Aspen Gold

Thanks Bradley for your long and nice comment! I just love the beauty of the outdoors in Colorado, and I enjoy trying to show some of its beauty with my photography.

Again, thanks to all for the comments, positive or negative!

Curtis

When I first saw the photo I loved it for what it contains and for the amount of info. (area) which it shows. Being a fish-eye-lens owner myself, I know the difficulty in capturing a good shot that will not show the distortion of these little gems. But being a fish-eye shooter, I understand how the WOW factor can quickly dwindle from this type of photography. So I got me a Sigma 14mm lens and replaced my fisheye almost immediately. I hardly use the fish-eye anymore and am absolutely pleased with my ultra wide replacement. What I like about this photo is the fact that we can see the trees complete from top to bottomor, from bottom to top, as the case may be. I think the trunks of the background trees are what really make this photo. But, unfortunately, these are the ones that show off the most distortionthat sort of kills it for me, but only because I am now used to the rectilinear perspective. There is yet another thing that bothers me even more the distortionthere seems to be too much disarray in the jumbled grass blades and they disrupt the easiness of seeing the photo as well as detract from its appeal. The dark spot on the bark doesnt help much either.

 

Bob Hixonand I think the goal here was to use the distorting effects of a fisheye lens to offer a different perspective of a very common subject.). Possible, but, if this was the intent, then I think Curtis failed by choosing a poor-looking tree. If the intent was simply to frame-in all the elements and do your best with the distortion of the lensthen I think he succeeded. But, nonetheless, I would have preferred the main tree to be dead smack in the center in order to have at least one tree without any distortion.

 

Carl Root(a major challenge)trying to avoid unwanted elements with a lens that includes half the world in every shot.). I agree 100% with this statement, except for the fact that one can always choose to photograph any other spot and by the looks of it, there had to have been at least 100 other spots to photograph. The fact that he chose this one says to me that he didnt care too much about which particular spot worked best. He simply found one that he liked and shot it to the best of his abilitynot caring to find a better spot after that. End resulta dried up part of the tree bark dead smack in front of your eye, plus unattractive grass in-within the leaves (also right in front of your eye).

 

Meems H.I think this picture is both pleasing to the eye with color, and harsh to the eye with angle.) Absolutely! But most of us can forgive the harshness since it is obvious that there was no other lens choice. You either use this distorted lens or you dont get this angle of coverage. What destroys some of its qualities (for me) is the dried tree bark and the messy grass. Otherwise, I would definitely like it, distortion, or not.

I think this, and Im not alone here, this is relatively cheap way to try to enhace an otherwise boring picture, the color is great but the composition could be a lot better.

Great angle of view and great colors. Excellent work!

The reason I dislike this image so much is because its just so photographic. I half expect to see the camera within the image. It captures the idiosyncrasies of a lens rather than an image makers love of nature.

damn brilliant photo, anything fisheye is rad, well done man do some more fisheye stuff!

great!

Beautiful image!

I grew up spending summers in this area... you have truly captured something so surreal for me personally. I can almost smell the air. Beautiful. Pure. Magnificent.

This is a wonderful use of the fisheye. Often, this is a much abused/misused lens... but not here. It makes perfect sense to use the lens as you have here. Excellent. Very nicely done.

 

Lou

Fabulous!

Awesome! Very creative composition!

I like it, colors and the perspective is very nice

Very, very pleasent composition... too bad there was no mushroom coming out the evening before.

This is great! I like how you used the leaves in the foreground instead of just shooting the canopy on top.

Again great image and angle... this picture reminded another one but I couldnt remember which one .. I found it today here

I never rated this when it was POW? Interesting.. Well I am not the biggest fan of fisheyes but it is used well here. I went back and viewed my comment that I left on the POW and have to say I am surprised to read what I said. I find myself liking this now.

 

I think it is because I am really appreciating originality lately. Your effort here (IMO) was to take something shot a bunch of times and make it your own. You succeeded.

Gimmicky is the word for it. There is no emotional or esthetic impact conveyed by this image other than a most fleeting wow. Enduring landscapes convey rich moods and a sense of the sublime. This is not an image that will register for very long...

Great use of a fisheye. Great photo. I like the overwhelming distiortion in this photo. It really stands out. Oh, and I love the colors. Ad for my dislikes.. um.. NONE! Awesome work.

Incredible image!!! I could spend all day here mentioning why I love it. I will leave it at this. Well done Curtis!!

Wonderful color and composition.

this is a really cool picture. i like the angles, did you use any photoshopping?

Hi

 

As you said, They work together wonderfully,

 

It is so nice, It seems there is one tree and others are its branches.

 

Excellent

I love the angle! The picture is great for me. Congratulations.

 

Congratulations

 

, I've noticed many people commenting negatively but let's face it, it was bold enough to generate eight pages of comments so as a piece of art it is a success.