Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Earlier, I had talked about my lack of ability to "see" a landscape shot in whatever I happen to be looking at. I resolved to go on a hike without bringing the big lens that I use for wildlife. Instead, I'd bring only a lens or two that would force me to look for something special in the landscape. I did that, and took several shots that just weren't ready for publication. There was a twist of irony, in this episode. While I was eating my lunch, I spied a bobcat watching me.

Anyway, for the next hike in the same, general location, I was back to my wildlife ways, with only my big lens. No wildlife, that day, save for a few deer deep in the shadows. I did come upon a scene, one that I have seen and photographed, before. This time, it was graced with some nice clouds. Of course, the sun was in the wrong place, and I only had that huge lens. So, I rotated the camera into portrait position, and freehanded eight shots, sweeping the view. I stitched them together, and picked out what I thought was the best portion.

As I mentioned, the sun was not in the proper position, but I am not able to get to the top of this hill at the time the sun would be correct. There is a bit of haze, out there, but I like it. One might suggest a circular polarizing filter, but because this shot was stitched together, a CPF would not have worked well. (I don't have one, anyway.)

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

To really appreciate a big vista landscape, I think we need depth and interest at several points. You captured all that.

The depth is aided by the distant haze and I personally don't think I'd want a sharper, more saturated look. I've been complaining recently about how there is too much of that soul-less, plastic-looking viewpoint out there already from the pro's

The layers: bright, detailed foreground leading to very well placed (in the composition) lake, then the distant rolling hills and featureless mountain ridge.

The clouds have given you some interesting shadows and defined the shapes.

I like it very, very much!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Beautiful. California is the best.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks! That's probably the best view, in that park. If I stood at the same spot, and turned 180 degrees, I'd get better sun, but the view is less interesting. I'll look for more vistas with that layered quality.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

You can't always shoot at "golden hour". This is especially true when you are hiking and hours away from your car. Unless you want to spend a night high in the mountains, (something I don't mind doing) you are going to have to take the high altitude pictures when the sun is relatively high. By stitching these together, you produced a very nice landscape even with the limitations of a long lens for this type of photo. Well done.
Erich

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

Thanks! I'm not really complaining about the sun. It was a gorgeous day. I just had to work a little harder to show that in a photo.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

I like the depth you have managed to get and retain in the shots. I tend to think this type of shot needs a wow factor to really work. Its lacking here just leaving us with a quite normal view of a rather normal scene. I do admire you for all that hiking and climbing which my old legs seem incapable of so Im envious.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

I'm interested in how you would define "wow factor." I would consider a magnificent waterfall or a snow capped peak to have a pretty big wow factor, but does it have to be that big to make the scene interesting? I have been trying to train my eye to see the potential in the scenery that surrounds me, but it does not come easy to me.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

The wow factor to me is simply if you imagine it on a gallery wall has it got something that stops one and makes you look. The snow capped mountain top in the middle of a large vista is very unlikely to have that wow that stops people. Much rubbish s spoken about gentle looking landscapes, my favorite being along the lines of "this is so restful I could just sit in front of it for hours". Do these folks ever try and buy that image to hang on their wall and look at for hours? Exactly my friend fota talk cos it sounds good and if you say it you may appear knowledgeable.
Landscape is really hard I think. Your asking a puny little sensor which is so incredibly crude engineering wise, compared to the human eye, to capture what you saw. It cannot happen, the sensor averages the light the colours the textures and invariably one ends up with average. Whilst not a fan I understand why snappers like Marc Adamus bling up their work. It adds interest to an otherwise mundane capture which in reality was stunning.
I do not envy the task of the landscape snapper who wishes to keep it natural looking

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

I like how the sunlight is splashing onto the left hillside, and the layers of hills receding to the distance with lake captured in the center. I can imagine a painting of this landscape. I don't think I agree with Billy on this one, serenity and rolling hills with interesting light and sky has a special place. Not all images have to evoke AWE. This one evokes "I wished I lived there and could see this every day". Seasons come and go and this is a place that is attractive as an ending place after a long search.

I agree about the "train the eye" thing. The camera see's what is there, we see what we are looking for. We notice those things we are trained to pay attention to. This is the difference between sensation and perception. Here I perceive "homestead, hunting, life" - it has a natural appeal and is nicely presented.