Phoenix Rising

[Mark_Seaver]

Phoenix Rising (ice on my pond)
180 mm macro, 1/20 s, f/10, iso 800, a 21 shot stack.

Ice Fingers (and standing waves from the pump circulating water in my pond)
180 mm macro, 1/20 s, f/10, iso 800, 21 shot stack

Eroding Mountain (Southeastern Idaho)
24-105 @ 70, 1/320 s, f/16, iso 800, polarizer

Is it safe? (A green frog in my pond, wondering about the monster overhead…)
180 mm macro, 1/5 s, f/10, iso 800, a 30 shot stack

Lily with Reflections (from my pond)
100-500 @ 472, 1/50 s, f/10, iso 800

Almost Golden (my Montana neighbor surrounded by a double rainbow)
24-105 @ 42, 1/8 s, f/16, iso 100, polarizer

Lamar Spring
100-500 @ 472, 1/400 s, f/16, iso 800, polarizer

Mushroom Lightning (found on the forest floor)
180 mm macro, 1/60 s, f/18, iso 400, a 6 shot stack

Eastern Bluebird Bathing
100-500 @ 500, 1/1000 s, f/10, iso 1600

Small Whale, Big Foot (more pond ice…)
100 - 500 @ 451, 0.4 s, f/10, iso 800, polarizer, a 17 shot stack

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I always take this opportunity to show photos that I haven’t already posted this year. These are in reverse chronological order.

Specific Feedback

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them.

Technical Details

All used my R5 and were taken from a tripod. The tripod lets me slow down and carefully fill the screen, which maximizes the information captured by the camera.

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Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

• Vision and Purpose:
• Conceptual:
• Emotional Impact and Mood:
• Composition:
• Balance and Visual Weight:
• Depth and Dimension:
• Color:
• Lighting:
• Processing:
• Technical:

[WillR (Will Rabinovich)]

These are really lovely Mark. The ice photos are, in particular, unique.

The Ice Fingers photo is very interesting. A pump running regularly in a pond certainly produces standing waves. I’m kind of surprised they froze that way. I’d have thought that as the water froze it would break up the regularity. (And sorry for the geeking-out; an occupational hazard)

-Will

[Chris_Baird]

Wonderful images, as always! I particularly love the first and last images of ice. This is a nice, diverse collection.

[linda_mellor]

Fabulous collection, Mark. They are all wonderful, but must admit I keep coming back to the Phoenix Rising with all of those gorgeous colors.

[Mark_Seaver]

Will, the standing waves are in liquid water yet somehow related to the shape of the ice.

[Bonnie_Lampley]

What a great collection, Mark! That first one is absolutely spectacular. And I love the little frog - it makes me smile.

[John_Williams]

I enjoy them all Mark, but where was I when you posted Rising Phoenix (or is this the first time you’ve posted it?)? That is exceptional!

There is so much to love. The the bird-like shape is well defined and provides a wonderful protagonist for the photograph, and the ice patterns are great lines leading in. The rich mix of warm and cool colors is eye candy, and I really enjoy the touch of reality the lrc brings. The icings on the cake are the bubbles and grass stems (?) that add just the right amount of twinkle (like stars filling a night sky).

This is one of my favorites, if not the favorite, that I’ve seen you post over the years. I can’t think of a thing I’d change.

[Max_Waugh]

Mark, I’m especially fond of your close abstracts. The mushroom image definitely gave me pause (a good thing!).

[Ed_Lowe]

Hi Mark,
This is a superb and diverse collection of images for the year! I can see why they would be favorites. FWIW, my two favorites are from your pond; Phoenix Rising and Small Whale, Big Foot. The shapes and colors are just outstanding and mesmerizing, especially Phoenix Rising.

[Mark_Seaver]

John, Phoenix Rising has not been posted before. I took it two weeks ago when we had a hard freeze. BTW the “grass stems” are trains of tiny bubbles, where the bubbles come up from the bottom so fast that they overlap as the ice grows deeper.

[Dennis_Plank]

A very diverse portfolio this year, Mark. That pond of yours is a never-ending font of great images and your western landscapes are stunning.

[Jim_Gavin]

Fantastic group of images. It is difficult to choose favorites; all are so wonderful. While “Rising Phoenix” is spectacular, I favor “Small Whale, Big Foot” as my favorite with Rising Phoenix a close second. It is quieter and more delicate, if that makes any sense. I’m probably reading too much into “Eroding Mountain”, but for me it is not just a fine image of a mountain, but also indicative of life’s struggles. That solitary bush (?) in the lower left appears to be a creature attempting to summit the mountain.

[Mike_Friel]

I just love “Small Whale, Big Foot” - I almost feel sorry for the owner of the foot! And Lamar Spring is so peaceful. It draws me into a world - possibly - of 200 years ago. A great collection.

[Bill_Fach]

Mark: A wonderful body of work showing the depth and breadth of your vision and talent. Phoenix Rising is just 4+ spectacular. Congrats on a superb portfolio. >=))>

[Ed_Williams]

Excellent collection Mark. The first image is incredible. I love the colors and the light and the shapes in it.

[Ola_Jovall]

What a lovely set of images, I like all of them. My favorites are the first ice image and the frog.

[J_Fritz_Rumpf (Fritz Rumpf)]

Fantastic collection of images, Mark. Phoenix and Small Whale are particularly engaging images. Nice work!