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Silent Steps
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Silent Steps

by Mattia Oliviero

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 8, 20181,229 views10 comments
Happy to be back after two months of relatively few photography and definitely too much work cool I took this in Italy on the Appennines. The scene was so quiet and peaceful that I could almost hear the hare's steps on the snow. 

Your comments and thoughts are always highly appreciated.

Nikon d7000
Nikkor 18/70 @35mm
f8 - 1/400s- iso 100
tripod

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 8, 2018 at 12:58 PM
Welcome back Mattia!  Yeah, work and life some times just gets in the way doesn't it? cool

Great design here with the light and shadow. Of course the hare tracks help tell a great story - and your description of quiet is really conveyed in the image.

I like the tree placement as well, although it's pretty tight.  I expect given some evidence in the fresh snow that there may be some unwanted element you're trying to eliminate.  Otherwise, I'm really enjoying this and like how you crafted this composition.

No nits or suggestions really, although I wanted to mention what looks to be like some reflected light in to the shadowed snow bank. It's rather cool actually getting some light in there. It has a reddish tint which makes me wonder what is being reflected.  No biggie, just an observation.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on January 8, 2018 at 1:27 PM
Beautiful curves and a very strong composition. I believe those are tracks from a rabbit. This is such a gentle composition that I would raise the luminosity of the blues shadow. That might help the tree separate a bit more. 
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 8, 2018 at 2:03 PM
Beautiful in its simplicity yet it has many elements. I am really enjoying the tracks in the snow and the mix of warm and cool tones in the shadow area. 
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 8, 2018 at 4:08 PM
The offset between between the tree and the hare's tracks along with the big triangular shadow provide a fine balance here, Mattia.  I wonder about some careful dodging to give the tree a bit more separation from the shadow.  The size of the hare's track says that they've been melting for at least a couple of days.  I'm delighted with how large and round the rear feet tracks.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on January 8, 2018 at 8:31 PM
I like the track a lot.. and the comp has a nice sensuous look to it.
I might try a bit more contrast to the bottom to bring out the same texture as the top.
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 9, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Really nice intimate shot.  So often we wander by these vignettes without noticing them in search of the grand shot.  Glad you caught this.  Wonder how a BW conversion might go.  Might allow the tree to stand out more in the comp.  The 3 dark specs in the FG, center i might clone out even though they are probably bark from the tree or something.  Pretty minor, but would keep the FG clean.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on January 9, 2018 at 8:59 PM
Excellent, Mattia. Those hare tracks really make the image IMO. Very well balanced composition and processing looks good to me. 
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 10, 2018 at 1:38 PM
I like this a lot Mattia.  Your description of how quiet it was really comes through in this image.  I like your composition and love the tracks and texture in the snow.  I agree with Igor's suggestion on raising the blues luminosity. Beautifully presented.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on January 10, 2018 at 1:57 PM
This is really wonderfully done, Mattia. All of the elements work hand in hand for this lovely landscape. Great eye to spot this and eliminate everything but what you needed.

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on January 10, 2018 at 7:31 PM
I like this a lot, Mattia.  I especially like the curves and rabbit tracks. I'm of two minds about the tree.  On one hand, I'm not sure the image needs it, on the other, it helps add substance to that shadow area on the snow.  Have you thought about trying a black and white conversion on this one?  I can imagine a b/w that lowers blue sensitivity and increases yellow, orange, and green and thereby tonally separates the shadow and tree.

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