A Play on Light and Shadow Photo

Photographer’s Note

I recently visited Galen Rowell's Mountain Light Gallery in Bishop California and this man was truly a wonderful photographer in his ability to capture light at its best.For those TE members who are not familiar with Galen Rowell he was an American photographer who was killed along with his wife Barbara and two other people in a plane crash about five years ago. He photographed all over the world but much of his work was in the eastern Sierras of California.

This shot was taken in Death Valley and it is my tribute to this man and his inspiring work. I did darken the shadows to give more contrast. I hope you like it.

crckt, john_c, xavis, delic, mpb001, abanibi, gunbud, Charo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

smarcell (12399) 2007-09-13 7:56

Beautiful "almost monochromatic" composition with a great light, which creates soft contrasts. The black bans in foreground gives "weight" to the overall picture.

dcawker (5493) 2007-09-13 7:57

Excellent tones and composition here.. Really nice! Regards, Doug

baba_flies (7069) 2007-09-13 8:15

Hello Phil! I love your play on light and shadow going from one sand hill to the other as it would never end, softly rolling on and on. Excellent tone-in-tone work, just the shadow play gives slight nuances. I did not know about the photographer but this is a nice tribute to this person. Barbara.

GREGG (2146) 2007-09-13 8:35

Hi Phil,
the nice composition of this photo, the delicate pastel coloring....
Good job!
Greeting from Poland

paprika-jancsi (1745) 2007-09-13 8:46

terrific study, beautiful photo, wow! Janos

brandstaetter (12911) 2007-09-13 12:54

Hi Phil,

I like this one, because between all the other dune photos it has an eyecatching point -the hill with the trees. This produces more contrast as the different tones of the shadows. Very good job !
Cheers Chris

crckt (6846) 2007-09-13 14:25

WOW Phil!
This is such a dreamy shot! I am in awe. Such a fitting tribute to a great photographer.
Well done,
Shaeri

xavis (3172) 2007-09-14 5:25

Hola,
sublime this composition of lights and shadows. Not easy at all to took, beacause there are a lot of contrast light.

Well done.

just I would propose you to frame with a black frame, I think it can improve the contrast sensation.

Best regards,

Javier

john_c (24631) 2007-09-14 7:06

Hi Phil,
This is amazing from both the point of view of light and also graphism. The various layers of shadow and light take the eye through a myriad of levels, upward to the sky and the thunderhead cloud looming over the horizon. Very fine work, with excellent PP here. Keep safe, Phil...Cheers.
John

delic (6735) 2007-09-14 8:29

Hello Phil,
This is an amazing shot. Was this shot from the dunes looking towards the Panamint range? Very interesting light and shadow alternation. Galen has been a great inspiration to me, and it took me a while to get over his death. It was such a huge loss. This is a great tribute to him. Regards,
Hakan

mpb001 (4574) 2007-09-15 6:52

Very well done, Phil. I like the layered composition and the near monochromatic nature of the photo. It looks like the highlights were a bit difficult to control, but the light dictates this. Excellant job all around,
Mike

metint (5) 2007-09-15 23:43

Hello Phil,
Layers of light and shadow, what a great and eyecatching composition. Especially the silhouette of the trees gives a feeling of depth. This deserves to be a tribute. TFS
Metin

daddo (10427) 2007-09-19 23:04

Hi Phil. Hard not to like. Fine control of shadows and light without the loss of either in terms of details and beauty.Such fine differentiations are truly masterful. Beautiful work. Regards. Klaudio.

crisnique (857) 2007-10-16 4:05

Hi Phil,
Another great shot from you! Amazing shadow effects and very interesting light games...
Thanks for sharing.
Cristian

gunbud (25481) 2008-03-27 18:25

Hi Gerald,
Wonderful layers and varying tones to this peaceful rolling hills landscape. Beautiful desolate image.
Regards, Tom

Charo (28136) 2008-06-06 8:11

Hello Phil,
I like very much the colors of this capture, they give him a very special ambience. The low point of perspective does that the undulations of the dunes acquire major relief. Well seen friend.
Good weekend
Cordial greetings
Charo