The story behind it
01/01/2013
"Island of water". At the top of Serra da Estrela, the sun shines with late afternoon yellows. Almost horizontal light rays amplify the details, textures and shapes. The snow pops under the crampons. There are crowds in the distance. Very far. Or maybe we don’t even hear them. I walk with snow and ice holding our feet secure. It's like a dance, moving softly, progressively but solidly.
In the stage, mostly white, there are large rock formations and small worlds. There are islands of water, keeping pools of life that remain afloat in the storms.
Comment
Technical issues
01/01/2013
With my 24mm prime f/2.8 lens, I selected aperture f/8, ISO100. Exposed during 1/350s in matrix metering mode, Manual program. I over-exposed in one or two stops. I photograph in RAW, especially because of the detail, and since white balance is critical with such light and photographing snow.Focusing on the middle distance, I get all content focused and great accuracy. I wanted to capture the details in the puddle, the herbs inside and on the surface, but also the grains of snow. The subtle light was also to be recorded fully.
Once exposed, I had a file with maximum quality for visually grabbing everything originally there, in post-processing.
Critial review
01/01/2013
Simple and intriguing. Our eyes will first be directed to the puddle, a black spot with organic form and content. The reliefs in the snow almost converge on this pool, illuminated by oblique light, dominating on the texture of snow grains.In terms of composition, the puddle is close to the point given by the center of the Golden Spiral, following the Fibonacci series. "Naturally" focusing in the visual centre of attention, the "natural" puddle, the chosen composition follows that same spiral that appears in Nature.
Where you should place it
01/01/2013
This photograph has enough detail for enlargements above the original size 24cm x 36cm at 300ppi. I would say that a dark gray or black passpartout would create a good contrast between snow, pool and photograph's boundaries. How about a large wooden brown frame?As always, lighting! lighting! lighting!
I don't see this photograph in a full wall-print. More as an unique piece hung on a white or dark wall.
January 2013
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