Lost in the Dream

If you are going to rate/evaluate this photo, please take time to read

about how it was created first. Thanks.

While touring around Oregon with Floris Van Breugel this past week, I knew I'd have to show him a remote location called the Alvord desert. It had rained and snowed pretty hard earlier in the week and we found good portions of it flooded in an inch or so of water. After a rather uneventful afternoon of scouting around, not being able to find a whole lot to shoot, the idea for this image came to me. I'd wait until moonrise around 8pm, and if there were still clouds around we'd both head out onto the flooded playa for long exposures. Being such an open environment, I knew we'd be able to see a nearly 360-degree reflection, with only a sliver of distant landscape. Since there was only an inch of water, I suggested to Floris that he stand 20 or so feet away, giving the impression of walking on the water's surface, while we both opened up the shutter for a little over 3 minutes looking into the full moon. After a few attempts, we refined the technique and positioning of elements. Good thing too, because a few attempts would be all we would get with the clouds and stars together in the night sky.

 

Simply being on the Alvord is one of the most surreal experiences I have had in nature, so for me, this artistic impression of it is fitting. Processing was not time consuming, but liberties were certainly taken to enhance all aspects. I hope you enjoy it.

 

1Ds III, 16mm, 3 minutes at ISO 800, f/8

 

nice shot well done

Nicely done. I love the colors and the idea is very nice.

I would have preferred the person to me slightly more to the right following the dynamics of the clouds and star trails. As it is now, it kind of breaks the dynamics a bit,

very beautiful. very surreal view

i see many people trying to create photos like this by photoshopping the several elements together. you did it in a real photo, and even much better. you are miles ahead.

As Zsolt said, we usually see this as a composite. This is wonderful, and it is so expressive of the title. This and the photo by Zack are the two best of the Alvord I've ever seen (Zack's was natural history, this is creativity). Superbly done.

I thought it was photoshopped. Nice work!

Very well done!

great technical skill. Taking this shot in real time is an achievement and compliment to both you and your model. I am curious about your choice of f/ stop setting under those light conditions (i'm assuming it may have something to do with reducing high key tones?). I agree with Francesco regarding subject placement, although the whole composition and quality of the shot makes that point slightly arbitrary. well done

Excellent dreamy composition. Best regards.

Marvelous shot Marc.

Thank you for this photography lesson! It's quite remarkable. Floris's reflection is so clear, but then you knew that would be the result. What I want to know is how he stood that still for 3 minutes! :-) My husband and I have recently fallen in love with Oregon, and it keeps calling us back. But we've never been to the SE part of the state, so we'll have to put this area on our 'list'. Bravo on this outstanding work!

Truly amazing! Great and well done from composition to colors and lighting. Best regards, Linh Dinh

That's about as surreal as it gets Marc. Superb job of creating this magnificent image. Thanks for sharing the making of Lost in the Dream with us.

All the best,

Neil

Excellent and creative work Marc.

I hope to get here and there one day.

Great shot. Congrats !

 

7/7

Espectacular. ... It reminds me of something ...

I wonder like Crystal, how can it be possible in a 3 min exposure ? Not even a sign of slight move? Great colors and reflection by the way.

Hi marc ... ,

 

I really appreciate this one ... it has a great impact thanks to the powerfull clouds coming .. it shows a really good creativity mixing man with nature . it's really important to experiment new ideas in addition with our knowledge

Genial composicion.

Strong processing

Yes, I enjoyed it, and I also enjoyed reading about how you made it. It't marvellous.Looks like walking on ice and the colours are brilliant.

 

Sidsel

Outstanding work Marc and very well thought out and executed. Not only do I appreciate the beauty of this work but I think it is marveleous that you share your technique and technical factors to educate us. Something I'd love to see more of on here. This (and your whole portfolio) is just "brilliant".

Regards