Palouse #5

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 30, 20162,389 views11 comments

Hi Folks,
Here is another from my first day in the Palouse. This one was taken later in the morning, once the sun was higher and the clouds more broken, thereby yielding some nice shadows on the rolling hills. In my experience, the area was best shot at mid-day, hence the several shots with fairly even lighting shared here earlier. It is a surprisingly difficult area to shoot (as Igor's comment on my abstract image in this gallery suggests).

Canon 5D3 with 24-105mm at 60 mm
ISO 200, f/9, 1/640s

As always, I benefit greatly from your suggestions, critiques, and indications of armchair yawning. It's all good information for me as I work through this series.
ML

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on June 30, 2016 at 11:57 AM

That rich green in the sunlight really makes this image. One small suggestion would be to work on those 2 wedges in the distance so that the texture and tonality is as rich as the foreground greens. Right now they're a bit faded and perhaps that's better, but a richer layer back there may help a little. A second consideration is that top dark cloud. Do you want it that dark? Is it affecting the mood of the image in the way you want it to be?

Overall it's a beautiful image, the best palouse on this gallery. The trees are a nice addition. Why would someone clear all that land and leave a tuft of trees like that?

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

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on June 30, 2016 at 12:55 PM

Thanks, Igor. Your feedback on these Palouse images has been indispensable. Here is another version with some adjustments to the middle ground and the distant wedges. I also cloned/healed out the darkest top cloud, but in the process, I noticed the hotspot to the right, so I cropped down a tish. Hopefully, the new crop doesn't make it too 50/50 and reduce the energy in the composition.

Let me know if this is an improvement and whether any of the changes are missteps in your eyes.

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 30, 2016 at 4:31 PM

After looking at your other Palouse images I happen to like this one the best. The blue sky and green grass compliment each other and the shadows/light really make the image for me. They only suggestion I could make would be possibly tone down some of the sky but a nice job on a difficult mid-day shot, well seen.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 30, 2016 at 5:51 PM

Another real nice Palouse image. I like the crop, good thought. I like the fore and mid changes, too.

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

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on June 30, 2016 at 9:36 PM

Marylynne, I prefer the contrast of the rolling hills in the first image, the second seems flat and subdued to me; the dark cloud is not an issue either. Well done.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on June 30, 2016 at 10:07 PM

This is excellent. In looking at your redux, I think I also prefer the first. My thought would be to increase the contrast in the sky. The rolling hills look great but the sky is a bit flat to me.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on June 30, 2016 at 11:16 PM

This is very nice, Marylynne. My favorite so far. The shadow lines on the velvety green fields is this essence of this area as is the little stand of trees. The crop works for me, but the original was also fine.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on July 1, 2016 at 11:27 AM

Beautifully composed, serene image, marked by a delightful play of light and shade.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on July 1, 2016 at 12:37 PM

Thanks everyone. It sounds like there is some mixed reviews on whether the sky should be more or less dramatic. I tinkered at the edges of it a bit and then went for a bit more pop in the hillsides. They looked better with the black frame, I think, so the repost seemed more flat and the hill on the left getting brighter gave it less drama over all, so I tried to increase contrast there to keep the variation closer to the original.

At the risk of belaboring your gracious feedback, let me know if this is the best yet, or whether the jury is just deadlocked on this one.
ML

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 1, 2016 at 8:39 PM

Very nice Palouse image, Marylynne. I especially like the play of light in the foreground, but the sky is quite attractive and the trees on the distant hill add a point of interest. I prefer the second and third versions over the first.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 11, 2016 at 5:57 PM

Marylynne, I like this one the best of your Palouse images. I did like the first one too, but this one just looks great to me. The last repost is my favorite of this one. All of these have been wonderful to see. A nice collection!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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