Just after dawn: Shot for the light, processed for a serene mood. Is there an audience for understated and gentle moments in nature such as this?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Shot for the light, processed for a serene mood. Is there an audience for understated and gentle moments in nature such as this?

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

Linda From Maine wrote:

Shot for the light, processed for a serene mood. Is there an audience for understated and gentle moments in nature such as this?

It's not as attention-grabbing as some other styles, but it's so rewarding to the viewer. That early morning light looks so good, I found myself wishing the shadows could be lifted in the foreground grass. Perhaps you've stretched it in that direction already....

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

R.G. wrote:

It's not as attention-grabbing as some other styles, but it's so rewarding to the viewer. That early morning light looks so good, I found myself wishing the shadows could be lifted in the foreground grass. Perhaps you've stretched it in that direction already....

Thank you, R.G. I haven't tried to lift any shadows as I liked the pop of yellow in the dark. (edit - see below)

I'm interested in starting a discussion topic on "attention-grabbing" vs. understated, so this is a preview :)

I appreciate your time very much!

Lightened grass around flowers, also a tiny trim off bottom to remove some closer clumps of sagebrush. Might have flowers too close to bottom of frame now, though.

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

As I suspected, you could make more of the light without the yellow losing its pop. At the same time your lifting the shadows has enhanced the softness of the light.

If you were worried about the loss of space you could clone out the worst of the sage in the foreground. In fact it's so subdued and in the dark that it's barely a problem. If anything could do with a slight trim it's the sky.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

R.G. wrote:

As I suspected, you could make more of the light without the yellow losing its pop. At the same time your lifting the shadows has enhanced the softness of the light.

If you were worried about the loss of space you could clone out the worst of the sage in the foreground. In fact it's so subdued and in the dark that it's barely a problem. If anything could do with a slight trim it's the sky.

"Enhancing softness of light" - that is excellent, R.G. Thank you!

I think I will do the clone vs. crop - another good idea. Have to draw the line at trimming the sky, though. It's a personal quirk based on how much of the areas around where I live offer long-distant views with lots of unobstructed sky :)

Thanks so much!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Linda From Maine wrote:

"Enhancing softness of light" - that is excellent, R.G. Thank you!

I think I will do the clone vs. crop - another good idea. Have to draw the line at trimming the sky, though. It's a personal quirk based on how much of the areas around where I live offer long-distant views with lots of unobstructed sky :)

Thanks so much!

What a coincidence - we have lots of sky round here too lol.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

R.G. wrote:

What a coincidence - we have lots of sky round here too lol.

Behind all those clouds? Who knew? :)

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Linda From Maine wrote:

Shot for the light, processed for a serene mood. Is there an audience for understated and gentle moments in nature such as this?

Very nice. I love images like this - simple, beautiful, peaceful, with little drama. Most of what I shoot is of this type (since drama is of a low order where I live). For me, some of these speak more to a Sense of Place than the highly dramatic ones do. You made good use of light, and went a bit further in the second version, but it isn't an image that requires drama, its magic is in the simplicity and the light and the color.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

minniev wrote:

Very nice. I love images like this - simple, beautiful, peaceful, with little drama. Most of what I shoot is of this type (since drama is of a low order where I live). For me, some of these speak more to a Sense of Place than the highly dramatic ones do. You made good use of light, and went a bit further in the second version, but it isn't an image that requires drama, its magic is in the simplicity and the light and the color.

Thanks so much, Minnie. As a companion image, here was the view in the other direction (Mt Adams + moonset). I had a bit of an epiphany recently, after reading an article on authenticity - being true to yourself in your photography.

These are the scenes that make me happiest, and I'm curious about how others see the slick huge-wow-factor images so prevalent on 500px, and in magazines such as Outdoor Photographer, vs. the less dramatic or contemplative. I'm finding more and more that I am not impressed by those supposedly once-in-a-lifetime shots.

I'm going to start a discussion topic soon, but we can talk about here also :)

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tbell7D Loc: Houston

Linda From Maine wrote:

Thanks so much, Minnie. As a companion image, here... (show quote)

Hi Linda. Once again, I enjoyed taking a look at all 3 of these images. The first two really convey a sense of tranquility and peace, and I cannot choose one over the other; both are excellent. But of the three, I must admit I really like the third (with Mt Adams) the best. Like you said, just a personal thing with me, but I always enjoy photos from an "overlook". Guess I just like the sense of depth that they convey, with visual interest in the near, middle, and far ranges. So good shooting as always, and I envy your ability to get out so early in the am. :thumbup:

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

tbell7D wrote:

Hi Linda. Once again, I enjoyed taking a look at ... (show quote)

Thanks so much for your comments, Tom. Neat to hear you're of the "big picture" ilk as well. Sunrise right now is just before 6:30 a.m. It's going to get a lot earlier before it turns the other way :)

edit: June 21, 2016 (summer solstice) sunrise in Houston will be 6:22 a.m. Sunrise in Yakima will be 5:09 a.m. :thumbup:

Pierre H.J. Dumais Loc: Mississippi Mills, Ont.

Breathtaking Linda!

Pierre

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Pierre H.J. Dumais wrote:

Breathtaking Linda!

Pierre

Thank you very kindly, Pierre.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Linda From Maine wrote:

Shot for the light, processed for a serene mood. Is there an audience for understated and gentle moments in nature such as this?

Beautiful early morning light Linda. I think I like the original more than the edit though. I prefer the darker foreground because to me at least, it helps define the band of light on the yellow flowers. Very peaceful, contemplative shot.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Linda From Maine wrote:

.......I'm curious about how others see the slick huge-wow-factor images so prevalent on 500px vs. the less dramatic or contemplative.

I'm finding more and more that I am not impressed by those supposedly once-in-a-lifetime shots.....

Because there are so many people taking so many photos these days, we're forever being told that to stand out a shot must have something unusual or eye-catching about it, and if it doesn't it will just get lost in a sea of similar same old same-old shots. As a consequence we're in danger of ending up with a mind-set that tells us it has to be spectacular/unusual/vivid/eye-catching/unique and should be far removed from the traditional sort of capture.

To reinforce that idea we're sometimes told that rule-following and choosing traditional subjects should be discouraged or even avoided at all costs. While I'm not advocating that we should become slaves to rules and conventions, it wouldn't do us any harm to remind ourselves that what was considered good in days gone by was seen that way for a good reason.

Some things do have lasting value and shouldn't be discarded or dismissed while we pursue a completely new sensational-oriented mind-set.