Went Wandering in Colorado


a bit brighter in the valley would make <83> nicer :)

this is the kind of photo I like to see big big
 

foxtwo said:
a bit brighter in the valley would make <83> nicer :)

this is the kind of photo I like to see big big
Click to expand...

Hi foxtwo! Ah the hazards of not having a calibrated monitor myself :(
Tweaked it, is it any better? Removed the warm yellow cast too
Heh yeah I love panos but there's a limit to how large I can post here

>>

Another black car skidded to a stop behind us
And a couple in puffa jackets got out for a quick look around
The corner of my eyes trained upon, ears pricked at the sound of crushing ice
My hands gripped tighter around the legs of my tripod

They stayed for less than 3 minutes

Turning around to watch them go, the darker shades
And my warm breath slowly escaping like dissipating smoke
Made painfully aware that we were alone in the entire National Park
With a hole in the ground hundreds of meters deep in front of us
And cold vast whiteness to the back
The sun saying last goodbyes and pulling close its shutters made of clouds

<84>


solar film (CKC_5662) by Zichar, on Flickr
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Another pano at another point
Though for the life of me, I can't remember where it was that we stopped
Perhaps the Ranger's Office where we spent our afternoon cooped up in, now cold, dark and uninviting

Around I ran, down stairs that wound closer and closer beneath
Sloshing ice slush pooled around the steps
Sometimes a misplaced foot would touch solid ice
And a brief half-slip, half gasp, half drawn breath, half reach for the cold railings would follow

It's always unsettling not being able to see the depth
Of the sea and murky muddy waters of a river lake
Only a floor of soft grey, a blanket of mist, gave no hint of what lay below
The sheer wall and mountain tops showing the last lustre of the setting sun

A 10-image stitch, a pity I had a blurred one in between that ruined the intended 18-stitch sequence



*View large here
 

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Zichar said:
Hi foxtwo! Ah the hazards of not having a calibrated monitor myself :(
Tweaked it, is it any better? Removed the warm yellow cast too
Heh yeah I love panos but there's a limit to how large I can post here
Click to expand...

yea.. though I can't remember the warm cast anymore. (not impt :) )

I think you can post larger la, 800x600 was a very long monitor ago.
 

foxtwo said:
yea.. though I can't remember the warm cast anymore. (not impt :) )

I think you can post larger la, 800x600 was a very long monitor ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks for continuing to drop by!
They're ... at 640 long edge :( Wish flickr had an option between that and 1024

>>

Went back to the same location as <81>, so much better ...

>>

The icy waters seeped through the seams and infected my toes
Imagining rime forming on each digit
Cold heavy sodden socks

Shorn of time, we drove as fast as safely could
The wall of slate grey billowing closer and closer
Leaving sun behind, heading towards our Stromboli
Mesmerizing beauty over our shoulders

<86>


restitution (CKC_5696) by Zichar, on Flickr
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<87> with a bit more toning and dodge & burn to bring out the depth? :)
 

foxtwo said:
<87> with a bit more toning and dodge & burn to bring out the depth? :)
Click to expand...

Looks flat because there's less discernible depth cues (shadows not prominent) between the foreground, am I correct?
There's something less 'right' about it, but can't put my finger to it. Too much texture? Too bright and plasticky? Was trying something different for processing.
Between this and the one before, the valley is darker, and shows its depth... I think
Haha sorry sometimes I'm really lost myself

Was destined for the cutting room floor but rescued because it's one of the only ones I took with some semblance of foreground and I get a feeling of the drop when I look at it.
Still unsure if I should have kept it.
 

Zichar said:
Looks flat because there's less discernible depth cues (shadows not prominent) between the foreground, am I correct?
There's something less 'right' about it, but can't put my finger to it. Too much texture? Too bright and plasticky? Was trying something different for processing.
Between this and the one before, the valley is darker, and shows its depth... I think
Haha sorry sometimes I'm really lost myself

Was destined for the cutting room floor but rescued because it's one of the only ones I took with some semblance of foreground and I get a feeling of the drop when I look at it.
Still unsure if I should have kept it.
Click to expand...

It's okay wat, maybe can try darkening the foreground and brighten the mid? I haven't tried it myself in PS.
 

^ Tweaked it a lil'

>>

But to our left, the clouds descended, swooping
Quiet with hints of crackling tones, a sibilant whistle on occasion
Worked as fast as I could, telling myself to be calm
Panic threatening to boil over
Clarity of thought, overtaken by the fog in my photographic mind
Motor muscles up in arms, muttering dissenting voices

<88>


squint (CKC_5742_bw) by Zichar, on Flickr
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yea, does look more 3D now. what did you do?
 

The missus never fails to remind me till today
Of my bullheadedness
On staying to take just one more shot
Her scowl, from whines to a firm order
A tinge of fear creeping into her voice
Let's go!
Just one more, I'm bracketing!

The mist reached us just as I folded my tripod
And tiny bits of ice hailed upon us
Pinpricks as first then they began to hurt
All the way as we ran back up to the car
The steps of the annoying 'more than one step wide but less than two' variety
Made of a rounded log shoring up the ground
Slippery chaos with one misplaced foot

I kept her form in my sights, visibility zero
Everything else wrapped in soft white
The car our sanctuary, frozen feet fast forgotten

<89>


run! (CKC_5747_tritone) by Zichar, on Flickr
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My last sunset in Colorado
Taken from an outlet mall
Sitting out on a bench just squinting at the setting sun
Until it took a tumble and hurt no more

While the wifey wrestled with other tourists
I imagine them laughing shrilly and maniacally
For bags, pouches, clothes and shoes
A giant sale when my pockets felt so empty
And my heart even more so
Despair at leaving all this space

Thanks for viewing, for following the thread, that's all I have to share :)
And sadly, also all I have in my harddisk! Methinks I need to go a-wandering...

<90>


no purchase (CKC_5752) by Zichar, on Flickr
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Breathtaking series and what a way to end it - with a poem! Cheers!
 

Zichar said:
Thanks for viewing, for following the thread, that's all I have to share :)
And sadly, also all I have in my harddisk! Methinks I need to go a-wandering...
Click to expand...

noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

:cry:
 

Scintillation said:
Breathtaking series and what a way to end it - with a poem! Cheers!
Click to expand...

Haha thanks, sometimes I wonder if I 'talk' too much

foxtwo said:
noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

:cry:

make this 3D too please! :) :)
Click to expand...

Care to donate to my trip fund? :D The coins are rattling in the tin now, ugh
I look back and the processing is so different ... what a journey
 

Zichar said:
Haha thanks, sometimes I wonder if I 'talk' too much



Care to donate to my trip fund? :D The coins are rattling in the tin now, ugh
I look back and the processing is so different ... what a journey
Click to expand...

Ouch! I donate you who donate me... I also want to have a journey like that.... :(

I have to admit.. I usually skip your poems... :p straight to the photos.

But you seem to have a way with words.. still waiting for you to contribute in C&C. :)
 

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