Ground Compositions And Embracing Color Cast | Zion Fall Photography - Episode 5

[@patrickguilfoyle8884]

OUTSTANDING MUD RIPPLE IMAGES, I love the complementary colors & the sheen of the mud. well done! Really nice maple tree images.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much Patrick!

[@kristofz.9846]

Looks like a painting on glass. Einfach genial!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Vielen Dank!

[@drewmartin9704]

I really enjoy your approach to composition. There’s so much intent and detailed thought about how elements impact each other and ultimately come together to create the final image. Really awesome stuff. Well done.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much Drew!

[@JoseOrtiz-zy4ew]

Been watching every video you’ve been putting out. Gonna watch this one later tonight.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much for watching Jose!

[@tim31415]

I'm not usually a fan of mud, but you managed to turn it into art. Good job!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Tim!

[@adventureuav]

Love the 3D pop on the mud ripples, awesome job!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much!

[@andrewsimpson5436]

Yip they all work and I'm glad you're not obsessed on focus in the backwall with the 6x12, nice.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew!

[@guywilliam]

These 2 ground compositions worked out really nicely. You're doing a great job with the videos as well.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much Guy!

[@sdkgodeacs]

Three great shots, I especially like the leaf in the mud ripples.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Steven!

[@haimtoeg]

Thanks Chris, interesting video as always. The mud shot is by far my favorite.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much!

[@kenblair2538]

Great images Chris. It all boils down to, it's art . I generally don't show any film, only the final product. Thanks, KB

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Ken! Definitely agree. Good point on not showing negatives; I'd get into trouble if I stopped showing them in videos now but I agree the end result is what's really important.

[@gregl.7465]

Great work, Chris!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Greg!

[@philipculbertson55]

Very nice images. I liked the trees against the cliff wall but the mud ripple shot was my favorite. It really was awesome. Almost other-worldly like the scales of an alien creature that a leaf fell on. Wonderful shot.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Philip, other-worldly is a great way to put it!

[@andrewfindlayphoto]

Great photos. I don't mind creating compositions. When you have limited time in these beautiful places so a little creative license is OK. What ever is on the mud it's all about the light and colour of different sources. Great chocolate advert 😁

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew, that's a great point about limited time. Haha, it totally looks like chocolate pudding or something 😆

[@berthaduniverse]

Good morning Chris. Love to see how these print and hang. You nailed the post work on the wet ripples, that alone would look wonderful at 60".

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Paul! 60" would be amazing, that would definitely be the largest print I've ever done, ha!

[@berthaduniverse]

@@ChrisDarnell it is large format after all... Lol!

[@timluttges9413]

Amazing pictures. Really like the look of a large format slide. Was inspired by your work to shoot slide on my Hasselblad and I really love it. Cannot describe the first view of the film when it’s on a light table. Keep on 🤙🏼

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much Tim, it makes me happy to know others are inspired to get out! You're absolutely right, I try so hard to get the film on a light table on camera but it's just not the same as seeing it in person!

[@jimrookphotos]

Hi Chris. That first shot of the cottonwood leaf on the rock textures was absolutely terrific. The leaf on the chocolate pudding (my take) didn't appeal to me as much but was well done and composed. Also liked the last shot very much. Again, my taste but I'd liked to have seen you leave the Velvia blue remain more present on the background as possibly you could more selectively warm the yellow in the leaves and not the background. All in all, looks like this was a great day for you and what I'd pick as one of your best shots of the year. Now to sit back and watch the rest of your Q&A posting. Happy New Year to you, Chris, and I wish you the best in 2023.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Jim! It totally looks like chocolate pudding, haha! I agree I probably warmed the background of the Velvia leaves shot too much and can probably pull that back a bit on the edit. The Velvia blues are something I'm still learning to embrace and use to my advantage, but I agree and I'll have to revisit that. Best in the new year to you as well!

[@johnbrown40639]

We were at the same location! Nice composition and colors!

[@ChrisDarnell]

That's awesome! Thank you so much!

[@alfredanheier4779]

Another three very nice images. I wouldn't worry about placing a leaf, sometimes you have to help reality along a little... It's interesting to me that after your last video where you struggled with blue casts, here you used it to your advantage. Well done.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Alfred! That's a great observation, I'd say I'm definitely still learning how to work with the blue cast thing but you're right, I definitely feel like I had both some struggles and some wins this trip!

[@thomashewitt2597]

Love your images... however the images with the leaf added are so good as abstracts they didn't need the embellishment. I don't have anything against adds to compositions as artists have been doing composites for hundreds of years ... keep up the great work... really enjoy the "dialogue" even though you can't hear me 🤣

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Thomas! I had a lot of fun shooting these ripple patterns in the sandstone, pretty sure I'll be back next trip and it'll be fun to see what I can find again. I'll have to try a few that are purely abstracts, that could be a fun exercise!

[@Headin_South]

Loved these shots Chris, I’ve never been to Zion, I’m sure it’s beautiful in the fall, but all the shots of a tree in a wash against a red sandstone background look much of a muchness to me. These detail shots are really gorgeous, I’d take those over the wider shots any day. Thanks for the vids, and happy new year

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Martin! Honestly, it took me a bit to come around to those trees in the wash images myself so I totally get that. There really is a large variety of opportunities in Zion to photograph but I also seem to prefer the smaller detail images over time, and I dare say I have more fun doing them. All the best this year to you as well!

[@diegopig]

Really nice and instructive video, as always yours are. I really like the first image, your edit adds the necessary contrast and color variation to make it work. I like the second one too yet not as much as the first one, not sure why The third is beautiful, too, still the first one is my favorite.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Rosso! Agreed, the color is really strong in that first photo but it was my favorite of the day as well

[@MattWeddis]

Well, looks like you’re “Best Photos of 2023” video has some content already. I even wondered if you held this video back to January just to get a head start. 😂 The images in this video are all quit different and all exceptional.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Matt! Haha I actually almost screwed up and included them in this year; I forgot what order the videos were releasing and almost broke my own rules 😆

[@MattWeddis]

@@ChrisDarnell hahaha. Scandalous.

[@grantwellsphoto9779]

Loved the sheen of the mud. I would have liked to have seen the leaf higher in the comp...but maybe not possible given what was out of the frame?

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Grant! It may have been possible, I think I just defaulted to composing it in the center. I probably lean on centered compositions more than I should, I'll have to explore other framings more!

[@jeffwilliams5653]

Very nicely done sir - I think both the close in images are outstanding. I find the first one simply stunning and letting the blue cast reign just adds to it - bizarre is not the word I would choose! I get apprehensive with my bellows well extended and angled down with a big lens on the end - after watching this I guess I shouldn't be! The 240mm looks to have been a good choice but am curious if you gave the 300mm a try? Another inspirational segment Chris - thanks!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks again Jeff! Haha, I suppose the word "bizarre" has a negative incantation to it but I certainly didn't mean it that way. It was certainly a surprise to see how differently it recorded the scene but it really is one of my favorites from the trip as unexpected as it might have been. Unfortunately I did not try the 300mm, I'm pretty sure the Chamonix has enough bellows to focus that beast but that's something I'll have to try another time!

[@tedphillips2951]

The challenge of 4x5 analog is what makes us do it. Love the photos. I apologize for saying photos because it sounds like snap shots & your photos are not!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Agreed, and the technical challenges make the final results so much more rewarding. Thanks Ted!

[@nelsbondephoto]

The mud ripples are my favorite!! Amazing image. Also, thanks for the honesty about placing a leaf. I won't feel so guilty now about enhancing a scene... thanks for the great video Chris.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Nels! No harm at all in a little enhancing now and then.. 😉

[@brianbeattyphotography]

Nicely done Chris . That mud scene really communicates “Zion” with that reflected light. And the pano at the end is a great image. Really well balanced and well seen!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Brian!

[@gkalantzes329]

Chris- nice work. I was there the morning you were shooting those comps. Stopped at the pull off and saw you under the tree so moved on.

[@ChrisDarnell]

That's awesome! I always enjoy the chat so say hello next time!