On the River, Looking Up

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 19, 20171,898 views8 comments

<div>Please click on the image or the expansion symbol under it to view this larger.

It's been a while since I went out looking for landscapes, but I still get out for short trips looking for flowers and insects close to home. Last week after a little rain, I was paddling a stretch of river just a few minutes from from my house. It was one of those overcast day, but not too dark, so I was looking for flowers. As I checked out the blooms on this tiny island, it got brighter. When I looked up, these clouds towering above me brought an instant smile to my face. I quickly changed lenses to shoot this scene, and for the next 34 minutes, the changing sky kept me spinning around with my boat, discovering new compositions.

Canon 5D3; Canon 24-105 mm.
1/320 sec. @ f/11; ISO 640
Hand-held from canoe</div>

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on September 20, 2017 at 12:03 AM

Very rich photo. Nice job with the hand hold from the canoe, Wayne. Love that little lead between the rocks right in in a power position. The image looks very crisp and the soft orange reflection with the sunlit trees on the far bank is an excellent capture. I could see it equally as nice in horizontal framing; but of course we would lose that glorious sky.

Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 20, 2017 at 4:50 AM

That is a fabulous sky and I am glad to see you have given it a dominant share of the composition. The lower 3rd of the frame nicely anchors the scene and provides the necessary context to complete the picture.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 20, 2017 at 1:39 PM

Wayne,

What a glorious sky and view! Reminds me of my brother in law who's always posting, "What a great time to be alive!" I get that from this image, imagining you paddling around just enjoying life and nature.

I really like the fact that the rocks have the green vegetation on them - it really adds to the overall beauty of the scene. The only very minor thing that I would mention is that the very bottom is a little unresolved. What I mean is that I either want to see more water at the very bottom, or less. Now the opening between the rocks is crucial to let the eye squeeze through to explore the rest of the image, so that works nicely. I'm just wishing for a little more a the bottom. No biggie though.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on September 20, 2017 at 1:44 PM

Wayne, this image makes me want to be there. Very dramatic sky and I really like the leading line created by the split between the rocks and the light and shadow in the lake. Very nice.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 20, 2017 at 4:26 PM

Very nice, Wayne. Looks like that notch would call for a short portage. The wonderful sky emphasizes the mood. I well know the challenges of framing from a canoe, and this is well composed.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on September 20, 2017 at 5:03 PM

Great sky with the cloud in a sweeping curve towards you. But what I really like is the handling of the foreground. The greens are alive and the rocks are dark yet retain a very realistic amount of texture. The small tree on the right is interesting. Should it be more inward or missing entirely? I think it's fine the way it is. Beautiful exhilirating image. Must have been special to be there.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 20, 2017 at 6:30 PM

I think this is one of your finest images, Wayne. The clouds are the star, but the impact comes from the supporting cast of characters in the rocks and the vegetation. As Lon mentioned, the gap between the rocks is crucial. Very nicely done!
--P

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 20, 2017 at 6:36 PM

What a sweet sky and fine image. Lots of depth, too. No nits here, it looks great.

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