dj.tigersprout's photoblog
Down the Slope, Across the Valley (Anaktuvuk Pass)
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 11 September 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
even higher up on Blueberry Mountain: a near ariel view from another rocky ledge down the rather steep slope, over the wide tundra plain to the small lake and then to the east and beyond. the town is just out of frame on the right hand side of the lake -- but just visible is the rectangular gleam of the roof of some sort of boat shed. the stream that snakes from lower left to lower middle is the blessed runoff that quenched my dire animalistic thirst just minutes before... and on the upper left you can just see some of the snow that had fallen the evening and night before at the highest altitudes in the pass -- the first snows of the season and the telltale sign that the pleasantly temperate days of warmth and sun are numbered.
**on a completely separate note, my VFXY account has finally been approved after 3 long months of waiting!! any votes cast for my blog would be greatly appreciated!! thanks heaps in advance!!** :D
all work protected by Creative Commons
Vinod from Bangalore, India
Another cute reward of trekking that long. Nice view and I liked the B/W treatment. Cute picture
11 Sep 2008 5:17am
@Vinod: Many thanks Vinod!! :)
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
The postprocessing is very well done but I must admit I miss the beautiful colors you've shown us before! The view from this point is breathtaking!
11 Sep 2008 5:24am
@Monique: Thanks Monique! Yes -- it was totally worth all the effort so i was very happy! :) More color shots coming up tomorrow!!
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Wow you waited 3 months? I joined a couple of days ago thanks to Mike (Observing) and when you click on mine it says "no such account". Wonderful terraine. Where did the color go? Seriously I like this pp.
11 Sep 2008 5:30am
@Marion: Thanks Marion -- well i certainly hope you don't have to wait 3 months! Let me know when your account is activated so i can add you! :D
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
Great photo but like Monique I have to say I miss the red "martian" colours.
11 Sep 2008 5:34am
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
Firstly DJ, this looks amazing in b&w, so picturesque, stunning tones!!. I was sitting here looking at the water from where you drank in a frenzy and smiled, but then I realised... you look like you are really high up in this image!!!, how long did you keep walking for? What a stunning view, I could sit there and look at this for hours. Spectacular work my friend!
11 Sep 2008 5:51am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks heaps Kylie! And yes -- i surely did climb up pretty high! After all i went through, when i finally got my feet on the slope i was super ready to get some elevation! :) the side that i climbed was much much less steep than the opposite side -- so climb i did -- although not all the way to the top as i had originally set my sights on... didn't have enough energy for that! :)
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
The grand vista has never been so deserved!Well done dJ, I love the sheer vastness of this image and all the detail of the terrain.
11 Sep 2008 6:29am
@Maxine: Thanks heaps Maxine!! It was simply spectacular from up there -- it was the top of the top of the world! :D
Kenton from Calgary, Canada
Another awesome shot.
On another note... I didn't have to wait three months for VFXY, I think that their process is a little odd though; not sure how they actually keep track of all the emails they must get.
11 Sep 2008 6:37am
@Kenton: Thanks Kenton! Yes -- a bit funny indeed -- oh well, all said and done, i kinda forgot them after about 40 days of waiting! ;)
Marhilde from Geraardsbergen, Belgium
An overwhelming landscape ! You're right, a landscape can also in B & W ;-) :-)
Welcome to VFXY !!
11 Sep 2008 6:59am
@Marhilde: Thanks much Marhilde! :D
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
What a vast and never ending landscape Alaska has to offer....and you capture and show us it so well dj. Thank you, a wonderful image. I too miss the fiery red but really like the B&W for giving the impression of wilderness!
11 Sep 2008 7:56am
@Linerberry: Thanks Liners! Yes, what a different result in b/w, eh? I do like color better myself -- got another orange shot up for tomorrow! Thanks again and see you tomorrow!!
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Beautiful photograph! Just breathtaking..... But I miss the colour! ;)
11 Sep 2008 8:13am
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Love it... also when is the bear going to be in the shot...
11 Sep 2008 9:35am
Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Great shot, but sorry dj i miss your colours too.
11 Sep 2008 9:50am
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Simply a breathtaking view, a feast for the eyes and the soul. You must have felt on top of the world dj.
11 Sep 2008 10:35am
@MaryB: Thanks Mary and i certainly did! It was awesome and spectacular! Worth every cent of effort getting up there! :D
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
That's a stunning view! And honestly, I miss the colors too.
11 Sep 2008 11:35am
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
hello, dj. I'm back for some days.
This is a strong image, very impressive. I like it very much.
I'll visit and vote your VFXY
Thanks for your comments of the past days.
11 Sep 2008 11:46am
@Paco Díaz: Hey Paco -- thank you and welcome back! how was the trip? good i hope!
willow from Chelsea, United States
I miss the color, too... But the B&W accentuates some of the details of the terrain very nicely.
And I think my VFXY took a while, too - so long that I had forgotten about it until a random email showed up in my inbox. Oh well, patience is a virtue, right?
11 Sep 2008 11:53am
@willow: hehe -- thanks Willow! :) Patience is definitely a virtue! there is a color shot coming up tomorrow!
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
DJ, Congratulations on making into the Aminus3 Spotlight! :o)
11 Sep 2008 12:01pm
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
This b&w is some sort of half way between summer and winter landscape.
11 Sep 2008 1:14pm
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Great bw photo! I don't miss the red colors, it's something different here, I like this misterious atmosphere.
11 Sep 2008 1:46pm
@Giovanni: Thanks Giovanni! This is something different indeed! The color had bleached out by this elevation and looked more of a deep brown -- it was the beautiful upper light shining down through the clouds that caught my eyes here! Thanks again!! :D
Lorraine from Canada
Gorgeous landscape Dj, I'm sure glad you quenched your thirst ;)
11 Sep 2008 2:08pm
alex centrella from California, United States
great landscape, i like the tonal range, espicially the mountains in the background..
11 Sep 2008 3:07pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
What awesome vastness and wilderness (even with the boat house shed).
It is quite dramatic how much different the mood is in the black and white when compared to the color.
11 Sep 2008 3:09pm
@Laurie: Thanks Laurie -- and yes i agree -- when the color is 'off' it just changes everything! just wanted to see what the difference was! :)
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Right DJ - you are going to post this in colour as well, aren't you? For me the B&W is ok, but not as striking as your colour photos. Also saw that you hit the Spotlight section with the previous shot, and must say it's really well deserved - well done, my friend!
11 Sep 2008 3:09pm
@dobbino: Thanks heaps Rob! Yes, i was very excited about that when i found out yesterday! :D And i will also look to post this shot in color too -- although something about the original made me try b/w... so maybe i won't after all -- but i will go back and see what i have to work with! Thanks again! Cheers!
Luis Rodrigues from Lisbon, Portugal
Fantastic Landscape!! A fantastic composition!
11 Sep 2008 3:27pm
@Luis Rodrigues: Hello and thanks Luis! Thank you kindly!! :)
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
This is a dramatic example of how much of a dramatic shift occurs in using B&W. We know he color and the terrain from your earlier posts - yet this seems a different world in some respects. [note]: I mentioned my brother lived in Alaska for many years - he knows Anaktuvuk. I showed him your images (winter and recent) - and he was thrilled. Thanks for your wonderful photo-journalistic work.
11 Sep 2008 3:48pm
@Stephen Phillips: Thanks kindly Stephen! That is really cool that your brother knows of Anaktuvuk! Of course he did live i Alaska -- but there are just so many small villages there! :D
gbe from kansas city, United States
great shot dj, and b&w! i had given up on my vfxy account - figured i did something wrong. then two days ago it was approved. i don't know if it's the same as voting, but i added you to my list of favorites. let me know if there's more to it.
11 Sep 2008 3:53pm
@gbe: thanks Grant! and welcome to VXFY too! it certainly took a while to get it set up! :) haven't used it so much just yet, but i do know that you can rate each blog -- look for the pie charts in the info bar! thanks a bunch mate! just added you too! :D
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
Nice B/W treatment giving that chill factor after the wonderful warm colours of the previous days.
11 Sep 2008 4:00pm
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
An excellent composition of this vast untamed country. Great work, Jaycee.
11 Sep 2008 4:20pm
@Michael Skorulski: Thanks kindly Michael -- and i hope you don't mind that i haven't always acknowledged your previous comments -- of course i am always honored and grateful to receive and read them! :D
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Different color but the same quality! Awesome. The option for BW turned the photo more dramatic. Great DJ
11 Sep 2008 4:29pm
Klaus from Augsburg, Germany
Hi again, it's a great pleasure for me .. your very kindly comment ... and i realy think you have also a very good skill on your treatment .. i'm also come back ... sure ;-) ... nice b&w adaptation
11 Sep 2008 4:38pm
@Klaus: Hello & thanks for the comments Klaus!! Much appreciated! :)
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
An absolutely stunning wilderness shot, an incredible space no doubt, where one has so much room to breathe.
11 Sep 2008 4:47pm
@Richard_Irwin: Thanks Richard!! :)
Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom
fantastic landscape, works really well in mono
11 Sep 2008 6:14pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
It's a great scene of course but personnaly i prefer landscape with colours, especially when it's wonderful colours like previous posts...
11 Sep 2008 7:17pm
Jose from Valencia, Spain
Decididamente es un paisaje espectacular, contundente, con mucha fuerza.
11 Sep 2008 7:29pm
Stéphane from Bruxelles, Belgium
Great picture. I like the low tones on the foreground.
11 Sep 2008 7:45pm
@Stéphane: Merci Stephane!! :)
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Great shot, and the bw is interesting. Prefer the bright colours we've seen over the last two posts.
11 Sep 2008 7:47pm
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
wow; as vibrant and colorful as the previous days' shots, this one is barren and desolate and foreboding. great sense of atmosphere...
11 Sep 2008 7:57pm
@paulski: thanks mate! :) hope your weekend is great!
Namaki from Bordeaux, France
what colour is it ? orange again ? This is a great landscape but I too miss the colour !
11 Sep 2008 8:31pm
@Namaki: thanks Namaki! i have a color shot lined up again for tomorrow! :)
Iris from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Beautiful image - I do like the Black and white treatment. It gives it an extra dimension.
Congratulations on making the Aminus3 spotlight.
11 Sep 2008 10:30pm
@Iris: Hello and thanks very much Iris!! :D
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
I prefer the previous pictures as the colors were fantastic but it is a nice one.
I had to wait at least 2 month for my validation on VFXY. I haven't see where to vote. Until now I just put pictures that I like in "my collection". Do you have other information? I will have a look back at all your portfolio again this weekend...
11 Sep 2008 11:54pm
@akarui: Merci a toi Olivier!! I just sent you a message -- let me know if you don't get it! ;)
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Wonderful view and tones, fantastic dj.
12 Sep 2008 12:04am
@Observing: Thanks Mike! :)
Jrask from Pasadena, United States
Quite a stunning landscape, the enormity of it is almost otherworldly
12 Sep 2008 12:35am
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Congrats DJ!!! This series is just getting more wonderful each day. This is my fav so far... a grand timeless classic!
12 Sep 2008 12:45am
@hugo poon: Thanks Hugo! Seems like most everyone wants me to do COLOR! :) of course i am perfectly happy with that as i too love rich colors... but i do like this too -- has a different sort of feel to it! Happy you like it this way too! Thanks again! :D
Shiva from Kajang, Malaysia
this is a piece of work. By everymeans, feels like an ansell adams classic. You have done your duty here dj. The rest of the world will lay back and just appreciate this.
Best regards,
Shiva
12 Sep 2008 1:40am
@Shiva: thanks much Shiva for the delightful comment! cheers to you! :)
lisa v from Gawler, Australia
I've finally had a chance to sit down and read the narration from the last few photos. I'm really enjoying it d.j. and the shots are beautiful, keep 'em coming.
12 Sep 2008 2:41am
@lisa v: thanks so much lisa! :) glad you are enjoying the 'mini-sagas' :) have a great weekend!!
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
Thanks for the past few days narrative of your trip. I must say this is a fantastic shot. Black and white is perfect here. The previous days colors are powerful, but this holds its own through texture and contrast.
12 Sep 2008 3:04am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
cool change to monochrome - it underlines the shapes and slopes of the hill and in a way the desolate nature of this place...
12 Sep 2008 3:07am
@DarkElf: thanks heaps Maciek! :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
OMG this is simply amazing! The layers of landscape, texture and tones are just incredible! Simply breathtaking and congrats on spotlight!!!
12 Sep 2008 3:53am
@bluechameleon: Thanks heaps BC! :) I was so excited when i found out! I didn't do a whole lot of quality work for the rest of that afternoon -- to excited! ;)
Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany
No suprise at the amount of comments for this shot.Brilliant moody work.
12 Sep 2008 3:09pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
I think sepia adds a timeless feeling to the shot- it's here 1000 years ago and it's still here today. Amazing shot DJ.
12 Sep 2008 5:29pm
@Howard F.: Thanks much Howard! :) And so true -- in places like this, not much changes -- even over large periods of time, like millennia!! ;)
danthro from Suburbia, United States
congrats on the vfxy approval! like the tones in the sky
13 Sep 2008 11:06pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
mmm ... moonscape. I like this treatment: strips away the surface and makes the shot somehow timeless and seasonless. day / night, winter / summer, it's a mystery.
14 Sep 2008 6:42pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Doesn't look like you'd have to put up with a lot of people and their cell phones out there.
18 Sep 2008 4:01am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/100 second
F/7.1
ISO 100
55 mm