The Island, a photo from Alberta, Prairies

Photographer's Note

Another shot of Spirit Island. I rarely put the main subject in the centre of a photo, but something about this location really seems to demand it, especially so with the cloud right in the centre too. The way the mountains come down on each side and provide an almost symmetrical setting for the little island is amazing. Actually, if you look at this you will see that it's not really an island at this time of the year. Earlier in the season it is an island, but as the summer goes on the water level drops and it becomes attached to the mainland by a small strip of land. Since the water in the lake comes exclusively from glaciers it is very cold even in the middle of summer. The temperature is 4 degrees C in the summer. In the winter the lake frezzes over, with about 3 meters of ice, and with a further 3 meters of snow on top. This past winter they had even more snow, about 6 meters they said. The lake is called Maligne Lake, and maligne means evil in French. It got the name because one of the early explorers of the area (who was French) was transporting his supplies across the lake when the boat overturned and he lost everything.

danielswalsh, savask, KKar, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, Philippe, AiresSantos, fkokol, Dyerco, jjbach, euryan, gneufeld, singuanti, darrasin, abulafia, jafadabret ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

danielswalsh (13597) 2007-08-22 22:09

Hey Alvin;

Another stunning shot from the Rockies. Excellent sharpness and color as always- even the horizon is spot-on! haha

The only thing I'd be tempted to change is the composition slightly. The trees in thye middle of the shot are such a dominating subject... I think they'd be better off slightly off centre in the frame vs. right in the middle. Your thoughts mate?

All the best,
- Dan

keribar (43841) 2007-08-22 22:24

Hello Alvin,
Looks as if it is the vertical format of the previous one. Although I can now see the big white cloud completely, I must say that the previous one was more powerful to my eyes.
Friendly regards - Izzet

savask (1891) 2007-08-22 22:39

Looks mythical. the reflection on the water adds a roamntic flare in the picture

ChrisJ (172440) 2007-08-23 0:26

Hi Alvin

The vertical format of Jasper works well here. Wonderful colour sharpness & reflections. I like the fg splash of green from the reeds. Tfs!

hatti52 (12786) 2007-08-23 0:32

Hi Alvin
wonderful shot
great colours,light and sharpness
well done
cheers

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2007-08-23 1:08

What a beautiful landscape and picture. Splendid composition, with wonderful colors in a clear and sharp image. Very good work.
Best wishes,
Achim

Etienne_C (440) 2007-08-23 2:10

Hi Alvin

A very beautiful shot ! The composition and the exposition are perfect and the range of colors are fabulous. Well done.

Etienne

dkeus31 (27739) 2007-08-23 3:20

hello Alvin,
still centered, but I find it works well here with the horizont at least in the upper part.
regards
didier

wolf38 (30) 2007-08-23 3:28

Hello Alvin. The landscape photo is wonderful and the motive charmful. The photo works nearly like a painting from the time of the romance. Technically perfectly, very beautifully and worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

DarkoG (8) 2007-08-23 3:58

Good landscape with very nice reflection

PixelTerror (0) 2007-08-23 4:11

Hi Alvin,
Rules were made to be broken where it makes sense, here the istland is just in the middle of the image dynamic created by the clouds and I like this. Superb clarity !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

pierrefonds (115645) 2007-08-23 4:33

Hi Alvbin,

A nice image of Spirit island and of the Canadian Rockies under a beautiful sky, the photo has a good composition, DOF and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

hdl (7035) 2007-08-23 4:51

Great colours, sharpness, theme and environment. Looks like a great place to be.

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-08-23 5:07

Another wonderful composition with gorgeous reflections and POV. Excellent colours and contrast
TFS and greetings
Aires

Fis2 (172049) 2007-08-23 5:11

Witaj Alvin!
Wonderful place. Super composition and frame. I like the colors. Good job!
Regards
Krzysztof

KKar (486) 2007-08-23 5:16 [Comment]

Show Comment

jonathan_hart (21276) 2007-08-23 5:26

hello Alvin
the central symetrie works perfectly
excellent colours
well done
regards
jo

Bruno40 (6662) 2007-08-23 6:05

Gret shot Alvin,
Photograph example of perfect composition.
Great DOF and sharpness.
very well done
TFS
Jorge

fkokol (1636) 2007-08-23 6:25

This is beautiful shot and great landscape. Wonderful colours and reflection. greetings,

figen

Dyerco (10185) 2007-08-23 7:44

Great composition. I especially like the bit of grass in the foreground that compliments the trees in the island. The eye has lots of places to stop and focus on.

Well done.
Phil

Ann75 (0) 2007-08-23 13:38

Hello Alvin,

Are you trying to make us all jealous with this fantastic Spirit Island shot! ;o) This is another stunning shot of the amazing place. I love the long and vertical format here, which gives even more depth. Stunning composition with fantastic colours, beautiful light and details! The reflections on the water complete it. Excellent work, Alvin!!!

Greetings,
Ann

jjbach (9326) 2007-08-23 13:54

Hi Alvin,
Another shot from this wonderful place. The reflections are beautiful and the colours are great. Splendid work!

Regards John

Gerrit (62042) 2007-08-23 15:02

Hi Alvin,
unbelievable landscape and a picture with great quality and clearity. Perfect.
Regards, Gerrit

zeca (19762) 2007-08-23 15:21

Wow Alvin! What a nice view! Beautiful! The colours are great! Nice lights, nice reflections and a very well done framing to this wonderful scenery! Well taken!
Regards,
Zeca

euryan (8442) 2007-08-23 17:45

I think I like this orientation even better than the last one. The symmetry is very fitting here. I love the way the trees and their reflection are placed right in the center of the frame. They almost have the same 2 to 3 scale as the photo itself. Everything else is perfect as well.

gneufeld (15890) 2007-08-23 18:33

Hi Alvin,
This is a spectacular portrait view of Spirit Island - I think you made the perfect choice to show in this format. Great clarity, colors, and I really like the foreground with grasses and small logs leads into this gorgeous frame. Great shot and TFS. Gerald

singuanti (15250) 2007-08-23 18:45

Hey Alvin. That sort of filter makes a lot more sense than a polarizer might with a wide-angle because of that whole business of areas of the sky getting different levels of polarization. That being said I just got a polarizer today for my Tokina 12-24 but now you have me thinking I should add this filter to my arsenal before my trip. Which one do you prefer for landscape like this?

darrasin (2860) 2007-08-23 22:34

Hi Alvin! I agree, the centering works fabulously here! Plus I don't think you could have cropped any off the top without chopping that perfect cloud mass above the trees. Very good usage of the wide angle, results are very sharp near to far.

Well done!
Doug

Philippe (11836) 2007-08-24 1:01

Hi, Alvin. A good vertical composition that fits the mountainous landscape very well. As you say in your decription, everything is more or less centered in your composition, but this doesn't disturb me at all. There is a very good depth thanks to the grass and the rocks in the foreground and the sky is really beautiful.

delkoo (68) 2007-08-24 1:26

hi alvin,
By looking at the photos of this region, I want really to come to make a ballad, it is a little far so I dream at the moment.
great composition as usual.

regards
didier

jplebrun (21208) 2007-08-24 4:35

Bonjour Alvin,
superbe cliché de cette île avec les rocheuses comme toile de fond, photo claire et nettes, avec de très belles couleurs, ;)
Salutations
Jean-Pierre

crhieatt (5347) 2007-08-24 9:49

Alvin,
It's a good shot but, for me, it's the poor realtion of your previous post; an alternative view, certainly, and many might even prefer it, but I feel that more has been lost than gained in the portrait format. This may be down to their not being any startling interest or detail in the long foreground.
Clearly, as ever, I'm well in the minority!
Regards
Colin

leo61 (0) 2007-08-24 10:56

Hi Alvin!
The vertical version of this wonderful place is great too.Again an interesting foreground with the grass and some rocks and nice reflections of the sky.
Regards,Leo

erdna (5713) 2007-08-24 11:22

I do not see anything wrong with this formal composition. The nice light, good reflection and beautiful cloud formation are still there.

Andre'

abulafia (4900) 2007-08-24 21:44

Hi Alvin
I like this one better than the horizontal shot! I believe the foreground details and what seem to be a higher camera angle is giving this a better depth and overall more interest.
The placing of the main subject in the middle was the way to go, the rule of third is just a guide:)
Nice one
Harry

jafadabret (56501) 2007-08-25 23:32

Alvin, j'apprécie la limpidité de cette photo. Le fait de centrer le sujet est un bon choix. La lumière du ciel qui se reflète dans l'eau donne une atmosphère des plus légères. Bonne composition dans une très belle lumière.
Jacques

PJE (20758) 2007-08-26 9:34

Alvin I think if Daniel Walsh were to take the necessary time to travel up to this location I think he would be tempted to shoot this photo with the trees in the center too. It seems to me that that cluster of trees on this island have been viewed and photographed more than any cluster of trees in Canada. It is a very popular place because of the stunning beauty. Who wouldn't want to see it for themselves. Excellent work in this vertical format!

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-08-27 12:04

Hi ALvin, another good reflction and landscape image...
well taken as usual!
ciao!
Valeria

Bluejeans (64251) 2007-08-27 15:38

Hello my friend
Que paisagem fantastica amigo , o Canada e um lugar fantastico em paisagens de natureza , as cores ficaram muito bonitas , ficou uma bela composição , parabens!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

eza1701 (3345) 2007-09-05 23:57

Hi Alvin,

It is definitely one of those occasions where centralising the main subject works. I love the blue sky and the clear water.

Best regards,
Paul.

Photo Information

Copyright: Alvin Brown (Cormac) (26565)
Genre: Luoghi
Medium: Colore
Date Taken: 2007-08-17
Categories: Natura
Camera: Nikon D200, 12-24mm F4 ED AF-S Zoom Nikkor, Singh-Ray 2-stop soft edge ND
Esposizione: f/8, 1/90 secondi
More Photo Info: view
Versione Foto: Versione Originale
Tema(i): Spirit Island [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-22 21:59
Preferiti: 1 [vista]