Iceberg, a photo from Antarctic Peninsula, Lesser

Photographer's Note

Forgive the title - I cant think of anything better. Please can we have a little competition - everybody suggest a name for my picture. I seriously cant name this Iceberg forever! If for no other reason than Ive got another 1000 iceberg shots as well!!

This is an immense iceberg that drifted silently past our ship. It was also snowing at the time, which creates a nice white grainy effect on the shot.

Another handheld one, this time using the 100-400L which Im really pleased I took - it performed extremely well out there.

Leilani, Matthew-Watt, Dyerco, frostymon has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Polonaise (5802) 2008-01-11 10:33

It's good that you've explained what this is - actually !!

Incredibly poor presentation...

It's NOTHING !!!!

From corner to corner to corner !!

What a contrast with your previous productions !!

..................

BW in 2008, Adam.
Regain yourself..,.

george

[8] +

rushfan2112 (2965) 2008-01-11 12:00

Hi Adam.

I often agree with George but on this occasion I don't. However, I don't think it's your best by a fair margin.

That said, I really quite like abstract forms and this conveys a slightly uneasy feeling of claustrophobia, menace (90% of this is under water) and extreme cold.

Regards, Paul.

Leilani (1385) 2008-01-11 12:50

I actually really like this - but it's all subjective isn't it? Not that I wouldn't like to see traditional iceburg shots from you as well. But I think this is effective, simply because of your note. I might not have realised it was an iceburg without that and the geographical location. Granted I think it's not your best shot. But it isn't terrible. I'm a bit odd anyway - I see the shape of a face in this shot ;-) Now all we need is the crazies to say they see jesus or something. There isn't anything wrong with the sharpness, contrast, etc. So it's a case of personal preference with regards to the pov. Rgds, Leilani

vikous (2217) 2008-01-11 14:32 [Comment]

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gneufeld (15890) 2008-01-11 16:53

Hi Adam,
A good shot with well defined detail, but my first impression is that while the closeup is noteworthy and well done, for me it's abit too close or "in the face" to fully appreciate. Not your best shot but not so bad either. TFS. Gerald

Matthew-Watt (5934) 2008-01-11 16:56

Hello Adam,

Interesting photograph. It is not often that we get to see some close detail of an iceberg. The thing that captivates me here is the resemblance of a human face in the center. Facing towards the left is the profile of a 'Roman Soldier'. The nose is particularly evident, and so is the eye and hair. Some imagination might be needed to make out the rest but I think it is interesting to add some personification to this natural ice sculpture! Well done.

Matt

westozman (0) 2008-01-12 5:02 [Comment]

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ecoli1946 (259) 2008-01-12 9:02 [Comment]

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rgarrigus (0) 2008-01-13 13:53

Hi Adam,

Every once in awhile you really stir things up. Good on ya :)

I appreciate what I think you were going for with this one but I have to be honest and say that it falls a bit short for me. I like the planes of varying blue tones and textures but it seems that you weren't quite close enough in spite of the telephoto to really make the texture of the iceberg the main point of interest as an intimate landscape or abstract. The composition makes sense in the way you've brought the line through the image but it tends to lead my eye out of the frame and leaves the upper left corner a bit wonting for interest. I find the role of the snow is a little hard to fully appreciate in the small web version but I think it probably looks much better in a larger version. My gut tells me that you were probably in total awe of this monster of nature (as I would have been). This image though feels a bit forced as if you felt you simply had to come away with something from this amazing experience. Perhaps some addition of context to the composition by including a bit of the waterline might have improved it for me?

Let me remind that I'm only one amateur on the Internet. I know your next 50 images of this trip are gonna knock our socks off so don't let anything get you down.

Cheers!

Bob G.

silvia_zenova (1336) 2008-01-14 3:58

Good evening, Adam
Firstly, I want to say that you are one of my favorite photographers here in TE, and since I have preferences in the landscape photography, your works, posted in TE was and still are of course, for me a model to follow and educational material. In the last one and half year, you are some kind a teacher for me. So, like a "student" I'm not enable to give you points or to make a valuation of your pictures, but since I was provoked by the hard critique of George, I want just to say my oppinion for this one.
Yes, this picture is not so interesting like the others in your gallery, certainly not your best but isn't so bad. It's just different, a bit unusual for your style... not a three-dimetional, terrific large lanscape with incredible colours, but a fragment. The problem is that there is not focal point/point of attention. The composition is graphycal, but this isn't enought for the attention of the viewer, or at least - for my attention. It need something more... May is too much close up for my taste...
Anyway I'm sure that you have many other pictures from Antarctica and I'm looking forward to see them.
Take care!
With deep respect, Silvia

Sanderson-Brown (6) 2008-01-15 1:07

Hi Adam,
I looked at this yesterday and read through what everyone wrote, then this morning i came back to it again to have a second look because there was something i liked about it. First of all, the amount of colour in the shot is amazing even though at a first glance it doesnt seem like it, the detail is amazing!! due to your wonderful camera and lens, you can feel the texture of the surface. I like the snow, seems disturbing at first but if you LOOK into the photograph, there is so much more, and as Bob G. says, it would probably be absoultly stunning large.
I cant stop seeing an old mans face in the ice with a large nose and beard.
I love it! - its just one of those photographs you have to stand in front of in a gallery for at least 2 minutes without critising it to get the full depth of it.
Cant wait to see more from down there!!!
Kind Regards
Paul

Signal-Womb (13048) 2008-01-15 14:17

Hi Adam, I difinatly see a face and one of perseverance. Technically everything is well controlled and I like the fall of snow and blue tone of the ice face. Maybe if it was the face that you seen in this composition I would have placed it more off centre. As for a name "Ice Face" or "Face of Perseverance" somthing like that. As part of your Artic series it works well I believe. Its a trip I would love to make and experience myself. Regards Steve.

pboehringer (770) 2008-01-16 22:25 [Comment]

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Adam,
I'm quite shocked with your reaction to George's destructive critique. However, I also see some truth in his words.
You got so far 255 posts at TE and 569 people that commited to declare you as one of their favorite photographers. How many people at TE accomlished that? I don't know any one else that came even close to that! All your previous posts are incredible - true gems!!! I followed many of these posts, studied most of them, learned a lot and was gratefull for every single. It is a real gift to have this shots at this site were I can spend my time to learn in a very interactive way about photography and even meet some of the photographers personally to do photography together.
I critiqued myself many of your shots and I remember of a single one that I even found a flaw that I commented on. Can you imagine what it means for the humble apprentice to find out that the master didn't excel by 100%? Well, at certain point I gave up the writing critique for your shots because I had the impression that it was a monologue. That isn't nice either, isn't?
Now, George had the guts to say in a quite provocative manner what he truly thought about this shot. He certainly didn't use a polite language, but everyone that knows George at this site knows that he is quite extravagant with his language. It amuses me what he writes, it is entertaining once you get over the drama and it always has a certain grain of truth even if might sound rude.
Although I can understand that you came back from a life time journey eager to show the best of what you got and than you get as the very first comment George's critique .... that must be a shocker!!!
The problem is that I'm used to see great, comprehensive, descriptive landscape photography in your collection and all of the sudden I see a shot that doesn't have any of those and the snowing is identified at first as noise. My impression was at first that you went nuts in Antartica. It took me a while to start to appreciate the image, although it is still light years away of what I'm used coming from you. I hope things will settle down with time and hope to see in future more coming out of your camera at this site. By continuing with your posts you would show that you're above the daily patting on you shoulders and hearing from everybody what a great photographer you are. Regardless of this post and George's words that is exactly what you are - part of the TE Olymp!
Peter

frostymon (191) 2008-01-22 9:41

Adam,

Kudos to you for posting something completely different from your norm. Though probably due to the snowfall, it lacks your usual razor sharp clarity (which I drool over) it is still a fairly interesting shot with great color.

Thanks for taking the chance on posting this one,
Jeff

Now onto the fun:

This is just Un-real.

I think George forgot to click on the "About" link at the top of the page...
The critiquing system is SUPPOSED to be built on:
"Give and receive constructive feedback and comments on photos"

Did George not notice the word constructive there? I guess not, since not even his reply to Adam's request for an explanation was constructive. Get over yourself George. Maybe, like the nasty restaurant critic in "Ratatouille", George will find some shred of humanity at the very end...then again, maybe not.

cam (9043) 2008-01-30 20:33

Hi Adam
Read all those notes and Peter(pboehringer) says it better then I could.
It will be a big loss if you were to leave, as like many here, I am progressing by studying your pictures, asking you questions and getting answers everytime. You do not look at my galery and I do not mind. You are helping me going forward.
As for this picture, well, living in a nordic country, this is no different from the snowdrifts along the roads here.There is no context, and no particular interest in this close-up, beside the face.
I am looking forward to your next release, pictures from a place that I will probably never visit.
Just shrug your shoulder at Georges comment...

Have a good day
Charles

Ann75 (0) 2008-02-03 22:13

Hi Adam,

I like all shots that come from you! :o) This one is different and maybe not such stunning scenery as other photos, but it doesn't mean that it's not good. I like the details on the iceberg as well that little snow flakes!

Please don't leave us, I have learned so much from your beautiful shots and I look up to you. This Antarctica trip was a challenge for you as you had to do without a tripod and your filters, so considering you still pull off amazing shots!

Greetings,
Ann

PS: Just ignore people that attack like that and report them to the ombudsman here on TE. This is part of the terms of service:
12. Profanity, insults, and rude comments are not permitted on TrekEarth:
1. Retribution is not acceptable.
2. Email [email protected] to complain about rude critiques or forum messages.

romanaa (8310) 2008-02-17 13:48

Hello Adam,
1) compared to clearly defined shots in your gallery, this picture seems to me more abstract, what I appreciate, because it allows to dream and think, supports imagination, let us guess what size the iceberg is, it does not declare itself like "Look, I am gorgeous", but, as abstract paintings do, it shows the beauty to those who want to see it.

2)I love the others pictures in your gallery, though I have come across your stunning gallery thanks to this incredible quarrel. I am only a new member here, trying my best and hope to learn from this site more about world and photography, but though new here, I have witnessed a lot of quite strong fights in forum since I have joined, which I do not understand. Please, do not leave just because of one rude critique. One who cannot express his opinion politely should not send them. Georges critique speaks about his personality more than about your picture.
It will be a long journey for me till I achieve the quality and get style of photography that you or Polonaise have, if I ever manage. But there are some things that matter more than quality of shots - a lot people would miss you and miss your works, forget about all that bad thing and stay
Friendly regards
Rimana

pasternak (15185) 2008-02-19 2:10

Hi Adam, I guess the difference between those who like the shot and those who don't lies in the fact whether they have seen a face here or not... because if one sees it I don't understand how one may not like it... me, I saw it immediately (in my imagination, there can be even several faces in a row) and for me it became not just a chunk of ice but a highly imaginatory picture, and I can perfectly understand why you posted it.

I don't know if you are reading the comments by now, but if you do, let me give you a humble advice: please don't leave the site because of one provocative, non-constructive, and IMO unwise comment... it will be a pity if a photographer like you will stop posting only because of this... (if you have other reasons to leave then it is a different story of course...)

Cheers
Alexander

leiju (1697) 2009-02-24 12:07

It's been more than a year... but I still take the time to write words that will probably never reach those to whom they are intended.

I followed the link from the homepage featuring Polonaise's "critique" of this shot. I read all the comments and browsed through the replies and can't help but laugh at the silliness of us dear humans.

While many admire your work for its technical qualities, its razor sharpness and perfectly balanced everything and while I can do nothing but congratulate you for our outstanding work, I must admit that this "controversial" shot is probably one of the pictures I like best. It has nothing to do with the face, which is more than obvious, but rather with the space you leave for Nature. All your other images are so perfectly composed that they take Nature onto an advertisement platform, leaving it stripped from its rough beauty. Here at least, there is something to feel.

Yes, it is absolutely contrary to whatever technical masterpieces You have managed to create, and so disturbs those running behind the bandwagon of perfected and human mastered landscapes. But at least with this image, You have managed to pass beyond perfected tourism shots to tangible Life.

A name for your picture?
How about The Chill of Existence?

Don't hide it, celebrate it! It tells much more than the stunning technically perfect masterpieces ever will...

jramos (507) 2009-03-19 19:46