mayflower gulch

This is a shot i got during an survival class i took earlier this winter. believe it or not, we had 2 1/2 feet of snow in september. we got to ski down right after i took this.
I took it with my pentax zx-7 35mm and developed myself.
I think it's a strong image, but i'm always looking for advice
http://photo.ringo.com/193/193435695O273574841.jpg

I can't believe no ones commented on this!

Very nice contrast and sharpness of the image.

Did you have a red filter on your camera when shot? The sky is very dramatic.

Wow, Nice composition and exposer. I like where you placed the top of the mountain range and the small hill in the foreground gives the image more strength.
Greg

I agree with the other assessments of this beautiful image. I would also add that you have capture the full tonal range here from deep black to brite white. And let me also add that I think that the b&w was a perfect choice for this image. But then I am firmly planted in the old school. Very nicely done.

Love the exposure, Love the contrast, it sure looks like you used a red filter. The only thing it lacks is a foreground subject, that would really complete this shot.

wow, i was wondering what everyone thought after some time of no comments. I thank you all. and no, i didn't have a filter on the camera. it was just the PERFECT time of day and up at 12 500 feet, the sky gets much deeper and darker.
why do you think it's a RED filter? i've never understood how the color filters effect a B-W photo.

wow that looks amazing nice detail on the mountains and niuce sky for the background i really like this

Jay

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Originally Posted by ZL4life

wow, i was wondering what everyone thought after some time of no comments. I thank you all. and no, i didn't have a filter on the camera. it was just the PERFECT time of day and up at 12 500 feet, the sky gets much deeper and darker.
why do you think it's a RED filter? i've never understood how the color filters effect a B-W photo.

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A red filter will enhance contrast in black and white photography, your sky has the contrast that is usual from a red filter. A polarizer will have the effect of darkening skies but not as pronounced as the contrast produced by a red, orange or yellow filter.

ok, thanks for the info

Good capture, ZL4life. The crisp glowing mountain against the dark sky makes a striking image. I agree this could have been much more had there been something on the mountain or in the foreground, but as is it is still a strong image. Well done.
Glad you survived to bring this back!

what do you think would be a good subject for the forground? someting simple like a bush or rock, or something.... unnatural

It's a beautiful image with that fantastic sweep of mountain side. I think the best subject somewhere else in the image would be a human to show the scale of all this. Sky looks manipulated to me as there is residual evidence of perhaps selection on the fringes of the ridge. But I may be wrong and I apologise if I am.

Tom

nope, the sky is all natural. but don't worry about it.

The human or animal on the mountain giving us a scale of it's size as Tom mentioned is what I was thinking along the lines of. Not neccessarily a fg element. However, to reiterate, I think it is strong as it stands.

congrats on the sticky :D

I also like this photo as is.

As to improvements. I would've said (had I been there) to zoom out a bit to capture more of the foreground slope. Or pan to the left to eliminate it. It's a bit distracting for me, especially with the twigs sticking out. It somewhat takes away from the purity of the scene IMO. It's still very appealing as is though. nicely done.

i would have zoomed out if i could have. i was stuck with a 35-200 lense, my other one was being fixed. i agree it would be nice to see more of the forground, but i still like it.

now that i think about it, it would have been nice to have one of the guys i was climbing with in the picture, but they were irritated enough with me, i was taking their picture all day! o well

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congrats on the sticky

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YEAH!

I don't see what all the rage is with this image? It is nice but what is there,,,,snow a hill, heck I have that in my back yard. I am on here every day and this is the first time I am looking at it, it just didn't catch my eye untill everyone started commenting. . I think if there was a person or something in the picture it would be more interesting. If you are looking at it from a tech aspect then it's cool but it's not very interesting. Also I think color would add to it, B&W I think takes interest from it. Sorry to be a party pooper but, out of 0 to 10 score I would give it a 6 or 7 at the most.

Well, I think it's wonderful! Looks almost like some sort of lunar landscape. Desolate and beautiful. Well done!

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Originally Posted by Tyson L. Sparks

snow a hill, heck I have that in my back yard.

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I've been to Ohio, I have family in Ohio, I visit them all the time, i know Ohio pretty well. I can grantee you do not have this in your back yard.
It's funny, everyone keeps saying that a person would help, i agree it might. But there's no room for a person, the space between the bottom of the frame and the top of the hill in the foreground is about 5 feet. If i had a person in there i would have had to back way up or shoot it vertical or something, i don't know.

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Looks almost like some sort of lunar landscape. Desolate and beautiful.

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thanks, i thought the same thing the first time i developed it.

Our hills are not as tall, I live east of columbus. There isn't a piece of flat ground for miles. I grew up a flat lander and now live in the hills. The closer you get to west virgina the more hilly it gets.

Sorry if you are offended but this is a Critique Forum. You said you think it is a strong image. I don't see that, it is a hill with snow.

no offence, but i must say. this isn't just a hill with snow it's a 14,000 ft mountain with snow!

You have very good detail in the shot and contrary to others, I don't think that landscapes require people or anything else in the shot to give it scale. The sky is a little too dark and the clouds need a little work to make them the appropriate white and puffy colour. The foreground slope is also a little too grey and needs some work too, to make it more of a snow colour while retaining the detail. Although good in black and white, this still might be much better in colour.

Ronnoco

Very interesting shot! I think this is an example of where B&W photos sometimes make more impact than color ones. If it were color I think I'd be commenting on the exact blueness of the sky, etc.. We can just toss that in this shot.

I think it's very strong as is but I think that somehow the sloping foreground is just a tad bit of a letdown compared to the very powerful sky and detail in the mtns. BUT... I don't see how you could have gotten it any better under the circumstances (too busy surviving).

Do I underrstand correctly that it was film, not digital?

GB

it was a survival class! lol
do you think it would have been better just to stand up, zoom in, and loose the hill in the foreground?
yes, this was film, i did all of the processing