Is a Puzzlement + 1

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 21, 201812,146 views15 comments

This is a close up of the dry mud that forms the Alvord Desert in Eastern Oregon. Flat as a billiard table, people drive across this bed during the dry months. This was shot during the early morning with some enhancement to the blues. I like this part of Oregon for it's remoteness. I've taken several images in this area that haven't been posted. Please let me know what you think.

Canon 6D, 24-105@47mm, ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/60 sec, CPL, tripod

Changed: title to a R&H song in musical 'The King and I' - https://vimeo.com/45346724

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 21, 2018 at 12:45 PM

Igor: Well seen, composed and captured. I really like the pastel color palette and the finer details in the larger version. Most excellent.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 21, 2018 at 5:03 PM

Igor, I really like the subject and how you framed it. Your color treatment in post works nicely with a harmonious mix of warm and cool. I love abstract images like this, because often one can have it framed, and then rotate it to suit before hanging it one the wall. Good story behind it, too. Looks like you used a wide angle, but you don't mention it. Excellent work.

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

Comment posted by Neale Dyster on April 21, 2018 at 8:51 PM

Yes, well spotted Igor. Love the shapes and colours in this.

Registered on February 19, 2008, 94 Posts, 738 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 21, 2018 at 10:06 PM

Looks like a poorly made jigsaw puzzle. Good abstract. I've never seen a playa lake, only read about them. Interesting. Is the stuff under the dried mud usually mucky?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on April 21, 2018 at 10:28 PM

I have never seen it after the rains. I noticed that one end of the flat was much wetter than the others. This dry lake is right next to the Steen Mountains so I imagine that some water drains off to the lake. In fact you can get stuck on that side. I found the mud where it transits from dry to wet to be most interesting photographically. As you can see there is a lot to chose from

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on April 21, 2018 at 10:40 PM

Well seen. Maybe slightly too much blue/cyan for my personal pref but works well here. Fun with mud :)

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 22, 2018 at 9:53 AM

This is a fine looking abstract, Igor. The reflected blues set off the gold/browns very nicely and the pattern is well balanced.

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

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on April 22, 2018 at 2:00 PM

Igor, I like the play of the blues with the rust colors in your intimate scene. Offered suggestions would be to shift the cyan/red color balance towards the reds, and add just a little contrast.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on April 22, 2018 at 2:37 PM

Another version with less cyan based upon some suggestions. Much of this is based upon taste. You may like this more.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on April 22, 2018 at 3:46 PM

Personally I think that the cyan works for this image. The lines in the image work well with the framing of the composition.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on April 22, 2018 at 9:11 PM

I like your original version the best as the cyans pick up the yellows in the dried mud. Well done.................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on April 24, 2018 at 12:35 AM

Nicely seen and captured puzzle you found, Igor. I like the cyan version better myself. Great textures, lines, and colors. It's fun to imagine all kinds of shapes within it.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on April 24, 2018 at 8:53 AM

Great patterns and color. I prefer the original post. The cyan works well for me here (says the cyan Nazi).

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 24, 2018 at 1:55 PM

This is really cool looking. Pretty amazing what dry mud can produce including the colors. I like the original best!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on April 25, 2018 at 2:39 PM

A very beautiful and compelling design ... a fascinating study of patterns and texture in nature. It is interesting to note that the cracks in the mud are of varying thickness. The color palette is nice and yet subdued.

Very nice work on this one Igor.

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