Photographer’s Note
A few miles from the greatest concentration of venture capital in the world, in the hills above Palo Alto right at the epicenter of Silicon Valley, lies a a nature lover's paradise called Foothills Park. Miles of trails provide access through rugged chaparral, woodlands, fields, streams, a lake, and provide spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay Area up to San Francisco itself and Mount Tamalpais on clear days. Wildlife abounds, and it is common to see deers and coyotes. If you are lucky enough you might even catch a glimpse of a bobcat.
Big contrast between this so quiet place and the busy campuses down in the valley, where people stay days and nights in front of their computer screens, working on the next iPods or similar gadgets, which are now such an integral part of our modern lifestyle.
Today is my first year anniversary on TE.
Note: I had lots of difficulties getting this image fit within the 200k limits. I had to reduce physical size and compress more than usual, hence a significant loss in sharpness and details.
Critiques | Translate
Muse
(30849) 2007-08-31 0:33
Bonjour Vincent,
Un très bon anniversaire pour cette première année sur TE.
Très jolie photo pour célébrer cela. De très belles couleurs d'une nature dense.Un grand sentiment de calme en ressort.
Excellente journée
Denise(je reviens)
ChrisJ
(69973) 2007-08-31 0:34
Hi Vincent
I like the intense reflected blue of the sky in the water. Wonderful reflections & saturated colour. Well composed, with excellent sharpness & pov. The fg grass stems add depth. Tfs!
AiresSantos
(41820) 2007-08-31 0:34
Hi Vincent
Congratulations for your first year anniversary on TE.
Great capture of this gorgeous place. Excellent POV, nice reflections and very good contrast between the blue and remaining colours
TFS and have a nice weekend
Aires
John_F_Kennedy
(31167) 2007-08-31 0:37
Beautiful landscape with strong colours and light, It's very well composed with the diagonal of the canal.
Best wishes,
Achim
japiey
(9491) 2007-08-31 1:05
Hi Vincent.
CONGRATS, DEAR FRIEND, ON THIS BEAUTIFULL DAY CELEBRATING YOUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY ON TE.
A beautifull shot..
Flow of the blue in the green !!!
a paradise..
Good composition.
Wishes for a great day.
Salutes.
jean paul
cessy
(13647) 2007-08-31 1:24
Never been to Palo Alto, but everytime I heard about the place, usually related with technology, computer, satellite, etc ..
so this is something different :)
very nice capture of the place, Vincent
and congrats for your first year anniversary in TE :)
Graal
(57631) 2007-08-31 1:43
Bonjour Vincent,
congratulations for Your anniversary! Very nice place near by wild nature. Fine composition and reflections of sky. Yes, 200kb limits is low, I know this problem.
Gr., Aleksander
PixelTerror
(86038) 2007-08-31 2:15
Salut Vincent,
Felicitations pour ton premier anniversaire sur TE !
C'est pas etonnant que tu aies du batailler pour faire entrer cette photo dans les 200 KB, t'as vu le niveau de detail dans le feuillage, c'est quasi incompressible ce truc la ! Sinon c'est calme et bucolique, bien place sur la diagonale, mais c'est loin d'etre l'image la plus forte que tu nous as presentee en cette 1ere annee, perso je place sur le podium loin devant les autres tes images du Bhoutan !
Bon week end,
Jean-Yves
chrisnet
(20354) 2007-08-31 2:36
Salut Vincent,
Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire pour tes 1 an sur TE, j'apprécie ton travail et tes commentaires sur mes photos. Ici tu nous présentes une image bucolique d'une belle nature sauvage, tout respire le calme et la tranquillité, j'aime.
Amicalement
Christian
prumod
(8258) 2007-08-31 3:05
hi vincent...
nice location with full of greenery... that peeping blue sky gives nice contrast...
greetings...
macondo
(13067) 2007-08-31 5:30
Hello Vincent. First, congratulations on your first year in TE! Second, thanks for the shot and the interesting notes. I know how hard it is to get focus and sharpness on fine grasses, foliage and the like, especially in quite bright light. In this case, I think the result is pretty good. Anyway, the focal point here is the magical blue reflection, which adds real depth to the image. The perspective is good, with the convergence of the banks, and the heads of the grasses in the foreground and the overhanging tree make a good framing device for the reflection. Very nice work.
Regards,
Andrew
jonathan_hart
(22570) 2007-08-31 6:02
bonjour Vincent
tu t'en sors bien, 200kb c'est pas beaucoup pour une photo qui fourmille de détails
jolie compo verte et bleue, bonne profondeur
apibeurzday
jo
feather
(49858) 2007-08-31 7:14
It's always the way when there are lots of tiny leaves. I think you got away with it. It's the sky that usually gives high compression artifacts away so little sky here helps with the visual result. We would never guess this was close to SF. It looks like an idyllic place. Excellent light handling and the reflected blue is an eye-catching feature of the image.
Kath
jwmunro
(6571) 2007-08-31 8:53
Bonjour Vincent -
Well, you did a very good job presenting this image considering the difficulties you had in the PP. I know this place and you are right that it is kind of an oasis from the hustle-bustle of the Palo Alto/Sunnyvale et.al. You image portrays that essence of solitude. Well done!
Thank you for sharing.
John
zeca
(20026) 2007-08-31 21:50
Hi Vincent!
Very nice work on the sky and reflections, making this beautiful composition even better. Well taken!
Cheers!
Zeca
Gerrit
(35593) 2007-08-31 21:52
HI Vincent,
congratulations and keep up the good work.
Delicious place and shot.
Regards, Gerrit
jlbrthnn
(37559) 2007-09-01 1:03
Bonsoir Vincent,
Il est difficile d'imaginer que cette nature soit à proximité de concentrations urbaines et industrielles. J'espère que ce beau paysage montré n'est pas touché par une quelconque pollution. Belle image, bon travail.
Nonne soirée
Amicalement
Joël
Demain...
Henryk_Bilor
(20365) 2007-09-01 2:02
Hi Vincent
Beautiful corner near the big city. Lovely composition with this great reflection of the sky.
Regards
kermit350
(8988) 2007-09-01 5:23
Hello Vincent, a good contrast or the vegetable expansion consumes much pixel, also a great multitude of your visual green for one discharged in the image of a great quality, the expo is ideal for this simple sight or clearness precedes and or abounds grinds details, the weight of the file image is some more important, it is difficult of imagines that not far from this resting landscape the data-processing world center of Silicon Valley is, the angle selected gives a good depth to your image, but it is especially a place full with calms that I will retain EC image and a qualitative station for a well controlled sight that simple ou la netteté prime et ou foisonne moult détaille, le poids du fichier image s' en trouve plus important, il est difficile d' imagine que non loin de ce paysage reposant se trouve le centre mondial informatique de Silicon Valley, l' angle choisis donne une bonne profondeur à ton image, mais c' est surtout un endroit plein de calme que je retiendrai de cette image et un poste qualitatif pour une vue bien maîtrisée que je salue ainsi qu`une première année who have enriches the world by TE by stations interesting, sincerely.......................Bonjour Vincent, un bon contraste ou le foisonnement végétal consomme beaucoup de pixel, également une grande multitude de ton vert pour une acquitté visuel dans l’image d’une grande qualité, l’expo est idéal pour cette vue simple ou la netteté prime et ou foisonne moult détaille, le poids du fichier image s’en trouve plus important, il est difficile d’imagine que non loin de ce paysage reposant se trouve le centre mondial informatique de Silicon Valley, l’angle choisis donne une bonne profondeur à ton image, mais c’est surtout un endroit plein de calme que je retiendrai de cette image et un poste qualitatif pour une vue bien maîtrisée que je salue ainsi qu‘une première année qui ont enrichit le monde de TE par des postes intéressant, bien amicalement
kevinos
(6927) 2007-09-01 7:27
A great wilderness capture , Vince! The blues are particularly dramatic and the one reflecting the other, making a powerful V shape in the frame, they impose a strong composition on, what could have been, quite an unstructured scene. I take it you didn't see the bobcat.
Angelillo
(9065) 2007-09-01 9:08
Bonsoir Vincz,
Malgré les limitations forcées, je trouve l'image de grande qualité, avec une combinations de lumière et couleurs superbe. Le reflet bleu entre les feuilles est très joli! Très bien composée!
Bon weekend,
Angel.
Cretense
(55620) 2007-09-01 14:32
Hi Vincent!
This is an excellent nature photography. Your framing and composition is excellent and so is the light managment. Beautiful green tones. It seems unbelievable that this photo is taken at that place. Congratulations!
Hercules
clnaef
(6289) 2007-09-02 2:17
Bonjour,
Belle et sauvage nature, belles couleurs.
Bonne journée.
clnaef
jhm
(82185) 2007-09-02 4:06
Bonjour Vincent,
143 pictures in one year this this is very well, congratulation and we wait on the next year with lovely pictures.
What a quiet environment with the strong blue reflection in water, this gives a wonderful composition. Merci pour le partage
Bonne dimanche,
John
danos
(32170) 2007-09-02 5:10
Hello Vincent,
Congrats on you for your first year in TE.Your shot has a natural beauty with this great blue of the lake in Foothills Park.The environment looks idyllic and very fascinating.A paradise scenery of this magnificent place.Very informative your note too.Well done.
Regards,Danos
gilou530
(34999) 2007-09-02 13:22
salut vincent
voila un coin de nature magnifique par les couleurs , mais surtout par le calme qui en jaillit, superbe photo comme j'aime, et bon anniversaire sur TE
amitiés
gilbert
syd1946
(17851) 2007-09-02 13:35
Hello Vincent,
Nature is a real treasure for our lives!And your composition show this in the best way!Full of natural colors...
Congratulations for the first year in TE!All the best!
Have a nice week,
Thomas
jafadabret
(39323) 2007-09-02 23:36
Bon anniversaire Vincent.
Cette photo est un enchantement pour les yeux. J'aime particulièrement le reflet du ciel bleu au centre d'où partent toutes les lignes de perspectives. Un vrai tableau Impressionniste.
Jacques
carper
(64484) 2007-09-03 2:49
a fine image again Vincent,
the pov is nice and the quality is super, I like the dark river and the good contrast in the photo well done I like it, have a nice day.
gr. jaap
sined
(4483) 2007-09-03 23:52
heureusement que des endroits comme celui ci existent encore a coté de ceux que tu decris dans ta note ! j'imagine le chant d'oiseaux inconnus et le passage d'animaux jamais vus !(par moi !)
gildasjan
(23637) 2007-09-04 3:39
Bonjour Vincent
J'apprécie tout simplement ce coin de verdure et d'eau,je trouve cela très apaisant.Très agréable réalisation.
Bonne journée.
Amicalement
Gildas
Angshu
(33533) 2007-09-04 20:49
Hello Vincent
Hidden inside your note, you announced your first anniversay! Heartiest congratulations..it was a pleasure following your posts right from the beginning. It's true about the pixellations that happen due to downsizing such pictures where too much foliage & leaves are there. But not too noticeable I would say. A nice image with good colour contrasts & showing calmness away from the hectic city.
Regards
Angshu
plimrn
(19596) 2007-09-05 6:06
Bonjour Vincent,
these little islands of serenity in chaos never fail to delight. The blue water and blue sky add nice contrast to the profusion of greens.
SAJ, Pat
Emile
(19881) 2007-09-05 21:14
Hola Vincent.
Congratulation for your first anniversary in TE. Thank you for your wonderful portfolio with amazing pictures and your excellent advices in your notes and critiques.
Very good shot of the beautiful place, good POV, nice colors contrast and reflection.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.
john_c
(24635) 2007-09-06 17:45
Hi Vincent,
A bucolic scene of great beauty. I especially like the blue tint of the water. As to compression, the biggest problem landscape photographers face on TE is loss of quality with shots involving lots of grass and trees, which require so many pixels. One way to solve the problem - the best way - would be for TE to raise the allowable size to, say, 250kb. Otherwise one has to either make the shot overly soft with eg. noiseware or reduce the size drastically. I increasingly am opting for the latter course as occasion demands with shots such as this one. Ultimately TE will lose out to other sites in my view if the better photographers are not allowed to post the good quality shots at a higher size limit. Here, the actual quality of your original is apparent. Very fine work. Cheers.
John
stego
(22350) 2007-09-09 18:51
Salut Vincent,
Bon anniversaire, mon ami. Et pardonne moi d'être en retard.
L'endroit semble vraiment beau, mais il ne semble pas si facile pour chasser des bonnes compos. Tu as réussit le faire, bien que le limite de TE a chargée son prix sur la netteté. Je trouve que les photos comme cette ci, avec beaucoup de plantes et herbes son très difficiles de comprimer.
Il est difficile de croire que ce place est près de Silicon Valley.
Amicalement, José.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: JM Hullot (vincz)
(19039) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2007-07-25
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3,5-4,5 USM, 77mm Hoya Circular Polarizer
- Exposure: f/6.3, 1/25 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2007-08-30 23:56








