mozgur

Scott,

Couple of weeks ago, I've seen this scene on the cover of a book, so it must be very well known. Although, at the time I took this pic, I didn't even know that it was one of the snapshot locations in Zion. There were dozen or so photographers closeby shooting a different view, clearly they were trying to avoid shooting cliche shots. Any case, since this was posted, I must say, I received comments covering the whole spectrum. Nothing surprises me anymore. You'll see this spot right at the entrance to Zion NP.

I must also add that Zion surprised me more than Yosemite.

Finally, a collection of my photographs will appear in Sep-Oct issue of Lenswork. B&W version of this shot may be included in the collection.

cheers,

The scale and depth of the canyon, where red and green rivers merge

will take your breath away. When you are at that red edge, facing

2000ft drop, you hear the calling of shadows, and dancing highlights.

don't jump ... enjoy life.

I'm dreamless when I'm asleep.

Wild dreams come to me when I am full awake.

(No, I don't see dead people.) It must be dramatic changes we -as

inhabitants of the world-are going through last few years.

This and next few darker themes in the series came to me at early days

of the war.

Enjoy life when you can...

--------

How happy and miserable is the obsessed?

-------

Another -difficult- addition to the smokeworks collection.

Aaron,

I remember the original one.

This kind of overcomes the compositional issue I mentioned, but, in absence of real data from the other half, I would have cropped differently. (I'd put the sun off center, crop 1/4 from left) However, this will make the work inconsistent with other images in this series. Ultimately, it is all about what you want.

Cheers,

-m.ozgur

Vincent,

Thank you for the comment. When I shot a scene, especially in a place like Alaska, I rarely consider square format. This was, in fact, shot as a 3:1 panorama. this particular crop is the right end of the whole scene, there is more of the snowy range going to the left.

I struggled with the panorama for a long time, i mean >18months, With my renewed interest in square format this year, I decided to use only small part of the data here. It has been difficult choice, and I may work on another crop a year from now. For now, though, this will do.

If a heart is not ready to open.

It's broken.

thanks for comments.

SmokeWorks #23 - Splash

has evolved from three different, eventually abandoned, ideas. I have

been thinking about this particular effect for last few months now.

T

hanks for comments and suggestions,

A slight rework of the idea that I developed originally about 2 years

ago.

Thanks for comments and suggestions,

Hi Chris,

Although it is exaggerated in this sepia-toned version, there is indeed loss in detail at highlights. Due to angle of shot, it is hard to capture all the details in a single shot with or w/o GND filters. As you may know this was captured from a busy, narrow bride, so I could not setup a tripod to have a proper HDR image either.

There are a lot of excuses, but, frankly, I am not too disturbed by the loss in this case. In fact when I first saw the RAW data, I thought it looked nice. It suggests snowy peaks, which I wished to have instead.

cheers,

enjoy..

full collection is now available on my new website.

Jim, you're not alone in finding my work questionable. Many not only find so secretly, but scream and yell of their disapproval also.

There is really nothing new in my technique. It is the same thing I have been doing in darkroom as well. Since the masters of multi-printing are among us -read J. Uelsmann in particular- it would not be my place to say or write anything on the subject. (BTW, many has been waiting such a tome from JU for a long time now.) Furthermore, there are several young masters here at PN, who have far more sophisticated techniques and great skill + vision than me that will be greatly embarrassed by such an attempt.

Also,

I'd like to thank everybody who took their time to view, rate and more importantly offer their views on this image. I'm putting finishing touches on 20 images in this series for magazine submission. If the editor is gracious as you were, few of these may be published this year.

Thank you all.

Hi Mona-Chrome,

My response will be most predictable.

As I pronounced many times, I edit almost all my pictures using PS. This image is no different, but perhaps it is not manipulated the way you imagine.

The peak, the shrub and the goose bumps are all real. In fact this very peak has been the highest peak at this location in my last two visits. As you start the climb, view from valley up is very close to the view seen here. I'm not saying this is what my camera captured, but this is what I saw.

A picture not worth seeing is not worth taking either.

I'm by no means a sensationalist, but I must admit, I don't value what camera captures as highly as some do. I hope you'll forgive me, when I rely on my vision for embellishments. They are not to attract more attention, but really to make pictures worth seeing.

Hi Simon,

Awesome place and a very good capture.

My only issue is that the foreground seems too strong and too large for my taste, hence it diverts the attention away from the really awesome upper half.

It is almost universal among landscape photographers to include something in foreground, especially in vertical shots like this one. IMHO, it rarely works the way intended.

cheers,

I think this will be the last image in my visions series.

http://www.easycounter.com/counter.php?mozgur_visions20

border="0" alt="HTML Counter">

First of two interpretations of this place. again, this is still works

in progress. Let me know if it works, or what does not.

Thanks,

The main reason there is unusual tonal range is the tree on the right corner. It has been my intention to use as the anchor for the composition. However the contrast between the tree ans its background so low enough that I was force to enhance the contrast by using red channel data only. hence, the result seen here. Last night, I gave up on the tree and decided to shift the horizon lower, showing a bit more sky above. This will make the longhorn more noticeable.

This has been evolving slowly last couple of weeks. Although this is

close to my original vision, I think the horizon is too high on the

frame to have a clean message. I'm looking for suggestions and comments,

It was a good view when I was there, but it does not seem to work as

well when I look at this image now. I'm curious if it is as confusing

to you too.

Kelly,

Don't get me wrong, but you are really a beginner. I think, you managed to be wrong on three counts in your comment.

First, this is NOT a 3D generated image. In fact, i'm not aware of any 3D (or 2D for that matter) simulation package that can generate accurate and high resolution fluid-dynamic models. (I am an engineer, so I am very familiar with engineering simulation tools) If you know a 3D or 2D or any package that generate images like this please don't be shy and enlighten us.

Second, as explained in the technical details, this is a composite image and made of nothing but photographs. So, when you look you see photographs. In fact there is NO CG-generated figures, nor free hand drawings in this frame. Show me what is NOT a photograph here?

Third, everybody has his/her own conviction what this site is or should be. Furthermore what photography is or should be. I had a long declaration on my person page what I believe. Photography as an ART form, is more about the idea then technique. This image can be easily, I repeat easily, made using darkroom techniques in old analog way. Would that make this a photograph?

I think to use excuse of "technique" to criticize an image is not only wrong but misguided.

Ricardo, this is the salt-basin in death valley in CA.

The lowest continental point is right below this point. I simply exaggerated Panamint range. And, for those who wonder, this is one of the early versions. The final version is >30MPixel large, enough for 24inch prints.

An idea occurred to me when I saw the clouds.

Thanks for comments,

Masterworks of nature are in display. thanks for suggestions and

comments,

Hi Steve,

Perhaps the scene is well-known, but I'd not be so hasty in judgment. I'd love to see your takes at this location.