Notched

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 20, 20179,051 views8 comments

Thank you for your comments on my recent postings!

I love rocks, and I am always intrigued by the shapes of these boulders. The rocks were exposed by gold mining activities during the California Gold Rush. While there was some 'hard rock' mining in the area, these rocks were uncovered via hydraulic placer mining. For you climbers: Some of the best bouldering outside Yosemite can be found in the Columbia area.

Nikon D-7100
Nikkor DX 16-85mm @ 40mm
f-16 a2 1/4, ISO 400
TK's masks and some burning.
Full frame

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated. cool

--P

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on December 20, 2017 at 5:42 PM

This has a wonderful 3D effect Preston. Your colors and details are terrific.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on December 20, 2017 at 7:27 PM

You do come up with some very nice rock abstracts, Preston. Your passion for them shows in every image you post. Thanks for all you do at NPN and have a wonderful Holiday season.

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on December 20, 2017 at 10:29 PM

I am really enjoying the shapes, textures and details in the large version, Preston. The FG rock reminds me of a winged creature. You do for rocks what Lon does for trees. Nicely done.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on December 21, 2017 at 10:04 AM

Preston, you do have a way with these rock images. The various angles and notched pieces fit together perfectly. My only nit is that the contrast seems just a bit too high, but that's just personal preference, and very nice as is!

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 21, 2017 at 5:16 PM

Preston,

Excellent find and even better crafting and capture. Agree with most all the comments so far; especially Ed's 3-D comment. To me, the lighter stone in the lower half reminds me of a Halloween goblin - glittered in gold!

I wasn't thinking about commenting on the contrast, but maybe Harry has a valid point. I do think the colors and processing in general are spot on and like this as presented. Any changes at this point would be for personal taste.

oh, also, your isolated crop has created wonderful composition that captures the essence of your subject.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 22, 2017 at 10:00 AM

Another fine addition to your rocks collection, Preston. The detailed shapes here are terrific as well as amazing! Are these limestone? If so then hydraulic mining could explain the shapes, if not, then the geologic history must be amazing.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 22, 2017 at 1:20 PM

Cool looking rocks and fine image of them. No suggestions here.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 25, 2017 at 2:26 PM

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Are these limestone? If so then hydraulic mining could explain the shapes, if not, then the geologic history must be amazing.

Mark, these rocks are marble and some are limestone. While there may have been some sculpting by hydraulic mining, these rocks have been subject to carbonic acid leaching underground. There are inactive, and a couple of active aquifers in the area, as well as some caves. There are several areas in the Sierra Foothills between Mariposa and Sutter Creek where this topography is evident.
--P

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