dj.tigersprout's photoblog
A Mossy Granite Cobble Field, Anaktuvuk Pass
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 7 October 2008 in Landscape & Rural.
on a few different occasions during my 4 hour hike to Blueberry Mountain, i came across wide fields of sharp granite 'cobble' stones. they were simply amazing to behold, as some seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see -- even though no hint of these vast rocky fields were visible from town!! at one point i had made an attempt to cross one such 'swath' hoping for a break from the swampy and slow going tundra... but it quickly became evident that it was even more precarious -- the rocks very very sharp and though seemingly well packed together, were actually not very stable and tended to slide and tip. furthermore, moss covered most of the visible surfaces and grew over the 'spaces' between the rocks -- so it was very hard to know that where my foot was stepping was solid rock. i really lucked out in the end and the few treacherous moments i spent on rough areas such as this were uneventful.
here is a shot from on my initial approach to Blueberry Mountain -- unfortunately i never got the name of this majestic rocky peak in the distance -- its amazing structural shape reminded me of Mayan architecture and the tombs of Tikal i had once visited in Guatemala. tomorrow i hope to have a close up detail of this beautiful peak.
all work protected by Creative Commons
Behrooz Sangani from Tehran, Iran
All I can say from viewing your photoblog in the past months is that you have been to some really strange places!!!
Great view and tones!
7 Oct 2008 5:15am
@Behrooz Sangani: Cheers Behrooz! Hopefully, i can get to a few more international destinations... -- there are simply so many awesome places left to see!!
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
so you're a world traveller huh? always good for a photographer, i used to have an animus 3 account that i called an exploration of the ordinary lol guess we are opposites.. this is an absolutely stunning photo btw... glad you didn't get hurt taking it
7 Oct 2008 5:29am
LeenaM from Joensuu, Finland
This really is something!!!
"Your clouds" are impressive over that rock. B&W makes is working fine !
Thank you for stopping by and good week to you great traveller :)
7 Oct 2008 5:35am
@rem_la: cheers mate! yes -- this part of the landscape was very very dry -- but everything else was moist -- or just downright swampy!!
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
I loved Behrooz's comment, you have been to many places most of us would never get to and experience, but how grateful we are that you share them with us here, such beautiful detail here DJ. I love that you have chosen b&w for this as it defines the spectacular detail in the granite. The image draws your eye up to the mountain and those amazing clouds, a stunning image my friend!
7 Oct 2008 5:48am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks heaps Kylie! Your visits and comments are always treasured! Kind thanks as always mate! :)
Seb! from Gard, France
how! Une avalanche de pierre et de roche saisi par le noir et blanc intemporel ;-)
7 Oct 2008 6:33am
@Seb!: Merci Seb! ;) I love your poetic interpretation! Thank you!
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
A super image, Jaycee. They do look treacherous to walk on.
7 Oct 2008 6:34am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Wow dj such a dramatic image....I feel humble to the mighty peak!! The B&W is superb for this image and the perspctive is astounding>>>Bravo!!
7 Oct 2008 7:08am
MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
A fine B/W image. I like the way the tones begin in the sky with 'white' down through to the dark rocks.
7 Oct 2008 7:19am
@MaryP: Cheers Mary!! Thank you kindly!! :)
Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Great b/w image dj love the texture showing here. You are a very brave man!! and thank you for sharing your travels through your images and your narrative's
7 Oct 2008 7:28am
@Mary: Cheers Mary! You are too kind! Maybe less brave and more 'reckless' would be the right mix... ;) as long as i have fun and enjoy myself -- those are the only requirements -- oh yeah and i need some awesome shots!!!
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Still...a beautiful view, did you take samples of the granite? Just for fun and future photo ops ;)
7 Oct 2008 7:30am
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
I love the way our eye is drawn up to the peak, travelling over the rocky mossy terrain with ease. A fabulous image DJ. Glad you are back with us, hope you have had time to rest after the busy time.
7 Oct 2008 7:44am
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Great perspective DJ and the black & white makes this beautiful photo even stronger. I think I'll stay at the foot of this mountain and enjoy the view ... I leave the climbing to you :)
7 Oct 2008 7:59am
@Monique: Thanks Monique!!! :) I actually contemplated climbing this one as well -- but the lower 3rd portion was almost all shale -- and i didn't feel like starting an avalanche of rocks! ;)
saeed from ahwaz, Iran
what a beautiful shot and such a nice contrast! really well freamed. well done
7 Oct 2008 9:14am
Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States
A powerful image, Jay, B&W is the perfect choice for this.
7 Oct 2008 10:09am
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
Lovely crisp B/W that emphasises the textures of the rock. That peak has a magnetic quality that draws the eye and feet towards it.
7 Oct 2008 10:19am
@grouser: Cheers mate -- tomorrow's image is focused on the peak! I couldn't help but stare at this magnificent rocky formation -- it was captivating!!
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
A beautifully textured black and white image. I expect to see those clouds come rolling across the sky any second now, as they look so dramatic. What an amazing scene to have before you and your camera!
7 Oct 2008 10:30am
@Andrew Gould: Cheers Andrew! It was an awesome experience -- and so isolated and refreshing for both body and mind!
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Nice contrast between the dark stones in the fg and the white mountain in the bg.
7 Oct 2008 10:35am
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Oh wow...such powerful black and white tones! I love the detail that is shown and the wonderful contrasts in the sky. Magnificent shot and processing DJ! Superb!
7 Oct 2008 1:15pm
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Makes you realize what a rugged place Alaska is... and the rocky landscape... thanks for going there and showing me things I would never get to see otherwise...
7 Oct 2008 1:18pm
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Your choice of BW here was spot on. The textures really come through, and one gets a good feeling of just how expansive the place is.
7 Oct 2008 2:09pm
@dobbino: Cheers Rob! It was amazing how much simple distances were misleading! So much for a simple 'hike' -- oh well, i loved it just the same! ;)
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
That is some very dangerous and inhospitable looking terrain. Amazing!
7 Oct 2008 2:24pm
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Stunning image dj! Great processing to B&W. It's like the foreground just broke of the upper part of the mountain and slided down. Very impressive!
7 Oct 2008 2:46pm
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Awesome BW work. A dramatic but yet enchanting photo. The BW highlights the texture of the rocks. The mountain has a strange hypnotic feel almost inviting to climb... so I think I understand what you said in your text. Stunning DJ
7 Oct 2008 3:10pm
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
great b&w - I like the pov and the sky - a powerful image
7 Oct 2008 3:23pm
willow from Chelsea, United States
The textures are amazing in this image and with the brilliant contrast I don't even miss your usually stunning colors. It's beautiful. I can see why it might be treacherous going on foot, though - good way to get hurt. mostly!
7 Oct 2008 4:24pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Great bw, contrast, 50/50 split- this is a National Geographic caliber shot.
7 Oct 2008 4:37pm
alex centrella from California, United States
wow !..great bw image.love the perspective .
7 Oct 2008 4:43pm
fcofont from Valencia, Spain
Magnificent capture DJ!!, superb textures and composition, I love it!
7 Oct 2008 8:21pm
@fcofont: Cheers Francisco!! Muchas gracias a ti! :)
vu@granby Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
This very impressive B/W picture shows the difficulty to reach the mountain peak.
7 Oct 2008 8:39pm
@vu@granby Gilles Martineau: Thanks Gilles! And welcome back fro Greece!! How was it? :)
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
This completely takes my breath away. A powerful image with very strong composition.
7 Oct 2008 11:15pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
great textures in this shot, and interesting perspective: it feels as if one is about to fall into the sky.
7 Oct 2008 11:41pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Extraordinary scene and a wonderful B/W shot.
8 Oct 2008 12:22am
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
Awesome Dj I bet they did hurt your feet. Perfect for B&W I think you get so much more texture
8 Oct 2008 12:30am
JJ from Jersey City, United States
wow what a view, awesome landscapre stunning in B&W so much detail to see
8 Oct 2008 12:45am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
interesting that your chose b&w for this shot DJ - it does emphasise the peak and separates it from the surroundings... after a thought - it does tend to look a little like a Mayan temple - the pyramid shape becomes more apparent when I look at it...
8 Oct 2008 2:22am
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Very good b/w image to illustrate the story you tell us. Congratulations.
8 Oct 2008 3:31am
Luis A. De Jesus R. from Mexico City, Mexico
I honestly believe this is one of your best. The layers upon layers here from the sky to the rocks at the bottom powerfully convey the immensity of this place. Congrats!
8 Oct 2008 3:35am
@Luis A. De Jesus R.: Many thanks Luis! :) I am glad i rummaged through my shots again -- i just found this image last night!! Hadn't noticed it before!!
Ma from United States
love the detail and clarity and the final contrast of the cotton candy cloud
8 Oct 2008 4:23am
Monique from Netherlands
Amazing landscape, great tones in this picture, emphasizes the ruggedness of this cobble field
Beautiful work DJ!
8 Oct 2008 7:23am
shoti from Everywhere in the, Philippines
magnificent shot bro:D nice b&w processing as well:D
8 Oct 2008 10:43am
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
Congratulations for the contrast on this nice B&W.
8 Oct 2008 3:37pm
taffer from sant boi de llobregat, Spain
wooah this image is outstanding. you talk about the magnificence of the mountain and this photo imho reflects it really well. and btw that's some adventurous life you have there, don't you ? :)
8 Oct 2008 9:39pm
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Beautiful landscape picture of those rocky mountains. The choice of BW is good as it gives a lot of drama to the scene. It doesn't seems to be an easy place to trek...
8 Oct 2008 11:16pm
Laurent from Lyon, France
love the angle on this one. Especially the rocky foreground
9 Oct 2008 4:32am
Mackenzie from Salem, Oregon, United States
Great detail in the foreground. Nicely composed!
9 Oct 2008 4:33am
Nan from Quezon City, Philippines
My fave among your recent black and whites. More than anything, I think it's about texture--to which mood follows :)
15 Oct 2008 10:39am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/80 second
F/6.3
ISO 100
18 mm