Stream Streaks...

[w7xman]

Before I start...I expect that this may get a mixed response.

On Sunday morning I took this on a quiet pool of the Lamprey River. Leaves and foam were floating by, and becoming trapped in a small eddy near the bank. Reflections of fall color were strong, but wind was kicking waves to a rough surface.

I used a very long exposure to blur the water smooth, and this was the effect. An untypical diffuse mirror with streaks flowing through it...

Does it work for you...is the effect worth persuing?...is the hightlight in the lower left too strong? Any thoughts appreciated!

Techs:
Canon 20D w/Sigma 18-200mm @ 88mm
20 Seconds @ F16
ISO 100
5 Stops ND
Polarizer

 

[forestgnome]

Works for me! It's pretty to look at, therefore it's a nice image. It has a nice mood.

Compositionally, I see good balance throughout the frame. The light in the deep part of the field helps with depth.

 

[bignslow]

I like it a lot!

 

[NewHampshire]

My first thought was "I can dig it."

But upon further reflection (no pun intended) I now think "I can REALLY dig it".

The blurring is very surreal, the reflection bright but not blown out. The streaking in the lower left looks a bit busy, but does not really detract from the photo.

Is it worth pursuing? I think so. I am left now wanting to see more.

Brian

 

[dvbl]

Having started playing hockey at the age of 2 1/2, I tend to see "hockey" where others don't. This looks like a frozen pond on which three skaters have just passed by the camera: the two skaters in the distance had long smooth strides, while the skater in the foreground had short choppy strides. Hockey on a frozen pond is always a good picture, so yeah it works for me.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I like it. I might like it more if the reflection in the lower left extended towards the brighter section to the right rear. It seems somewhat disconnected to me. The 20-second exposure and resulting water effect is nice. I see the skating pattern too, now that you mention it.

The effect is worth pursuing.

Tim

 

[DougPaul]

Having started playing hockey at the age of 2 1/2, I tend to see "hockey" where others don't. This looks like a frozen pond on which three skaters have just passed by the camera: the two skaters in the distance had long smooth strides, while the skater in the foreground had short choppy strides. Hockey on a frozen pond is always a good picture, so yeah it works for me.

The water surface looked like smooth ice to me too and I've never played hockey.

Doug

 

[Mark Schaefer]

This definitely works. Playing with bubbles, foam, or colorful leaves streaking across water often works well. Definitely a subject to pursue. Normally when I photograph streaks at a later time of the day, I don't get the icy look. The icy look is probably the result of the thin layer of early morning fog on the surface of the water which looks like the steam coming off ice on a warm day. That combined with the slow shutter speed which smoothed out any slight surface ripples.

The lighter reflections at lower left do draw the eye away from the rest of the photo. But the streaks provide a unifying element without which the bright reflections might be more distracting. However, I do think the image is more effective if it was cropped just above the bright reflection. But I still think it works both ways. How's that for being wishy washy.

 

[kmorgan]

Great shot. I love it!

Kevin

 

[Grumpy]

Interesting play between realism in the sharply rendered background and impressionism in the foreground. Nice use of technique. I like the photo.

G.

 

[darren]

i really like this shot. Very surreal. Nice use of the 5 ND to slow down things. Maybe you could have used an additional GND to tone down the hot lower left.

- darren