Last Breath of Winter

Your image "threads" just get longer and longer and the unused accolades get less and less (smiles).

Just one (unused) accolade...........

Wizardry!

Well done my friend

Best regards

Another one of your signature strong visual compositions. I'm dying of envy of your 12-24 Nikon.

A lonely tree at the end of some beautiful bizarre textured and cold converging lines are very suffice for the alien sense and a very vivid story about it. What thing made this shot really pops are special artistic choice of colors nicely managed. Composition is spot on even with respect to nearly central position of the tree ( which i think is eye pleasing here with respect to fg lines ). Just one small question: why did you use such a wide aperture for this scene, as you appeared to have tripod and most landscape photoshooters prefer 8 to 16 ? Any way, it is very appealing for view and i think among your finest shots.

My best regards,

Hamid.

Outstanding work Alf! Everything in this image is perfect! Bravo

Hi Alf, I'm late to this great shot and it's all been said and I agree completely with all the superlatives. The composition is what grabs my attention the most, and it would be difficult to not have it centered, which normally is a no-no, but this works just fine. As always take care my friend.

Best Regards,

Holger

SARAH

Many Thanks for your thoughtful comments and encouraging words.  It was indeed precarious, the deep ruts in the limestone were a challenge when trying to get the tripod level.

Best Regards

Alf

GRAYHAM

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and unique accolades : - )  As always it is very good to hear from you and read your views.

Best Regards

Alf

EMMANUEL

Many Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, much appreciated.  There are those that would say that it isn't the lens, or the camera that matters, but more the 12 inches or so that is situated behind both..........but I have to admit, the 14 - 24 does help : - )

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Sincere thanks for your thoughtful comments and encouraging words.  I tried a variety of compositions, perfectly central, slightly off centre (as here) and the classic rule of thirds type composition. I think the central and slightly off centre compositions worked best because, as you mentioned the relation to the dynamics with the leading lines.  As for the f5.6 aperture, it is a very good question. Two reasons, the tree was blowing slightly in the breeeze so I wanted a fairly quick shutter speed, and secondly relates to image quality. You may remember Mike Palermiti who almost invariably insisted that shooting with the lens "wide open" would yield better quality images. After reading some of his narratives I decided to experiment with larger apertures, and even had a landscape at f2.8 that was sharp front to back. There are a lot more factors involved, including hyper-focal distance, but the short answer to your question, is that this was another experimental shot relating to using wider apertures, where again it proved successful in terms of sharpness and quality. I also recognise that you are perfecty correct in stating that that most photographers would stay within the f8 - f16 range for landscapes, and I think it is widely accepted that this is a fairly "safe" range to use. But I do think Mike had some very valid information, the trouble is of course, is that it is impossible to generalise when making recommendations to camera settings, as the slightest difference in conditions can mean making further adjustments.  Thanks again Hamid

Best Regards

Alf

SADEGH

Many Thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

HOLGER

Sincere Thanks for your visit and thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! I tried a few different compositions, in landscape format and portrait, offset and central, but the ones most pleasing to the eye where the central or near central compostions. With the position and dyanmics of the leading lines as you say, "it would be difficult not to have it centered"

Cheers Holger!

Alf

This is a wonderfu shot. Love the textures and colours.

Hi Alf, Wuthering Heights, I see it. The rock almost seems to convey decay to me. I guess that is what happens when they are weathered over thousands of years. By the lone tree standing there is what communicates desolation. As always you have captured something that isn't just pleasant to look at but communicates a story.

Joe

how can that tree grow in such a hostile environment?! Well seen and perfectly put into scene - the leafless tree in sunset light both amazes and horrifies me.

Very beneficial and reasonable answer, Thank you very much. I must personally try it.

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words.

Best Regards

Alf

JOE

Ahh yes,  now you can hear those immortal words of Kate Bush : - ) You are very accurate with the use of the word "decay", some of the rock actually crumbles and splits when you walk on it. It's most gratifying to read that these landscapes are conveyed in a way that was intended, Thanks again Joe!

Best Regards

Alf

WOLFGANG

It kind of defies all odds and somehow manages to suustain life through its root system that works its way through the strata of the rock. I tend to agree, the "Apolocalyptic" vision of the tree is kind of scary.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

It's worth experimenting with, the results can be surprising, just beware of objects in close proximity.

Best Regards

Alf

For what it is worth, I picked up a 'new to me" magazine called Advanced Photographer (May 2012) and an image of this tree  and rocks in b&W was on the front page and I immediately thought that it might be yours but it was not.

http://www.advancedphotographer.co.uk/index.php/latest-issue/52-may-2012

spectacular! I like how the crevices leed the eye. Alfredo

Very interesting patterns and composition. Beautifully done, Alf! Kind regards.

This photograph most certainly is firing on all cylinders - composition, perspective, detail, contrast, dramatic sky, etc., etc.  Aside from showing the last vestiges of winter, it successfully communicates the amazingly peaceful solitude that is unmatched in human creations and exists only in nature.

My best,

michael

Hi, Alf, I agree with all, very nice visual angle & perspective, exquisite composition, crisp details, contrast & lovely tones, absolutely stunning!     Best regards

Alf Great depth shown n this image, strong use of line, very pleasant image

Many Thanks for stopping by. No not guilty this time, although I did manage to get a photo get a photo into "Amateur Photographer" a few months ago and won a Lowerpro Camera Holdall, a first on both counts : - ) But I clinked the link you sent and yeah it is the same phenomena of the limestone pavement that is photographed, although not the exact same one. 

Cheers Tony!

Alf

ALFREDO

Sincere Thanks, the crevices do indeed play a key role in the composition as a leading line.

Best Regards

Alf

ANABELA 

The diversity of the patterns and shapes brought about by the elements eroding the limestone are endless and sometimes amazing. I'm glad you liked this one.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

MICHAEL

Many Thanks for your thoughts and encouraging comments. The area is very beautiful in a barren and remote kind of way, and as exactly as you have most eloquently written "unmatched by human creations"  A harsh environment, but very beautiful.

Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD H

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and encouraging words, very much appreciated!  I was quite fortunate with the weather, it can be very dull and cloudy at the time of year it was taken in February.

Best Regards 

Alf 

RICHARD J E 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments. I think this was a shot just made for the Nikkor 14 -24mm or indeed any wide angle lens, the dynamics of the eroded limestone in conjunction with the tree was a photograph waiting to be taken. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

A story-telling picture!  The rocks are greatly captured with a perspective that leads the eye smoothly to the tree standing there to remind that spring is due and the colorful atmosphere is on the way...great work as usual Alf!

Take care!

I'll comment first, then go back & read the other comments, just so I'm not influenced unduly by them.  This looks like the setting of a spooky movie.  I really like the composition with the central, though (properly) high placement of the tree, and the leading lines to it provided by the ridges in the rock formation.  Excellent soft but directional side lighting accentuates the deep grooves.  Probably couldn't have picked a better time of day.  And how DOES a tree grow on such terrain?  Whatever it takes to be a great landscape photographer, you've got it.  Don't ponder the whys and wherefores of it.  Just enjoy!  Best, LM.  P.S Just read the previous comments.  Let's make it easier on those wishing to view the photo mag picture.   Click Here.

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments. It would be interesting to revisit this location now and see what the tree looks like in full leaf, and again in autumn to see the change in colour.

Best Regards

Alf

LEN

You have been watching too many Horror Movies : - )  The only scary thing there was me with the camera. But I know what you mean, it is remote and isolated and does have that haunted look perhaps. I agree with you about the time of day, and the lighting, in fact I took a dozen or more shots before the sun went down, and about the same after, and it just reinforces my earlier findings, that the best light of the day for photography is the 30 minutes or so before the sun rises, or in this case the 30 minutes or so after the sun sets. I sometimes good light can be available up to 2 hours after the sun sets, particularly during the summer months on clear nights.  As for the tree question, it's a real head scratcher.  I have seen small trees, stunted and wind torn clinging to life in various exposed positions, with thier roots somehow finding nourishment from the cracks and ruts between the limestone, but I can't say that I've ever seen one quiteas impressive as this impressive in terms of size. Thanks for the simplified magazine link, I think this might be worth some experimentation with B & W too. Always good to hear your thoughts Len.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

Nice work! Best regars, Ilkka

the surreal is imaginable here, Alf; but i enjoy this landscape as a GREAT NATURE FIND, and one can identify it immediately as yours. amazing, Alf! ;-} dp

I don't know how I missed this,excellent landscape with a so interesting land texture,the tree right in place,horizon line with few clouds,all look so good,I like the perspective created,compliments for this image.

Many thanks for your interest and kind words!

Best Regards

Alf

DONNA

I hope you are keeping well!  My imagination is a bit on the errm fertile side : - ) I get a bit carried away sometimes. But yeah, you really summed it up well, nothing is as amazing as nature itself.

Sincere Thanks & Warm Regards

Alf

RADU

The limestone terrain does make for great textures, but finding them in such an arrangement is a bit tricky.  I'm really pleased you liked this one.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf