this kind of abstracts, including this one. All the intricate little forms and shapes. Here the overall impression is one of rectangles. A few strong lines are holding the picture together. But I find it a bit busy, I am curious how a smaller crop would work. The different tones of grey are very nice. Sharpness looks ok to me. For me portrait indeed works best.

Registered on November 2, 2015, 18 Posts, 192 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 27, 2015 at 4:45 PM

This is cool, both in color and content. I really am enjoying the patterns and textures and the blue tones work well here (a step away from reality).

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

Comment posted by Grant Collier on November 27, 2015 at 6:04 PM

This is really nice. Well seen!

Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 27, 2015 at 6:11 PM

This is real sweet, Lon! It does look like a puzzle, and like the blue color scheme. The details and textires are excellent. I also like the somewhat softer contrast.

No nits or suggestions.

--P

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on November 27, 2015 at 6:17 PM

This is a nice composition Lon. You seem to have the ability to lay out the components of an image in a balanced way. The parallel vertical lines give this structure and keep it from looking busy. It is likely that a sharper image would make this sing more than it does. There is so much texture here that fine detail is veryh important. I wonder how a pine needle placed strategically would have looked.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 27, 2015 at 7:46 PM

Fantastic design, Lon, that flows so perfectly to the eye; the vertical lines work so very well. Together with the grays and blues and those amazing textures, this becomes art out of the char. Superb vision.
Have you, Preston, and Harley thought of putting together a book of your Yosemite images? Something along the lines of "the hidden Yosemite" or "the intimate Yosemite". The intimate landscapes, the details, the incredible images you guys have made over the years could easily fill a book.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on November 27, 2015 at 7:56 PM

The tonal varietions combined with the textures here are amazing. One of my other photographic pursuits is avian photography and black feathered birds are very difficult to capture. The subtle nuances here in the blacks are easily akin to black bird feather variations.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on November 27, 2015 at 8:00 PM

I really like the composition, and I think that the color palette works very well too, with the dark tonality. Perhaps a bit bluer than "real" charcoal, but I would not change it, Ilike just as it is.
Re. sharpening, I have noticed the issue on some of my images, and I don't quite understand it. My Zabiskie Point image definitely looks sharper when I look at the jpeg that I uploaded, compared to the one I see here. But in other cases, if there is a difference, it is hard to see. I usually load a large image at 1600 pixels on the long side, occasionally 1200 pixels. I think, though I am not positive, that the issue is more noticeable in the 1600 pixel images. But, as I mentioned before, I have sharpening paranoia, so sometimes I am not sure whether the differences are real, or I am imagining them.... indecision

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on November 28, 2015 at 10:13 AM

As I wrote in Harley's post, I would have gone without the grass, and therefore I prefer this one actually. This is 100% my type of image, absolutely splendid. The textures are very interesting.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 28, 2015 at 12:29 PM

Congrats for capturing something different than the typical bark close up. I like the color a lot, and the puzzle like shapes too.
I can't believe you sold out! I never would have thought it of you. But I do understand about the cost of pulling the shutter release. But it seems you have taken the more deliberate approach with your digital captures as well. I think I probably need to start focus blending too. As well as exposure blending.
Glad to see you able to get to the valley and pursue something that you find so much joy doing!

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 28, 2015 at 3:15 PM

Yes absolutely, this looks like puzzle pieces. It also has some metallic look. So like with Harley's recent post this shows something familiar in a different way - which is what good photography is about!

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 28, 2015 at 8:48 PM

Terrific image, Lon. I like the pattern and colors very much. Very artisitic.

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

Comment posted by Jim Jirka on November 29, 2015 at 12:11 PM

Puzzling? Yes.

I like the texture of the charred wood. And the frost just adds to the texture and tone. Nice.
Jim

Registered on November 1, 2003, 254 Posts, 1620 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on November 29, 2015 at 2:39 PM

Hi Lon

What a pleasure to see more intimate work being posted at landscape. more variety will certainly help. viewer interest .. this post is a pertfect example of what i'm talking about.. it captures the imagination wonderfully. with its superb mix of patterns , lines and texture along with stunning color. devil

Albert Darmo
Canada

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 10, 2015 at 8:51 PM

Nice! I'll have to look at Harley's now to compare. I do like the puzzle piece nature to the bark. Well seen sir. BTW I do appreciate that you are keeping to the 4x5 format. devil

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