Tetons, Sept. 2014

PrevailingConditions

OK, stepping out of lurk mode once again

I was able to spend a few hours (Friday afternoon and Saturday morning) a week or so ago up at the Tetons in Wyoming. At that time the leaves were just turning but it should be prime time right now. I had very clear skies which made Milky Way shots good, but not so good for daytime shots (I don't really like clear blue skies for photography - too boring).

Thanks,

Mike

Here are the shots:

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5

Stumblebum

Nice set Mike! The milky way is rocking along with the reflections!thumb
Really like all! Luke warm on #2. Cheers!

wtlwdwgn

Beautiful series of the Tetons Mike.

Sam

Very nice stuff. clap

Sam

boco

mooie reeks met knallende kleuren.
grt,boco.

PrevailingConditions

Thanks stumblebum, Steve, Sam, and Boco for commenting.

Stumblebum, I too am less thrilled about the second but I probably have more sympathy because of the cost of taking it. I took it very early in the morning while it was still quite dark and 23 degrees (-5 Celsius). It was a pain focusing and I didn't notice the ugly tree on the left. Plus I was hearing animals rutting around me (probably elk) which was a little distracting. Regardless, it was still nice being outside and taking pictures. I'm hoping to get back here in December when I can spend more time.

Mike

kdog

Beautiful work, Steve. Very inspiring. I'll be out that way myself over Christmas and you've certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities.

AlexShark

Superb timing in all of them! Yeah, the day sky would make it half-boring.

How long was the exposure in #2 to punch up the stars this way? I can see some streaks at the bottom of #5, so I assume it was minutes, rather than seconds.

My real question here is: were you going for wilderness or tranquility? I guess, tranquility, thus the longer exposure and smoothed out water. #4 is a great shot, but the intent and the subsequent technique make it a little sterile.

PrevailingConditions

kdog wrote: »

Beautiful work, Steve. Very inspiring. I'll be out that way myself over Christmas and you've certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities.

I'll pass your comments along to Steve I'm sure he'll be happy to hear them. I'm hoping to be out there just before Christmas. My biggest concern is access and I may have to get out the snowshoes.

AlexShark wrote: »

Superb timing in all of them! Yeah, the day sky would make it half-boring.

How long was the exposure in #2 to punch up the stars this way? I can see some streaks at the bottom of #5, so I assume it was minutes, rather than seconds.

My real question here is: were you going for wilderness or tranquility? I guess, tranquility, thus the longer exposure and smoothed out water. #4 is a great shot, but the intent and the subsequent technique make it a little sterile.

The exposure in #2 was 15 seconds at f/2.8 and ISO 3200. #5 was 30s, f/2.8 and ISO 6400.

What would you suggest to make #4 less sterile?

Thanks,

Mike

kdog

PrevailingConditions wrote: »

I'll pass your comments along to Steve

Doh! Sorry about that, Mike! Not sure where I got that. Hey, it was early, before my coffee. Thanks for having a sense of humor about it.

AlexShark

PrevailingConditions wrote: »

What would you suggest to make #4 less sterile?

Thanks,

Mike

The photo is even and perfectly balanced, with the prevailing satin-feel throughout. The more I look at it -- the more I think there really are two pictures in it: the boats on the right, four of them, if cropped into a square, or an 8 x 10 landscape stand on their own (with some cloning out pieces of the jetty); and I'd also shift the horizon to the very top, like crop it from top at the first sign of blue. this would give the sense of depth and distance, and I wouldn't want to ruin that. 4 times more water than sky, something like that.

The left side is already unbalanced by the mountains, the reflection and that brown looking thing at the left margin (that I don't particularly care for). If you want to keep this composition whole, but simply less sterile, I'd throw a pebble into the water before I shoot, and then shoot rather fast, 1/500 or so. But any prop would do, really, anything that keeps it slightly off kilt.

All these are technicalities to taste, quite a personal thing. The decision of what it is you want to tell me by this image is yours. Assuming you wanted to relate your experience of being there -- what was that experience? Wonder? Calm? Desolation? Only you can answer that, and I suspect the answer will guide your hand just right, even after the fact. What do you think?

Cheers,
Alex

AlexShark

Jeez, Mike, your Dome of the Rock (#2) is magnificent. I lived in the place for 5 years -- never seen it like that. I'm taking down my Jerusalem shots from my site and will hold your camera bag next time you're there!

PrevailingConditions

kdog wrote: »

Doh! Sorry about that, Mike! Not sure where I got that. Hey, it was early, before my coffee. Thanks for having a sense of humor about it.

No problem - this is all for fun anyway and I'm sure we've all fallen into similar situations.

Thanks for commenting.

Mike

PrevailingConditions

AlexShark wrote: »

Jeez, Mike, your Dome of the Rock (#2) is magnificent. I lived in the place for 5 years -- never seen it like that. I'm taking down my Jerusalem shots from my site and will hold your camera bag next time you're there!

A happy coincidence of conditions. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to return in the last few years. I'd love to get back there. It's an amazing place.

Mike

PrevailingConditions

AlexShark wrote: »

The photo is even and perfectly balanced, with the prevailing satin-feel throughout. The more I look at it -- the more I think there really are two pictures in it: the boats on the right, four of them, if cropped into a square, or an 8 x 10 landscape stand on their own (with some cloning out pieces of the jetty); and I'd also shift the horizon to the very top, like crop it from top at the first sign of blue. this would give the sense of depth and distance, and I wouldn't want to ruin that. 4 times more water than sky, something like that.

The left side is already unbalanced by the mountains, the reflection and that brown looking thing at the left margin (that I don't particularly care for). If you want to keep this composition whole, but simply less sterile, I'd throw a pebble into the water before I shoot, and then shoot rather fast, 1/500 or so. But any prop would do, really, anything that keeps it slightly off kilt.

All these are technicalities to taste, quite a personal thing. The decision of what it is you want to tell me by this image is yours. Assuming you wanted to relate your experience of being there -- what was that experience? Wonder? Calm? Desolation? Only you can answer that, and I suspect the answer will guide your hand just right, even after the fact. What do you think?

Cheers,
Alex

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I have a few other compositions from this area and I'll have to see what I come up with. A pebble would not have worked too well, this was a 6s exposure and it would have just contributed blur.

Mike

bristlecone

I love #2. They all are good, but #2 gets me.
-Len

PrevailingConditions

bristlecone wrote: »

I love #2. They all are good, but #2 gets me.
-Len

Thanks Len. I'm glad you like them.

Mike

PrevailingConditions

So one more and I'm done...

Thanks,

Mike

Stumblebum

Wow Mike! That last one is heart stopping beautiful! Could sell that one I think!thumb

Juano

Sam wrote: »

Very nice stuff. clap

Sam

I agree, wonderful stuff.

karloznz

dare I say it the refection is too perfect ?

roaddog52

Great shots all.The last one with the dynamic light is fantastic. thumb

Phil