Death Valley Mud Flat (View Larger)

I was reviewing some of my Death Valley images from 2007 and this mud

flat image just caught my eye. I had been looking at some of Bret

Weston's images and decided this would be a good image a la Bret. Now

don't get me wrong, I am in no way comparing myself to this great

photographer but this image was inspired by his style. I find that

trying to imitate someone else's style can be very educational. Anyway

the patterns in these mud flats are varied and much like finger prints

as no two are exactly alike. The sun was setting and the light was

falling across the flats at a low angle. I will post the original RAW

for comparison.

Original Raw.

Well Seen, Excellent Work! Really like the goemetric patterns, lighting, tones and contrast.... VERY Well Done!

Thanks Glen , I appreciate your comment.

Amazing image with tremendous luminosity. Thanks for posting the RAW as it is always interesting to see the transition from RAW to artist's interpretation. One of the best intimate landscape images I've seen on here in a long time, Leo.

Thanks Bret, I have always enjoyed seeing where someone started and just how they achieve their goals.

Wow. How did you get this from the original color file? This kind of B&W conversion is outside anything I know how to do.

This was mainly done using gradients and increasing the contrast. The final toning was with selenium and Ektalure Cream. It wasn't really that hard to do. Thanks for dropping by and commenting John.

I just saw your Death Valley images. Thought they were great. I was there in 2008 and just scratched the surface. I'm going back in March of 2009. I will keep your images in the back of my mind. I know you would agree," imitation is the greatest form of flattery." In regards to the image. I like the techniques you used (I don't know what they are, but I like them.) The gradual burning of the edges is very nice. The diagonal leads your eye into the picture. This is where I have a problem. My eye wants to go out the back. There is no center of interest or dominant feature on a power point to keep my eye flowing in the image. That's why your images of Sun Baked and Parched are my favorites. Regards... Larry Goodman

I must say that I also keep influential images in my mind any time that I visit a place for photography. Sometimes it's just a good starting place and other times it's an idea that I might not have come up with myself. As for the image, I think because there are so many repeating forms that it is hard for the eye to settle at any one place. With the other two images they're are localized enough for there to be a main focus but here it is the "whole" which is the focal point which does lend to the "wandering eye" when viewed up close. This type of image is best as a large print and viewed from a distance so that it is seen as a "whole". Thanks Larry for stopping by and taking the time to leave a "footprint." I will be looking forward to seeing your interpretation of Death Valley and don't forget the mud flats.

See your having fun and visiting " old friends " I really like what you've done to this. IMO the shadows really add drama to this shot and after comparing to the original what a difference! Plus the pattern seems to go on forever. Great work Leo, really great...Lefty

Lefty now that you got Lightroom and CS3 you should revisit some of yours. Read my explanation on "Eyes of Mud" for some insight into Lightroom you might find interesting. Thanks for your comment Lefty!

I love your treatment of this; the result is eerie and captivating, besides being a beautiful pattern.

Thanks Kim I appreciate your comment.

I thought of Weston as well. Even after reflection it does remind me of Weston's work -- that is well done.

Leo, good stuff that takes the original in a different direction then I would have expected. Sharing the original and the interpretation is a really an honest thing to do. I like the BW but the high key center and dark edges does not work for me so well. The POV that goes on for ever is excellent and the overall effect is a mysterious effect that is quite haunting.

When I first looked at Bret's work, what struck me the most was how dark most of his images appeared. Most of his images are predominately low tonal valued but very effective.Thanks for the comment, John.

Thanks Craig, I hope that in some way the posting of the original will help others with some of their own images. In my own learning process I found "The Making of Forty Photographs" by Ansel Adams to be invaluable. I was especially taken by "Moonrise Over Hernandez". The difference between the original and final print knocked my socks off. I'm glad that you found some facets of this image pleasing.

Another amazing transformation. I love the luminosity in the center tapering off to the darker edges. It gives a sense that the pattern continues off to infinity.

That's the feeling that I wanted to give the viewer, that it continued on forever. Thanks for you comment and stopping by, Christal.

Amazing work , everything in this image is correct . Congratulation.7/7

Thank you for taking the time to comment!