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Thread: mayflower gulch

  1. #1
    Member ZL4life's Avatar
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    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

  2. #2
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

  3. #3
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.
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  5. #5
    Powder River Imaging EOSThree's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.
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  6. #6
    Member ZL4life's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

  7. #7
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    Re: mayflower gulch

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

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  8. #8
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    Quote 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.
    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.
    Rule books are paper they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal. --Ernie Gann--
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  9. #9
    Member ZL4life's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    ok, thanks for the info

  10. #10
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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!
    Last edited by gahspidy; 02-25-2007 at 09:26 AM. Reason: Sticking as featured photo. Feb. 25th, 2007
    please do not edit and repost my photos


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  11. #11
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    Re: mayflower gulch

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

  12. #12
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

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  13. #13
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    Re: mayflower gulch

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

  14. #14
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  15. #15
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    congrats on the sticky

    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.
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  16. #16
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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

    congrats on the sticky
    YEAH!
    Last edited by gahspidy; 03-04-2007 at 10:58 PM. Reason: Unsticking

  17. #17
    Firefighter Tyson L. Sparks's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

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  18. #18
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    Well, I think it's wonderful! Looks almost like some sort of lunar landscape. Desolate and beautiful. Well done!
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  19. #19
    Member ZL4life's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    Quote Originally Posted by Tyson L. Sparks
    snow a hill, heck I have that in my back yard.
    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.

    Looks almost like some sort of lunar landscape. Desolate and beautiful.
    thanks, i thought the same thing the first time i developed it.

  20. #20
    Firefighter Tyson L. Sparks's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

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  21. #21
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    Re: mayflower gulch

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

  22. #22
    Senior Member Ronnoco's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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.

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  23. #23
    GB1
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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?

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  24. #24
    Member ZL4life's Avatar
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    Re: mayflower gulch

    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

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