The stillness of the morning, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

This was taken on the backside of Mount Timpanogos a couple of days ago. I left home before it got light and headed for one of my favorite locations. It was overcast (it's been raining all week) and the sun was just coming up when I got out of my truck. As I was setting up for the shot I could hear the bugling of the elk echoing around the hills, interrupting the silence of the early morning. The beauty and majesty of the event was only shattered by my return to the office...

I metered the trunk of the closest tree wanting to place it somewhere between zones 7 & 8 (I'm still trying for the "Dana Rees" effect). I stopped down to f/16, still wnnting sharpness with depth of field. It looks much better at full resolution than it does cut down to ~800 pixels...

tuffellow, darrasin, Florian88, JCG, Flavia, jwmunro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tuffellow (546) 2006-10-06 13:15

Firstly, that frame turns the photo from a 10/10 to an 11/10! It emphasizes the contrast of the black spots on white trees. Perfect. I don't know who Dana Rees is, but if this perfect photo isn't as good, I would really like to see their photos! Anyways, this is an amazing shot. Good choice with the f/16 - everything is crystal clear. Well done!
Mike

darrasin (2860) 2006-10-06 13:30

Hi Robert! Very nice shot, it's so clear I can read the grafitti on the left forefront tree, that's clear. It's really quite a dense forest there, so much so that the repeating receding vertical lines become the dominant composition element for me here. The shot is perfectly exposed for warm color too.

Nice work!
Doug

fallan (1860) 2006-10-06 13:30

Great color and contrast. I might crop off the top to get rid of the colorless sky, but then again I might not. Not sure if you wanted the whittling on the left tree but I find it a bit distracting. I keep trying to read it. Wish we had that beautiful grass/fern groundcover in southern Utah. All we have is dirt. The photo makes me want to take a liesurely stroll through the area. Nice.

Florian88 (882) 2006-10-06 13:33

Hi Robert!
Wonderful composition! The leafes have a great yellow color!! Wonderful draw on the trunk! Great low POV!
Regards Florian

falves (1405) 2006-10-06 13:36

Hi Robert,
Wonderful composition. The colors are simply great. Outstanding "autumn" ambience. The sharpness is great and it even let us read what is written on the left tree.
Well done
Fred

Voltri (1777) 2006-10-06 13:41

Robert, amazing shot of the wonderful forest!

JCG (35153) 2006-10-06 14:20

Hi Robert,

A simple landscape that I like very much. The colors are splendid with a beautiful light, cheer.

Best regards,

Jean-Charles

Flavia (10352) 2006-10-06 14:36

REALLY NICE! THE OTUNS COLORS IN IT'S BEST.

CHEERS,

FLAVIA

anesugur (18789) 2006-10-06 15:50

Hi Robert,
Great shot, excellent scenery, beautiful autumnal colors.
Very well done.
Best regards. Uğur

zumoduvas (2069) 2006-10-06 15:51

Hola Robert.
Excellent picture,very good details an colors,great composition.
Saludos.

pady (4800) 2006-10-06 15:53

Perfect composition well supported by the black frame.
It's gooood for me.
Greetings
Pierre-André

jwmunro (286) 2006-10-06 16:09

Hello Robert -

I was there just last week and you have captured the essence of the aspen grove. I like the repeating lines of the aspen trunks. Your exposure is dead on the money and I like how you have minimized the sky. I must say my shots of these groves did not come out as well as yours.

Thank you for sharing

teutza (10590) 2006-10-06 16:31

Hy Robert,
great 2 colours combined so good by nature:)
TFS!
teo

jjcordier (79299) 2006-10-07 3:44

Une image d'une grande délicatesse traitée tout en douceur. Beaucoup de sensibilité dans cette superbe photo
Amicalement
JJ

baba_flies (8829) 2006-10-11 15:32

Dear Robert ... there is so much beauty in this photo. I love the special light which comes from the leaves. You did a great job I must say and also the frame goes well and brings out the colors even more. Super! Barbara.