"Some Other Place, Somewhere, Some Other Time"

Every so often I choose to sacrifice a good color image for an even better b&w. In this case, the color image was a joy to prepare, but just before resizing for the web, I decided to take a quick peek at how it would look colorless. The transformation was magical. I stole the title from the chorus of a not so famous Alan Parsons Project song called "Some Other TIme" from the I Robot CD. It is one of my favorite tunes and seemed to fit the mystical appearance of this scene. The sky is streaked with haze from a distant wildfire. This was taken near Lake Tahoe near hwy 89 on the way to Emerald Bay overlook. To the right is Cascade Lake and at closer inspection, you will see a summer vacation home along the lake shore. Please enjoy the Larger preview and thanks for any input!

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Like a monochromatic painting. This works wonderfully well, in all respects! Well done! Cheers! Chris

Hey Chris, THANKS for the descriptive comment. Yeah, I was wondering how original this is before I posted (the first rating has this at 5/3). You see, there is probably no other person on God's green planet that has this vantage within their portfolio. Just me! No one would consider shooting in this direction since both Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe are in the other direction. Well, I know that that alone does not define or encapsulate the meaning of originality, but it has to make this worth more than a 3. Original or not, it is mine and mine only. As far as aesthetics, well it has been said that this looks like a "monochromatic painting' by a very respectable photographer. "Looks like a painting" and "aesthetically pleasing" are almost synonymous, aren't they. Thanks again Bear!

A followup - this is way beyond even a 5/5! This is good stuff! Not only is the composition stellar, but the quality of light on the tips of the FG brush and the right-hand tree is nothing short of amazing. Very, very few of us would have considered the black and white conversion here; a very bold, and ultimately very successful, decision, Mark! Don't sweat the ratings; they truly are meaningless. Cheers! Chris

I know Chris. It's just my way of releasing a little steam. As well, I get slammed for my own comments; tooting my own photographic horn makes some folks jealous I guess! Well, if being boisterous has offended anyone, I take it back. What I meant to say is that this is the best photograph to have ever been posted on this platform. Only you and I know that fact I guess, being equalled only by some of your images that is.

Like a mirror held before me

large as the sky is wide

and the image is reflected

bact to the other side

 

 

could it be that somebody else is

looking into my mind

 

 

some other place

somewhere

some other time...

 

 

Yes, I know that tune, and I like it too. I think it would sound just good in my ipod earphones while I'm staring at this beautiful scene!

You did a great job with the composition, and even better with the black and white conversion, I love that glow on the bushes in the fg and on the tree on the right. Just a very small thing: probably that shadows is natural, nonetheless I would dodge a bit the tip of that tree, just to get a bit closer to the brilliance of the rest.

 

Beautiful work, Mark!

Hello Paolo. Great to hear from someone who shares my knowledge of Alan Parsons. Also great to receive favorable comments from two of the most respectable photographers at PN. Paolo, your work is second to none. Your latest post solicited over 85 comments. That's impressive, considering they were not just empty platitudes, but that most of the comments made for some very stimulating conversation. I never did chime in because I didn't know what I could possibly add. I am humbled by your prowess as a photographer. I think between you, me and Chris, we can push this image over 10 comments at least. Thanks again!

8

9.....

 

Seriously (although I couldn't resist running the count up a tad), having discovered the richness of b/w here on PN, I have to offer that this is the quality that I aspire to achieve. Fantastic tones, detail and a killer scene.... Keep on plugging Mark, someday they'll use up all their 3's and won't know what to say :-).... 7/7 for me... Mike

 

 

So now we have uncovered a coven of Alan Parsons devotees. I just listened to it while looking at this image. I have been a fan for many years. It's some of my most listened to music.

 

As for low ratings, they go with being recognised. Take it as a compliment.

 

You've really achieved a great result with this image Mark. It has a wonderful depth which you often get in your images but this is better than your norm.

11. We did it thanks to the help of Mike and Jeff. You guys are great. Mike, I have seen some of your conversions and they are equally as impressive as this, especially your "Tremont" image from the Smokies in spring of 2008 I believe. It's one of my favorites! Jeff, your taste in music is also impressive. Alan Parsons has always worked for me. The first time I heard "Don't Let it Show", I was hooked!

How about Mike and the Mechanics or The Black Sorrows now that we are going for maximum comments?

And I just rated it. I don't remember the last time I rated an image. We'll be accused of starting a mate rating club soon. That would be a novel idea.

the clouds really make this image...very nice

...at least with 'mate-rating' the bloody ratings are somewhere within the realm of reason, not the absurd and completely irrelevant 3/3.

I just checked. I've never given a 7/7 before.

GREAT B&W!!! I love how many tones you got. It is a simple and beautiful picture. Regards.

OK mates, you guys are the Bee's Knees! Jeff, I am a big fan of MATMs. I love a melancholy tune from time to time, and "Taken In" is the one I always go to when I think about the girlfriends that snubbed me. I'm not familiar with The Black Sorrows, but I will be looking them up for some new sounds! Thanks David for your kind comment. This one's sure to go over 20 if anyone else out there likes Alan Parsons, Mike and the Mechanics, Mate Rating, The Bee's Knees, The Black Sorrows or a Sorrowful Black and White that needs some more love.

Thanks Willy. You ever heard of The Black Sorrows?

It's about time we exported some of our culture in your direction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Sorrows

No particular element to draw my attention, but my eyes want to drink in the entire scene. The composition is perfect, and subtly hidden in the scene. The flow of the clouds running against the lines on the horizon act as a magnet, drawing me in. The contrast and sharpness are outstanding and probably help to enhance the black and white tones. The polarizing filter is obvious and contributes so much to the depth as well as controlling the light. A beautiful scene Mark, well done.

I don' t know what technique was used here, but it is whatever it could be used perfectly successfully!

 

PDE

Mark, I had to look up this song as I could not remember it and I'm an AP fan also. I'm listening to it now as I view the image and it all came back.

 

The side light is really good on this and the choice of the FG trees is real good with enough of a glimpse of the lake. Good choice to make this b/w.

Very well done! Rgds.