"The Ice Desert"

[paul leverington]

All taken with the Mark 1D III and 600/4

This is a 14 shot composite pano with the hawk being a "just barely able to fit in a full frame shot" itself. It's planned to be printed almost 8 foot long on canvas, so at that size there will be plenty of detail. You'll be able to see ice crystals in the field snow area, and detail galore in each feather. In fact I only have to double the size to get an eight foot shot at 300 ppi.

But the thing is, I have been looking at this shot so long I can't see it anymore--if you know what I mean. I don't even know if I like it anymore. I need a fresh eye and opinion is what I'm asking for. What do you guys think of the comp? I was working some classic comp schemes as was used a lot by an artist named Jean Leon Gerome but I'm afraid I fell short as what I would really need is one more comp unit further back in the shot, which would have given greater depth and "your in the picture comp". Alot of his paintings worked this scheme--zig-zgging comp units all the while keeping left-right balance and going back in the picture. I love how it looks.. The results can be stunning, but I was stymied for more than three elements to use with the layout available so this could have been better.

It's a stretch to say the least to visualize this as is--you really got to use some imagination. At intended size the hawk and stump will be strong comp elements. Any comments as to lighting, comp, theme, what if's would really be appreciated.

The piece that got me thinking of this shot(mine) was the one called "Thirst 1888" on this site(scroll down to near bottom of page.. Lots of fantastic art on this one page giving example to this artists technique and mastery of balance and perspective. Check it out http://arthousereproductions.com/Jean-Leon-Gerome.html if you want and you'll then see what I was striving for.

Any ideas for a better name is something also I'm looking for if one crosses anyones mind? I like the desert theme, which seems to snag the thought process because most people don't think of a "cold" desert usually, just the sandy hot ones with the guy crawling, but what then?

Thank you in advance for all of your inputs.

Paul

[Steve Canuel]

Here's my interpretation of your image. Please keep in mind, I've had no formal art training (at least since High School):). I think you do have the 3 elements you were looking to emulate from the artist you referenced. The distant treetops give me a sense of distance because of the sloping hill and immediately draw my eyes because they're in the center. Even if they're just bushes rather than trees, that was my first thought. My eyes then go to the hawk, then to the stump (gotta see where he's headed). The hawk seems to be coming down and into the image from the URC towards the stump in the LLC. That also adds to my thoughts of distance. As for a title, the first one that pops into my mind is "Outpost". Kind of like the stump is the last fortress of the French Foreign Legion that they would stay at before heading out into the vast barreness of the desert.

[Fabs Forns]

Paul, I don't see the image...

[Robert Amoruso]

Paul, I don't see the image...

It was there a few minutes ago and then disappeared.

Now it is back. ??? strange.

[paul leverington]

Sorry guys!~! Hee--hee....I was in the middle of resubmitting it cause I forgot to sharpen the jpg and right after I deleted the original the computer locked on me, so I had to deal with that first.

Steve -a name along those lines never occurred to me but I like the theme of it. I'm hoping that when this gets blown up and a viewer is looking at it he/she will actually be turning their head to take it all in. I was hoping to get a feel of a large featureless expanse going. Like I said you reeeeally got to use some imagination on this one cause at jpg size it looses a lot to say the least.

Paul

[Bob Malbon]

Paul, Your elements are surly there and should pop at 8 feet! I am wondering if some CCW rotation of the Hawk would balance better? Bob

[paul leverington]

That's a thought there Bob. Actually I have a wings straight out hawk which I contemplated using but I try and use the hawk that most closely was shot in relation to the time I shot the bg pano. That would preclude the other hawk out. Also the light was in constant change. That upper bg is actually snow in the shade of a passing cloud and the foreground is without cloud cover and in bright light. I had only 20-30 seconds to shoot it all or not be able to have a compatable series of shots to stich. I might put the other hawk in there and see how that looks however. Although this has a bird in it I was more trying to get a shot evoking that vast empty feeling so I'm wondering if it hits the viewer that way. Any more thoughts you guys?

Paul

[Jasper Doest]

I like the overall concept...but i think the perch is a bit too dominant for the bird. I keep looking at the perch...and it does not give me the feel of an ice desert. Therefore a more minimalistic approach without the perch would work better IMHO.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Nothing to say except that I would buy a print of this one in 200cm!!! Great comp, light, story, pose, ambient, colors, all is terrific! Congratualitons!

[Dominic Cantin]

WOW ! Terrific work ! I could easily imagine that the hawk will land on the tree :cool: Thanks for the view !

Dom :)

[paul leverington]

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess I won't really know until I burn up 30 dollars worth of canvas if this one will look good. Nothing ventured -nothing gained I guess. I definitely like steve's thought direction for a name. Maybe a combo like "Deserted Outpost". Any body else your more than welcome to have a say--good bad or other.

Paul

[Arthur Morris]

This is stunning. I might like to see a version without the distant trees. I love the expanse of snow between the bird and the perch. You know exactly where the bird is going. Did you get any sharp frames of the landing sequence? Did you create the needed images to the left of the bird before or after it flew to the perch? How did you know it would come to the perch? (Was it attracted there in some way?)

I am sure that you could come up with a better name.

[Daniel Belasco]

I like the idea you've created from viewing this image with Thirst 1888 in mind. I can see the structural similiaries but that's about as far I would go. Of course we wouldn't want an exact thieft here would we?
Are we to assume here the parallels are the lion searching for something to drink and the hawk searching for someplace to land?
It seems like most of the responders here didn't bother to look at "Thirst" 1888. Of course "Thrist" is the painting name and 1888 was the year painted.
My idea for a title would be "Oasis". Carring out the theme from the lion, but more importantly equating the snow as the desert and the perch as the Oasis.
It's a pity we can't see the iamge at least a couple of feet wider so we could see the detail in the ice crystals you alluded to as I'm sure it would be inspiring.
I have to agree with Artie above as to whether the tree in the middle are really needed. Maybe you need something to connect the 2 elements of the photo together--I don't know. I could determine this better if I could see the image in it's 8 foot glory!
I do like the curved aspect of the horizon. This gives a feeling that the expanse of the distance between the bird and the outpost is so great that it encompasses the curvature of the earth!

TFS this wonderful image.
regards
dan