Crystal Mill Color

Wow! This is excellent. It only took the first glance to see it was either medium format or 4x5 view equipment. Congrats Bobby

Because of the several references to the notion that this image is somehow a "cliche'" I feel inclined to make a few comments. Since I am familiar with the challenges inherent in photographing a scene such as this on transparency film, I have great appreciation for the personal skill and knowledge of materials and tools that the making of an image like this entails. Then consider the great dedication just to reach the physical location of the site, while carrying the required equipment. Then the skill and finances required to produce the image for viewing here and the production of a hard copy (If I had $150.00 to spend right now, there would already be a stamp on the envelope. It's worth much more than that, hell the gas it takes to get there is worth more than that...).

This is no cliche'. It's a classic. This image is the reason why so many cliche's are made, everyone wants to make an image like this, but they are not willing to invest the time, energy, desire, skill and intelligence that these results require. (cynic mode:on) They just go to those drive-up scenic pullouts on the highway, get out the Olympus D520 and then rush home to adjust the levels in PS LE. I am going to visit the portfolios of every person that called this a cliche', and see what sort of fabulously original stuff they have to offer. (cynic mode:off)

Thanks for making the effort, Bobby. Why don't you shoot color neg?... t

oh yea, this image is another eloquent reason why photo.net needs a "Landscape" catagory. That it is lumped in with pictures of grasshoppers and roses is just absurd. It's a completely dfferent artform that is born of completely different motivation, and requires a different skill set, specialized equipment, a specific attitude and particular vision, not to mention that most landscape photography has a social context of an entirely different order... t

This is a truly outstanding scenic. The fact that it had been raining and everything was wet and shiny makes the image so spectacular. I may have to add this place to my list of sites to get to in Colorado.

Bobby, I suppose that if I were to invest the time, I too could find fault and could then go out of my way to pontificate negatively on your striking photograph. But I'm too impressed with it's powerful visual impact to try to detract from your exceptional capture!!!

7/7 out of 7/7 is the minimum that I can give it.

Despite that the mill is probably one of the most photographed places in Colorado I never get tired of seeing it. Excellent photograph.

A classic 4x5 shot of an enchanting landscape. It has that appearance of enhanced reality that is only possible with large format. A feast for the eyes. Congratulations, Bob.

The highest compliment I can give an image is "I want to go there too". I must admit I saw the B&W of this image first, and prefer it, but the color image works as well.

Bobby,

How long have you been shooting 4X5? Whats the learning curve?

 

R. Tucker

Outstanding photo... but if this scene was duplicated as one of those oil-based paintings you can buy at Hotel Lobby art shows, what would be your impression of the piece?

This is not a painting - it is a photograph... and a well done photograph. Moderately cliche perhaps, but well done nonetheless.

I would not characterize *most* paintings common to art shows in "hotel lobbies" as well done. The tend to be crudely executed cliches (this does not apply to all such paintings, but is merely meant as a general observation and a rebuttal of Mr. Craig's implication).

The difference is the the high level of expertise on display here in this photograph and the implied lower level of expertise in the "hotel lobby" paintings.

Great shot Bobby!

I am truly sad I didn't know about this place as I was in Colorado

last year for a month and would have loved to go there and check

it out! I don't have as rewarding a format to work with as you have

but I'd love to have been there with my Hassy Superwide. I don't

mind going a few extra miles for a great trek and seeing your

picture here convinces me beyond doubt it was worth it.

Cheers, Henrik Rundgren, Stockholm, Sweden

Nick, I'm in full agreement that this shot does exhibit a mastery of photographic know-how. Everything is done right in the photo.

 

However, I guess I meant to somewhat ask, is what your impression would be of an oil painting, well-done if you like, of the same subject, done in a somewhat photo-realistic manner that expressed the same scene?

 

To me, and its only my opinion (and that's what this board is for I presume), is that the subject is almost too pretty and perfect... I guess I like a little more conflict to exist, even in landscapes.

I've seen hundreds of pictures of the mill, some from a similar vantage point, but this is far and away the best shot I've seen.

The light & colors in this photo are great, but I find the composition & exposure somewhat lacking. A 1/3-1/2 stop less might well have produced a better result. Also, the flowing water somehow detracts from the image. I would have liked to see both a shorter (1/8 - 1/15 or so) or longer (1-2 seconds) exposure, either of which might have given a more dramatic look to the stream. Regarding the composition, I don't think the brush on the left and bottom side add anything to the photo. A different perspective, taken more to the right, would in my opinion improve the composition quite a bit. Finally, I think shooting Velvia would have given the colors a bit more punch (especially the water), but that is a matter of taste.

Congratulations on the POW, although I am a bit puzzled why this picture was chosen. I find your photograph of the San Juan Mountains to be a much better shot of yours. Now -that- is a photo I would like to have on my wall.

Did you use any front rise? Or any other movements? Just curious, because I'm learning to make the most from my 4x5. The building looks slightly narrower at the base than at the eaves, but it might just be an illusion. (Importing to PS and checking verticals was inconclusive.) Or was it built like that?

 

Congratulations on POW.

I really like the splashing-down of the water. I am curious to know your exposure time for this shot. Do tell! :)

 

Beautiful photograph. Really stunning colors. I think I'm going to need to hold the exposure times for longer to get these kinds of results. :p

Exposure time was 1 second at f/22 with center spot filter so there

would be no light fall off. (65mm is really wide angle for 4X5

This scene is one of the most photographed in Colorado and anyone should be able to see why. This photo is the best of many I have seen. Some may say B&W is more pure, edgier, etc. The fact is this is a beautiful rendition of the old mill. Thank you, Bobby, for making it possible for us to see the mill in all its glory, past and present.

 

jim boatwright

Jeremy:

 

Fair enough... I guess I misunderstood your "implication".

 

Still though, comparing a painting of this (or a similar) scene to a photograph of the same is not really fair. With painting, I think it's fair to say that there are a great many more treatments that could be used to illustrate the artistic vision. For example, the painter could use a "photo-realistic" approach, or an impressionist approach, or a surreal approach etc. Not all of these genres of painting work for all people. Personally, I've never been that keen on the "photo-realistic" approach (if you want to portray the scene "as is", then why not take a photograph?), but an impressionist approach may well produce a result that I like. But what I like vis-a-vis what another person prefers is not really the point. The point is that photography is a different medium than painting, and I'm not sure that a cliche photograph necessarily translates into a cliche painting (or vice versa).

 

I'm don't think I've made my point especially well, but at least we're in agreement about the technical quality of this photograph.

This type of photography represents the world and not the imaginings of a human mind. The knowing that there actually is a place in this world that looks like this, is worth infinately more than the photograph itself.

I'm glad to know this place exists, a painting would not tell me that... t

I really like this picture. It takes you in, has a lot going on, is wonderfully composed and metered. I hope you are proud of this one, it will stand the test of time.

Wonderful!! Photo's such as this is why I pursue photography. So much

beauty captured for all time. If I get just one shot like this I will

be a happy camper.

really stunning! details and light metering perfect!

The quality of the other pictures in Bobby's portfolio shows that this is no fluke. A real winner without much latitude for negative criticism.

 

Composition: great.

 

Color: realistic, but tending enough towards the impressionistic to give us a personal view of the scene.

 

Subject matter: beautiful, without being overtly "spectacular" in form or expanse (what I mean by this is that the true spectacle is in the way Bobby has seen his subject and presented it to us). No cheap sunsets, thank God.

 

Successful at every level.