Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => Landscape Showcase => Topic started by: MattBurt on February 13, 2023, 01:51:01 pm

Title: Mega grove
Post by: MattBurt on February 13, 2023, 01:51:01 pm
Aspens are a fairly unique species in that a grove forms from a single organism with connected roots. One of the largest examples of this and therefore one of the largest organisms on Earth is this one not far from my home in Gunnison, Colorado. In summer it's a couple of miles of hiking but in winter Ohio Pass is closed to cars so the first couple of miles on the pass needs to be skied or snowmobiled. After that, the next couple of miles into the West Elk Wilderness area need to be skied or snowshoed. I don't own a snowmobile so it was a 7.5 mile ski for me.
I'd been to the very spot before and I took some photos there last year that have been well received. This year I wanted to go back with this specific mission in mind and with my best gear to get something higher res. It was kind of a slog with the bigger kit but my timing worked well and I got some keepers.
This one is probably my favorite of the bunch. I stacked a few images to maximize DOF but otherwise editing was minimal.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52686297550_03712d6060_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ogH3Gw)
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: RMW on February 13, 2023, 02:57:44 pm
Painterly and pleasing.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Leszek Piotrowski on February 13, 2023, 05:33:58 pm
In my "near flatter terrain" but still looking,.. for aspens,... or even a similar white birch stand...but something visually similar.

Wonderful,.. the light on those aspens and snow,... remarkable.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: francois on February 14, 2023, 05:32:43 am
Beautiful image. The snow makes everything smoother, softer even the light.
Bravo!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on February 14, 2023, 06:47:03 am
Outstanding work.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Bob_B on February 14, 2023, 07:04:36 am
Well seen, Matt.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: PeterAit on February 14, 2023, 10:11:55 am
Beautiful! The shadows in particular are entrancing.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: nirpat89 on February 14, 2023, 10:33:34 am
Nice image.  But I am trying to understand the criss-crossing of the shadows - shouldn't they be in the same direction or is it an optical illusion or they are folds in the snow, not shadows, perhaps.

:Niranjan.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: kers on February 14, 2023, 11:48:09 am
great image!
; would be even more powerful and abstract without any branches in the frame.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Dave (Isle of Skye) on February 14, 2023, 01:51:11 pm
Yes, that's the shot I wish I could have taken...

Excellent!

Dave
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: MattBurt on February 14, 2023, 03:05:55 pm
Painterly and pleasing.

Thank you!

In my "near flatter terrain" but still looking,.. for aspens,... or even a similar white birch stand...but something visually similar.

Wonderful,.. the light on those aspens and snow,... remarkable.

Thanks! The light worked nicely and this patch is an especially nice one in a sea of aspens. I was glad I could find it again after photographing it last winter. Slightly diffused light here from high clouds but still hard enough to make those shadows.

Beautiful image. The snow makes everything smoother, softer even the light.
Bravo!

Yes, I love the effect of a snowy scene. Makes me happy. :)

Outstanding work.

Thank you Rajan!

Well seen, Matt.

Thanks Bob!

Beautiful! The shadows in particular are entrancing.

Thanks Peter!

Nice image.  But I am trying to understand the criss-crossing of the shadows - shouldn't they be in the same direction or is it an optical illusion or they are folds in the snow, not shadows, perhaps.

:Niranjan.

Thanks! It's the topography here. It's like a series of mounds that make the shadow change direction. All the pieces need to be in place for the best effect including snow quality, time of year, time of day, and light quality. I'm fortunate to have found and now re-located this spot!

great image!
; would be even more powerful and abstract without any branches in the frame.

Thanks!
Yeah this is about as clean as I can get it without a lot of Photoshop or tracking up that snow. Maybe I can tidy it up over the summer sometime for s future shot.

Yes, that's the shot I wish I could have taken...

Excellent!

Dave

Thanks Dave!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: nokk on February 15, 2023, 01:04:45 pm
stunning photo.  the aspens in the snow are magical enough, but the patterns made by the shadows take it another step up.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 15, 2023, 05:38:53 pm
Great shot!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: MattBurt on February 16, 2023, 12:44:55 am
stunning photo.  the aspens in the snow are magical enough, but the patterns made by the shadows take it another step up.

Great shot!

Thank you both!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on February 17, 2023, 03:49:20 am
Well done.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Mark Nadler on February 17, 2023, 11:53:46 am
Great image. 

mark
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: LesPalenik on February 17, 2023, 08:32:17 pm
Mesmerizing!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: MattBurt on February 19, 2023, 12:54:58 pm
Well done.

Great image. 

mark

Mesmerizing!

Thank you!
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: Arlen on February 22, 2023, 09:14:03 pm
Glad you got back out there and gave it another shot, so to speak. As others have said, the result is outstanding.
Title: Re: Mega grove
Post by: MattBurt on February 23, 2023, 01:49:48 pm
Glad you got back out there and gave it another shot, so to speak. As others have said, the result is outstanding.

Thanks Arlen! I'm glad too. :)