Age of Aquarius, a photo from British Columbia, Western

Photographer's Note

I've passed this old stump many times, and almost everytime I've thought to myself that it would make a good subject for a photo. No matter how many times I tried I just couldn't get a good composition and I just couldn't figure out what to do with it. Finally, the idea for this came to me - silhouetting the stump against the blurred out ocean. The stump comes across as a kind of scupture inspired by an octopus. The long exposure resulted in some blur in the clouds as they blew past overhead.

For some reason the title of that old song "Age of Aquarius" jumped into my head when I looked at this - maybe because of that line about "when Jupiter aligns with Mars". I think the shot has a kind of new age feel, although that wasn't really what I was looking for as I'm not a new age person at all.

avene, jjcordier, JPlumb, Dpbours, Floydian, Dyerco, steliosk, crhieatt, ChrisJ, jhm, carper, capthaddock, pierrefonds, kiks, robinlawr trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

batalay (41261) 2008-04-09 19:16

Hello Alvin,

What a dramatic silhouette the amorphous stump makes, set against the surrealistic backdrop. You were brave to venture a 30-second shot, but it certainly worked out well.

Warm regards,

Bulent

dvlazar (6662) 2008-04-09 20:32

Alvin - a rather creepy installation at the front of frame - very nicely silhouetted against the blues. The central moon is a great addition to the shot.
Cheers!
Dave

migzal (485) 2008-04-09 20:40

It's like a group dark souls out from the water reaching out the skies. The moon at the middle added some attraction. a good composition for a wide angle lens.
Till Then,
Miguel

jjcordier (79299) 2008-04-09 21:53

Alvin
Une très belle composition et de superbes tons bleutés rendent cette photo très attractive. Bravo!
Amicalement
JJ

JPlumb (3159) 2008-04-09 23:03

Oh thanks Alvin, now I'm going to have that song stuck in my head for the next couple of hours.

That stump has a kind of a medusa look to it, or the monster from the deep. Interesting effect against that blue water. The water itself is awesome. I like what the 30 seconds did here, under these conditions, though I'd like to see less time for the sky. An application for a split ND maybe. Very interesting all around.

Thanks, John

danip (206) 2008-04-09 23:40

Hello Alvin,
nice night scene with blue sky. I like also the lights (moon, and the ship's lights). Wonderful!
Dani

deud (1920) 2008-04-09 23:51

amazing atmosphere! great color palette, colors, silhouettes... tfs

Dpbours (222) 2008-04-10 0:27

Hi Alvin,

wonderful, all those blue tones and the control of light. I love it! The Age of Aquarius. I was first thinking about the movie 'Apollo 13', but I guess you're referring to this one of the musical Hair. :-)
A good song, thin connection with the photograph, but I see your point hahaha.

Greetings,
Dennis

PixelTerror (0) 2008-04-10 1:20

Hi Alvin,
Well that's one for the blue theme, so much blue here. the clouds contrasting against the deep blue sky are very attractive but the stump is a bit intrusive, did you try a side approach here to avoid having it and the moon so centered ?
Have a nice day JY

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-10 1:42

Hi Alvin,
Looks very dramatic with that old stump in the foreground, without any detail we could image anything lying just there. The blue tones and the lights from the ships and the last remaning light in the sky fit perfectly yo each other. The ocean looks like a silk blanket, truly wonderful.
The moon adds a nice detail in the very good composed image...well done.
Regards, Henk

dkeus31 (27739) 2008-04-10 3:08

Hi Alvin
at least you should have included the Aquarius contellation in the sky :o)))
superb image, the long exposure makes a good job here, superb colors also.
regards
didier

avene (12675) 2008-04-10 3:58

hello Alvin,
you're right, the photo does have a New Age feel to it, I guess it's the soothing blue colour and the bright Moon that create the effect. the dark silhuette works really well to draw the attention to the beautiful pastel colours on the horizon. superb quality, this is really an excellent work.

with kind regards,
Kristine

p.s. I know exactly what you mean by not knowing what to do with something that obviously is meant for a great photo, I had the same frustration with this photo.

Dyerco (10185) 2008-04-10 4:01

This is a unique presentation. I like the movement in the clouds as it adds drama to this shot. Well done Alvin.
Phil

ecoli1946 (259) 2008-04-10 6:29

Bonjour Alvin,
Si, comme tu le dis, la longue exposition provoque un flou autour des nuages, comment se fait-il que la lune soit si nette?
Excellente composition, mais je crois que PhotoShop a aidé beaucoup...
Salutations, Réjean

steliosk (4802) 2008-04-10 6:30

I just couldn't miss this one! :)
outstanding composition. The combination of blue hour, smooth water, and strong colours, is my favorite. Many Congratulations my friend.

Regards
Stelios

NMaverick (0) 2008-04-10 6:46

Hi Alvin, this is surely one of my favorites. The foamy waters because of your 30 sec exposure are really ideal.
TFS
Nick

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-10 7:10

Alvin,
wonderful work with that "octopus" or "medusa" in the front part of the shot and silhouetting extremely well against the turqouise colored and blurred water. The 30s gave that especial ghostly, milky effect and I like even that blurred aspect of the clouds on the very top. How did you manage to still have the moon so crisp clear with all this shutter time?
Peter

Prisley (1485) 2008-04-10 10:31

Hi Alvin,
I can't stop wondering if the moon is real or if you post processed it. Otherwise I find your work truly excellent here. You're right the stump looks like an octopuss. The tones have something magic...and dreamy-like...works perfectly for me. Congrats!
Pris.

Fis2 (170779) 2008-04-10 11:22

Hej Alvin!
Very curious atmosphere! Good frame and super colors. Photo has climate. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

crhieatt (5347) 2008-04-10 13:43

Alvin,
Taking a second look at this image, I notice that I haven't reviewed it yet. I'm pretty sure I did, but must have forgotten to hit the ADD button - and now that's got me wondering what I said about it!

Well, first off, I really like it - which is why you find me looking at it again. The dense silhoette of the stump works a treat here, as does the cloud movement, giving the shot a strongly active dynamic.

"The Age of Aquarius" - Perhaps you are subconsciously designing a new Tarot deck!

Great shot
Regards
Colin

Signal-Womb (13048) 2008-04-10 15:58

Fantastic shot with lovely hues of blue and so many little details which hold my attention. You named this one very well also. Excellent work..

cdmonson (5304) 2008-04-10 16:34

Hi Alvin:

Very cool shot, and I love that light and those clouds, not to mention the ships. The silhouette of the stump is cool, but at the same time I think it would have been nice if you'd had a flash or some kind of light to add some illumination to it, as the bottom portion seems to kind of just fade into nothingness. Otherwise, however, this is one of the coolest and most unique shots you've posted. Great job.

Clark

donluicu (24741) 2008-04-11 5:51

hi Alvin
this is a lovely photo
excellent management of light and speed

i really like it

congrats

ifanik (21679) 2008-04-11 6:18

Hi Alvin
This photo is great
Beautiful atmosphere with wonderfull colours
Very well done
Best regards
Nick

jmdias (115186) 2008-04-11 7:29

alvin

very poetic image, the dead roots are like a sculpture and the moon is very nice put in the top, surrounded by blu sky and the other lights adding more interest too. beautiful compo, light, colors and compo

hugs

jorge

anes_lc (14968) 2008-04-11 7:33

finally i think you did find the best POV :) did worth to look for :) the composition has now a magic touch
great one
thanks sharing
anes

greg64g (11193) 2008-04-11 12:03

hello Alvin

waou this is excellent, moon is perfect and very sharp as the forground that you perfectly choosen
superb work
greg

ChrisJ (171822) 2008-04-12 6:16

Hi Alvin

Fantastic sharpness, with superb fg silhouettes of the driftwood, on the shoreline. Good inclusion of the moon. The outline in the central part of the driftwood, resembles an embracing couple. Tfs!

carper (96) 2008-04-12 9:41

it's nice Alvin,
this is not an easy one with the contours and the boat, you did do a fine job, With all the dark tones I think that a white frame was better here, but thats personal, good photojob, good weekend to you,
gr. jaap

Faros (12) 2008-04-12 9:44

Waow!!
Black and blue are here to give a dramatic effect.
Great compo and great idea,

Phil.

capthaddock (28790) 2008-04-12 12:26

Great note, and what a photogenic stump, I like what the long exposure did to the clouds and the waves, less so to the cargo ship lights.

pierrefonds (114470) 2008-04-12 17:00

Hi Alvin,

The song goes well with the photo. The stump in the foreground, the boats in the background and the moon in the sky are assets to the composition. The point of view is giving depth to the photo. The different tints of the blue colors are extra to the picture. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2008-04-13 0:39

Hello Alvin,

This is very specially picture, but I love this contrast image.
Your exposure is very well, you did very well F/11 and 30 seconds on tripod this gives always a nice result, very well done my friend.
Merci pour le partage.

Bon weekend,
John.

keribar (43841) 2008-04-13 11:30

Hello Alvin,
the champion of difficult light conditions. And long exposures too !
I like the way these long exposure whichmake the see look like satin, and what is most interesting is that the strong lights just don't explode..

Good job once again, and the silhouette brings a new dimension, good decision to stop over and study the situation.

I wish you a very good week - Izzet

mirarer (4751) 2008-04-13 14:25

Hola Alvin,
Magic light and lovely blues. A very eye catching shot.
Regards,
Mirari

dcawker (5717) 2008-04-14 6:27

I love these long-exposure shots of yours, Alvin, especially this one! Really excellent balance to this shot and nice perspective as well! Regards, Doug

kiks (12805) 2008-04-16 8:19

Hi Alvin, i'm glad you didn't give up to make a composition with this stump because the result of exposure and POV is incredible beautiful.
Best regards
KIKs

kensimage (8563) 2008-04-19 0:36

I think you found an excellent use of the stump, Alvin. It's very surreal and dreamlike, with a nice color scheme. A couple of suggestions, though--a shorter exposure might make the ships sharper, and I don't think the plain black frame is ideal--it needs to be separated from the image by a line. These are minor matters, though, in the context of a very nice shot. Regards, Ken.

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-04-23 5:34

Ola Alvin,
Magnifica foto , que interessante forma desta silhueta em primeiro plano , o movimento das nuvens ficou fantástico , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

robinlawr (903) 2008-05-04 17:35

I really like what you've done with this scene and can understand the time you spent deciding on it. The composition is spot on. The band of yellow sky, the ships and the jut of land on the right make the perfect transition marker between the sea and sky and work extremely well placed in the centre of the image. The balance is completed by the central position of that fantastic stump and crescent moon. The long exposure and colour gives the sea an ice-like quality. The shot is just so harmonious, tranquil and balanced. An immediate favourite!! Excellent!!

Rodrigues (1035) 2008-05-08 3:00

This one is amazing. The blue tones are wonderfull, especially the bright and blurred sea. And the moon...well the moon is wonderfull...at least it's my opinion.

Great work in all the photographic process!

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-05-14 11:25

Hi Alvin!
What a picture! You've certainly found the right POV and time to register the place you've been passing by for so long!
The result is a very impressive picture with the silhouette of the stump, the blurred sea and clouds and a perfect moon up there, as if it was blessing the perfect moment!
TFS - Congratulations!
Neyvan