Pacific Northwest Mountains

[tonylong]

Hello all,

This is my first post of Landscapes -- this is the place, right?

This summer Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood were looking pretty bare:

Mount St. Helens in July 07
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/83257885.jpg

Mount Hood in August 07
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/83898255.jpg

More recently, they've gotten some new snow!

Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens Oct. 07
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/87763144.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/87242072.jpg

Closer up with a telephoto to the crator, 5 miles away:
July 07:
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/83258133.jpg

Oct. 07:
http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/87242856.jpg

[burntpixel]

i really like the shots of mt. hood

never been to the area but seems like there should be more snow fall in the oct pic, looks to be about the same as july?

again, i'm not from there. the highest point i've been is a short drive north to grandfather mt. and it's only a mile high

nice shots

[hard12find]

Nice work, I'll add you to my notify list for the next NW POTN meet.....
Jim

[tonylong]

Nice work, I'll add you to my notify list for the next NW POTN meet.....
Jim

That would be great! Thanks!

Tony

[tonylong]

i really like the shots of mt. hood

never been to the area but seems like there should be more snow fall in the oct pic, looks to be about the same as july?

again, i'm not from there. the highest point i've been is a short drive north to grandfather mt. and it's only a mile high

nice shots

Well here it is in April:

http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/78601229.jpg

[firu3000]

These are really great. Thanks for sharing!

[jcw122]

They all feel way too centered. Their not bad though, they just feel ordinary. Colors seem pretty dull too (weather, distance?)

[tonylong]

They all feel way too centered. Their not bad though, they just feel ordinary. Colors seem pretty dull too (weather, distance?)

Hi, thanks for your input! They are at quite some distance. The Mount St. Helens picks, for instance, are from 5 miles from the nearest rim of the crater, and there is alway a lot of haze around that mountain, so the haziness is what you see, even with the telephoto shot.

The Mount Hood shots are from about 22 miles away, I believe.

These are guys that stand above everything in their vicinity, as you can see. Do you have suggestions as to how to compose these shots differently? Any input is welcome -- I'm going back regularly to catch them in different seasons.

Thanks again,

Tony

[zeker]

Pics of Mt. Hood are great. Not sure how you could compose the shot without centering. Rule of thirds is great but sometimes rules have to be broken to get the shot and the effect you're looking for. I think symmetry works for these shots.

[WaltA]

Nice shots, Tony. We came past there on our way back up from Cannon Beach last month and decided we'd make Mt Hood our next stop in WA and North Cascades after that.

I like your abuse of the "Rule of Thirds". Like many rules, knowing when to break it is the creative part.

[tonylong]

Nice shots, Tony. We came past there on our way back up from Cannon Beach last month and decided we'd make Mt Hood our next stop in WA and North Cascades after that.

I like your abuse of the "Rule of Thirds". Like many rules, knowing when to break it is the creative part.

Heh! Thanks for the compliments, all!

Composing shots of these mountains that dominate everything around can be challenging! Come to think of it, every time I read about the rule of thirds and look at a number of the person's pics, I notice how often the rule of thirds gets discarded. I just take the approach of whatever seems to make the best image. Plus, these mountain pics are meant to be more descriptive rather than artistic -- they're part of a project of mine to capture them in the different seasons.

Here's a telephoto closeup of Mount Hood in mid-October: Again, it violates the rule of thirds, but I don't know of any other way to present this image!

http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/87763145.jpg

Cheers,

Tony

[WaltA]

Heh! Thanks for the compliments, all!

Composing shots of these mountains that dominate everything around can be challenging! Come to think of it, every time I read about the rule of thirds and look at a number of the person's pics, I notice how often the rule of thirds gets discarded. I just take the approach of whatever seems to make the best image. Plus, these mountain pics are meant to be more descriptive rather than artistic -- they're part of a project of mine to capture them in the different seasons.



Tony, it occurred to me that taking a photo of a mountain is much like a portrait. Maybe if we thought of a snow-capped mountain that dominates the frame just like we would an old man's face in a portrait it might change the way we decide to compose it.

Just a thought.

[tonylong]

Tony, it occurred to me that taking a photo of a mountain is much like a portrait. Maybe if we thought of a snow-capped mountain that dominates the frame just like we would an old man's face in a portrait it might change the way we decide to compose it.

Just a thought.

Hello Walt,

Thanks for your feedback! An interesting comparison, something to think about! Any thoughts on the pics I posted?

Tony

[WaltA]

Hello Walt,

Thanks for your feedback! An interesting comparison, something to think about! Any thoughts on the pics I posted?

Tony

I like the wispy snow across the tops in the closeup. I captured some drift like that in Waterton Park in Alberta when I was there.

My fav is probably the Mt Hood one where you can see 3 distinct layers. Cloud, sky/mountain and down below them the forest. Nice effect

[Hikin Mike]

They all feel way too centered. Their not bad though, they just feel ordinary. Colors seem pretty dull too (weather, distance?)

I thought it was just me.

Some of the colors just didn't "look right". Maybe it was the haze, maybe the PP or lack of PP, but there's something odd about some of those. Also some of the shots are too overexposed.

I'd try and shoot in the morning/evening the next time. Just another excuse to take more pictures! :lol:

[tonylong]

I thought it was just me.

Some of the colors just didn't "look right". Maybe it was the haze, maybe the PP or lack of PP, but there's something odd about some of those. Also some of the shots are too overexposed.

I'd try and shoot in the morning/evening the next time. Just another excuse to take more pictures! :lol:

Thanks for the feedback!

Yeah, I have to tweak these pictures because of the haze, it's perpetual around St. Helens and Mount Hood in these pics is 22 miles away. I'm using a polarizer with some, but still it's hard to compensate. Between the haze and the PP, sometimes it comes out looking a bit off. Suggestions?

Tony

[tonylong]

I like the wispy snow across the tops in the closeup. I captured some drift like that in Waterton Park in Alberta when I was there.

My fav is probably the Mt Hood one where you can see 3 distinct layers. Cloud, sky/mountain and down below them the forest. Nice effect

Thanks! I put that shot up because, despite distance/hazy foreground and mountain, etc, that "layered look" appeals to me...especially with the sun shining on the top of the mountain.

Tony

[Hikin Mike]

...Suggestions?

Tony

PM'd you....:D

[chestercopperpot]

love it! the whole rule of thirds thing has gotten out of control where we somehow feel bad for "violating" it. looks great in the center.

[tonylong]

love it! the whole rule of thirds thing has gotten out of control where we somehow feel bad for "violating" it. looks great in the center.

Thanks for your compliment -- when you are looking at these things, there is no other subject matter, aside from clouds -- there wasn't even a foreground for me to get something interesting on -- I was in high, barren places...

Tony

[El Duderino]

Yeah, these definitely look overexposed or something.

And the compositions are nothing to write home about.

Just a beginner's 2 cents.

[Hikin Mike]

Tony, I sent you the file(s) back. Let me know... :D

[Titus213]

Tony,
I love shooting Mt. Hood - it just draws the eye. Mt. St. Helens is a bit more difficult. Your images there are neat. This would be great weather for a trip to Larch Mountain - if it's still open. Great views from there.

BTW - ever been to Humbug Creek?

[tonylong]

Hi Dave!

First of all, thanks for the complements!

I was there for the October pics on the 22nd, ten days ago. There was a little snow on the ground, and there hasn't been much weather since. I'd like some more weather, then some nice weather break so that I can make one more run up to Larch Mountain and up to Johnston Ridge to catch St. Helens before those roads close. I hope I have good timing!

I see you're from Camas! Cool! I try to wander around there and Washougal periodically -- I mean the natural spots around Camas and Washougal -- with camera in tow!

In the Birds part of this forum I've put just a little beginning of my efforts to capture those critters!

Tony