Side effects

I'd appreciate comments and suggestions about this composition. I know

the light is not the best possible one, still, I hope the flat and

harsh light gives some out-of-this world effect to this landscape.

More shots are in this same folders.

Salvatore, I think the light is perfect in this photo. I have several comments to make. However, I'm going to hold off for right now. There's something I'm seeing in this photo and I'm curious to see if anyone else sees it and makes mention of it.

Hmmm, I think I see it too... right of center...

Aaron, Did you mean left of center?

No, I swear there's a person standing on the ledge at the very bottom, just to the right in what looks to be a blue jacket. Maybe everyone's noticed this and I'm just bringing up the obvious, which means I still haven't noticed what you've noticed...

Aaron, that's not what I was seeing. I think I see what you're seeing but I'm not sure that's a figure.

 

OK....I'm sure you will all think different of me after reading this but.....the area just left of center where the greens and reds are...well...to me it looks like a certain area of female anatomy. It jumped right out at me when I opened this up. I swear, I haven't been through the nudes forum in about a week (maybe that's why I'm seeing things).

 

I was thinking maybe that's what inspired Salvatore's title. It appears to be the primary point of interest in the photo.

 

Anyway, all that aside, I'll repeat-the lighting is perfect in this. The colors are clean and the air is crisp (no haze) The horizontal curve is set off nicely by the diagonal created by the mountain peak starting in upper right and following down to the line through the "anatomical structure".

 

As a whole, this composition can be viewed as representative of an incredible scene, or as an absract of beautiful shapes and colors.

 

Certainly a place I'd love to see for myself (do they take you there in helicopters?)

Oh, That!?! LoL! Actually, the same thing came up in Salvatore's close-up shot - really obvious in that one. I think it will forever be know as the "anatomical structure."

Aaron....I hadn't seen that other photo. I'm not sure how I missed it. I feel MUCH better now! So, did you know all along that's what I was referring to? Me thinks you were yanking my chain. :)

I knew immediately what you meant, Laurie, it was the first thing I saw in this photo. This is certainly terrain I've not seen before, very unique.

Incredible landscape.

You're in the clear, Laurie - I saw it as well. Makes me feel better about my Valentine's Day comment on Salvatore's banana shot - thank you.

 

But for Salvatore's benefit - I think the choice of light works well. It gives a great sense of the very clear air. I'm surprised at how similar the light and colors are to some of my own shots of volcanoes, but much further north in Central Oregon, USA (see http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=448416). Seems like this kind of light is very much part of these scenes, and needn't hold back (in this case) a really interesting creation.

 

As for composition, I like the complimentary arrangement of the convex volcano in the background, and the concave crater in the foreground. It helps that you can see some of the background volcano's crater as well. I also like how the horizontal sweep of the foreground crater is matched by the vertical dynamic of the background volcano - seems like a clever play on the rule of thirds. I also like the way that the part of the foreground crater which doesn't have the background volcano behind it has a richer set of colors and textures, which creates the balance in the image. I don't think I'd crop any differently - the current balance and emphasis are excellent.

 

Hope this helps. Best, Jeremy.

Indeed, the rock formation has invited quite a varied amount of interpretations, which are summarised here. For your convenience, a zoom is posted here above...

On average, Laurie's interpretation was the dominant one among those who saw it... even though they expressed it in a plethora of different synonyms.

On mixed matters,

@Laurie We waited out four days to get such a nice weather... the downpours of the prevuos days indeed had cleaned the air. As for getting there with helicopters, anyone can make the walk, is not so strenous after all. The nicest part, though, was the scramble up (and down!) the volcano on the back... it is interesting to get sulphuric fumes and snow in the same place, and it commanded an unforgettable view.

@Aaron You spotted that figure: I am impressed! As for the side effects, it was mainly thought under a geological point of view... but I might have had also other things on a more hidden level on my mind when chosing it.

@Jeremy You've pretty much read the composition the way I saw it!

Thanks you all for your interest and comments!

Salvatore, an excellent image. But just a thought- would it not have been better if you have cropped just above the controversial portion? It looks like photographers are distracted from the beauty of the image, which upper-half offers.

The curious rock formation is quite famous actually. Every regular tramper of the northern circuit makes mention of it. I never had the luck to see it, always raining, foggy, or snowing. The picture does capture the grandure of the area. Great job. Great color.

Oh, man... with the wavelength you guys are on, you're going to love this. The name of this general area is "Red Crater."

 

I've hiked the Tongariro Crossing twice... once in weather like this, and once in brutal cold, foggy windy conditions.

 

Some photos here: http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=399839

The right/central dominante part is very nicely balanced by the mountain on the left, the colors and textures have many nuances of hues.interesting composition well croped. Pnina

I think it's interesting and appropriate that you've chosen the cinematic framing. Somehow the frame/crop, angle of view, and widescreen look reminds me of similar looking scenery in the movie Patton.

 

The objects and details in the foreground have a 3D look that makes you want to reach out and touch them, but the wide view fights with this feeling and forces the viewer to deal with the vastness of the place. Anyway, it's an interesting combination and effective technique.