Chaotic River Flats

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 19, 20172,414 views9 comments

Glacial rivers are very chaotic; the stream bed changes every year, and trees get strewn every which way. Water levels rise and fall almost instantaneously. One day it is a clear stream that is easy to cross, and the next day it is a brown muddy torrent.
This photo was taken last September, a notorious month for rain in Alaska. This river was pretty high at this time, higher than it looks in this image, as I was actually looking across the main channel of water, and looking up the river valley.
Processing this was a bit of a challenge, with all the fog and the dark rocks and logs in the FG. I used Tony K's luminosity mask to help bring out the detail in the fog and clouds, but I'm not sure if it needs more. To me, this represents what the day actually was like, but I'm not sure if that's the best way to show it.
Comments and critiques are much welcomed!
See the larger image.

Fuji X-T1, 1/160 sec, f11, ISO 1600, 50 mm, hand held

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on February 19, 2017 at 10:01 AM

Very nice, Genny. I like the atmosphere and mood, though it would have been nice if more of the mountains were visible as the bit that is visible blends with the clouds. The scattered tree trunks provide a sense of ruggedness and wilderness. Processing looks good to me. Certainly looks very clean for iso 1600.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on February 19, 2017 at 11:04 AM

Genny, spending 2 years in Alaska I saw a lot of this with regard to chaotic and rough terrain all around. I think your processing fits the overall look just fine too. I also think the cloud cover and ominous look adds nicely to this POV here..... cool

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 19, 2017 at 1:17 PM

Genny,

I could have sworn you posted a similar type image of the Alaskan land/river scape, but don't see it in your gallery. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else. no matter though. ;-)

I agree with Paul, even though I've not spent the time in Alaska that some of you have. I really like the shallow s-curve in the ever-changing river and I think this does well to show the nature of that changing environment (even though this is a static image - in other words, can't see things changing in a still photograph,) but we can imagine.

The clouds add terrific atmosphere here and also help tell the story.

No nits really. The only thing I can offer or suggest is to take this all the way to b&w, Even if you don't I think you could plau around with contrast in the clouds for increased effect. But that's a personal perspective.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on February 19, 2017 at 2:35 PM

I like this a lot. I might burn down the log on the lower right, but minor. I think it works well in color and would work well in B&W, just with a different mood to it.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 19, 2017 at 11:02 PM

Genny, I like this view a lot. It looks very natural with all of the fallen trees strewn across the gravel. That one clump of trees makes a fine eye stop before wandering into the distant valley and the clouds. I think you've handled the clouds very well, plenty of texture and a great sense of storm moving in.

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on February 20, 2017 at 2:57 AM

Nice job on this, Genny. I don't hand hold many images, and I don't think that's a good thing. Moving around without a tripod is somehow very exhilarating. I agree with Lon. in that from the thumbnail, I thought this was b/w. I would definitely take this the rest of the way there. Having never been to Alaska, I appreciate the wildness and every changing environment you have the opportunity to photograph. I would probably try to bring more contrast to the sky, but that's a personal preference. Some times getting the image to feel like you felt when you took it, is the most important thing. I like it.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on February 20, 2017 at 5:54 PM

Although this very nearly mono-chromatic, I do like the hints of color. The composition works very well, and I love the curves of the river and the sky.
--P

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on February 21, 2017 at 4:21 PM

Beautiful Genny. The S curve of the braided river leading back to those mountain ridges and that peak in the distance, all shrouded in the low clouds works so very well. The first hint of autumn color in the cottonwoods and the yellows and reds in the wood of the stranded tree trunks in the foreground, as well as the subtle greens in the distant forests, all add just the right amount of color to a gray Alaska autumn day. I think you did excellent on the processing. Looks like the Matanuska River to my eye but I'm probably mistaken as Alaska has thousands of wild braided rivers.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 22, 2017 at 10:25 AM

This just speaks wilderness to me and I love the image. You sure captured the feel of this place on that day. Excellent processing and I like this composition and the clouds.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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