High Contrast Mountainside

**GB1** · 09-18-2009, 09:12 PM

Taken near Bishop and Lone Pine California, where many a movie has been shot because of the scenic mountains and contrasty skies. I purposely darkened this a bit in PP, aiming for a slightly moody feeling. Comments? It's Kodak 160 NC 120mm film, shot on a Mamiya 645.

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icicle · 09-18-2009, 11:52 PM

For me I only have one problem with this, and that is the foreground.
those big rock distract from the whole background

hminx · 09-19-2009, 02:00 AM

I like the progression from boulders to low hills and on to the high rugged hills/mountains in the background . Was the power poll left in the shot on purpose ?

**Greg McCary** · 09-19-2009, 04:11 AM

Very nice GB although I do see some kind of artifact in the sky on the right. Easily fixed to be sure.

**Frog** · 09-19-2009, 04:53 AM

I, too, like the progression and also the not overwhelming sun rays in the sky.
I like the mood you set by darkening.
I don't see a power pole.....are my eyes that bad?

jetrim · 09-19-2009, 05:38 AM

Power pole is at the extreme left of the frame where the foreground meets the background, Frog.

I like the interplay between the foreground & background, the browns & the blues a lot. I also like the sunbeams and the fact that they don't dominate the scene. It would be nice to see a little more clarity in the background mountains, but that's a nit pick and likely something you had no control over. Not much of a *WOW* factor here, but a good solid shot none the less. Nice work!

PrevailingConditions · 09-19-2009, 02:08 PM

I too like how the boulders lead into the shot and somewhat mimic the mountains and hills beyond. I think that given the contrasts, this would benefit from a graduated ND at shot time, but you may be able to do something in post. I like it.

PC

**GB1** · 09-19-2009, 10:06 PM

Good feedback on this one.

Icicle - Yeah, I see what you mean about the big rocks. If they were largest in the very closest part and gradually shrinking in size as the distance increased, I think it would probably work better. That space in the lower left foreground w/o rocks doesn't help either IMO.

Hminx - Thks on the progression. I didn't even notice that pole. Good catch!

Greg - Shoot,.. I thought I had removed that! It is a development stain, but I think it may be my fault and not the E-6 processor's. I believe the color I used titled over and got the film wet (the film sits in a webbed pouch on the lid. It's fine unless something like this happens). I can fix it with a smart blur or something else.

Frog - Thanks too. I actually have at least two shots of this scene, the other having even better sun rays, but for whatever reason I shot one with a very wide open lens and it blurred part of the foreground .. which looks like doo-doo. I guess the darkening was a success then. I estimate that I darkened it by ~ 1/2 to 2/3 of an f stop.

Jet - Yes, the background mtns are not super defined, but I think that may help one to focus on the other areas - foreground, and sun rays. I agree on the WOW factor... No particular super aspect in the image, but not any real weaknesses either. Another 7/10, which I shoot a lot of. I seem to have a hard time getting shots that are better; but then again, maybe most photographers do.

PC - Thks. Actually I believe I did use a graduated ND filter here. I say "believe" because there was definitely a few shots that I did not on this shoot, due to some rushing to get shots before the light changed. What's funny is I used a Galen Rowell grad. ND filter and his studio was physically located less than 10 miles from here

Maybe another foreground subject would have been best? I guess I was happy with the lighting out there, which you can't control, and if you think about it you have a very low chance of catching on a random 4-day trip. The best way to capture great lighting is to live there and shoot it year round.

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flyinion · 09-21-2009, 01:08 PM

Overall I like it. As for those rocks and the foreground, maybe cropping out the lower right trio so you don't have the empty space on the left/middle?

**GB1** · 09-21-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyinion

Overall I like it. As for those rocks and the foreground, maybe cropping out the lower right trio so you don't have the empty space on the left/middle?

Flyinion - Couldn't crop much off the left w/o clipping that middle ground hill, so mostly got the bottom. Not as wide an angle, but not too bad either

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