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Underlying
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Underlying

by gary phillips

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 5, 20176,566 views16 comments
Another image from a foggy morning in Central Utah.  I've got a few more processed to run by you guys. 

iso 100, 70-200 @ 200mm, f/8, 1/50

Better large.

Your comments and critiques are greatly appreciated  and very helpful.

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on December 6, 2017 at 1:14 AM
This needs to be seen large to get an accurate view of this image. I was just ready to comment on how I would raise the whites in the fog a bit and add contrast to the more distant ridges and then I find it's all there in the largest of versions (with the arrow). This sort of reminded me of AA's image of Sonoma I had seen years ago. Well done as usual but not your most creative vision.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 6, 2017 at 9:58 AM
You had quite the view point here, Gary, it looks like you were in an airplane.  The lines of ridges and valleys filled with fog look great.  The extra visibility of the drainage and ridge along the bottom really complete the story.  The details in the larger view are wonderful.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 6, 2017 at 11:05 AM
Gary, The largest detailed view is absolutely wonderful. Great comp, love the layers and excellent b&w processing as always from you. The difference by clicking the black arrow rather than on the image for the largest version really shows with this one. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on December 6, 2017 at 7:35 PM
You have quite a wonderful series of these badlands. Mesmerizing and hypnotic are words that come to mind when I view it.  Gotta see the large one to really appreciate the fine details.  The fog is such a great compositional element that helps frame and further simplify the images.  My wife and I were out vacationing nearby and i hoped to see these places in person, but I got a bit lost in some canyon in Capital Reef so never made it over there.  I'll be back as Arnold would say.  Your shots are so unique and the BW treatment quite soothing.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Paula LeVay on December 6, 2017 at 10:14 PM
Gary, you are so right about this landscape coming to life at daybreak.  I especially like the contrast of well-defined foreground against a background softened by the waves of fog.  Very nice!
Registered on July 29, 2016, 66 Posts, 270 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hansen on December 6, 2017 at 10:27 PM
Gary, this is just wonderful.  We have all seen this type of fog-ridge-fog layering, particularly in Great Smoky Mountains area, but seeing this in central Utah is just amazing.  Great opposing diagonals, texture, and light.  Excellent!
Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on December 6, 2017 at 11:19 PM
All I can say is keep them coming, Gary. This has a nice sense of mystery to it. I particularly like the layering created with the ridge lines along with the fog as it swirls down the valleys between them creating some nice atmospherics. The large version does a masterful job of showcasing all the wonderful details and textures in this beauty.

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on December 6, 2017 at 11:42 PM
This has quite a rhythm to it...wave after wave of mountains and fog. I especially like the right lower corner, as it kind of holds everything inside the frame and nicely stops the motion. Beautiful black and white work.
Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by Ed McGuirk on December 7, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Gary this is spectacular, the repetition of patterns here makes this a very high impact image. The sense of depth is just wonderful. I agree with Kathy, the strong shapes in the lower right hand corner really make the image work, and serve as a strong counterpoint to the layers of ridge lines and fog. This really does look like it is from the Smokies or the coast of California rather than from Utah. Without that fog, this image probably is nowhere near as interesting.
Registered on November 29, 2017, 19 Posts, 260 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 7, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Gary,

I'm with Ed - Keep 'em coming!  What an epic morning you had.  Really just unbelievable what you were able to not on capture, but witness and experience.

Love the layers of fog and ridges seemingly going on forever; it's ethereal.

I'm gonna go against the grain as I'm torn about the bottom.  I think it's the reality of the bottom that for me diminishes ethereal and other-worldly feel to the rest of the image.  Don't get me wrong, this is spectacular as presented - I'm just being overly critical I guess. I'm not sure there is a viable crop though. Perhaps cropping out the lower ridge and just far enough to cover the small, brighter sliver near the lower right edge.  The pano format then accentuates the length of the ridges and valleys of fog.  I dunno though.

Can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on December 8, 2017 at 4:33 AM
This is a really enchanting image. I have never seen the desert look so mysterious and inviting. In many ways it resembles the waves I see here at our local coast.

Outstanding work Gary.
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 8, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Like Anil, I don't think I've seen the desert like this. I love the waves of fog and ridges. Your processing, as usual, is spot-on.
--P
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on December 8, 2017 at 2:38 PM
Gary, seeing the fog below and between the ridges must have been a great experience.  I could see brightening the image a little.
Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 9, 2017 at 5:59 AM
I could go either way with the inclusion of the bottom here. Definitely love the repeating patterns here and the effect of the fog giving separation to the layers.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 9, 2017 at 5:20 PM
Gorgeous. My only recommendation is to print it big. 
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on December 15, 2017 at 7:36 PM
Very interesting image, Gary.  Enough interest to hold my attention or a while.  Nice imaging.
Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments