The breakthrough

[habakuk]

cheers
®

[eob]

Roland, you've spoiled us with so many great pictures in the past, that just a good one makes us overlook it...

Seriously, from the technical point of view, there's nothing to complain about. From the aesthetical point of view - ditto. Emotionally, the image leaves me unmoved, though. Perhaps that's why you don't get many responses to this thread, although I think any lesser a photographer than you could be proud of the shot like this.

[habakuk]

Thanks, eob. I learned that no response is often a better sign than a lot of complaints.   I don't think this shot is one of my best pictures, yet, I like the mood of it. And as usual, seeing the shot in a decent size helps a LOT to bring out some quality that gets lost in the small web versions.

cheers
®

[stormyva]

Sheesh, why don't you just make Roland's head swell

I do have to agree though, this shot is not as dramatic as some of your others.  Maybe the sky and clouds alone or less rays and the silhouette of the hillside but as it is there is just too much for me to find a single focal point.

[habakuk]

Thank you. Well, what I really like in this shot is the triangles... the tilted lines from the dark ground and the cloud form a nice triangle, and this figure is repeated several times. The triangle also opens up the shot, reading from left to right, it symbolizes the divergence, the space that is getting bigger, the room to breath that is about to appear in the scene and so on. To me, there is lots of power that opens up, that is freeing the viewer, that is providing a feel of space and openness.

cheers
®

[eob]

Roland, I have to say this - even at the risk of getting your head swollen. You keep amazing me with your deep insight into the process of seeing the world through your photography...

[Teikoku_Taiyou]

I am new to these forums....but it hasn't taken me long to surmise your talent. I have always been a big fan of big, captivating skies, so this photo does a lot for me. I am going to have to respectfully disagree with those who feel as if the photo is unmoving. I am not contending that it is going to have a profound effect on my life, or that I will have this image in my mind for days; just that I believe the photo has plenty of emotional value. But hey, this is photography....there are no right opinions. 

I would like to see how this looks in B&W. Clouds are are always twice as good in B&W!

Have you seen any of Minor White's work? He has some of the most SPELLBINDING skies.....

[habakuk]

Have you seen any of Minor White's work? He has some of the most SPELLBINDING skies.....

Thank you. No, I didn't see his work yet. But thanks to you, I've been starting to do so. Indeed very stunning shots!

cheers
®

[Simon]

nice shot I think I like the sky most - the sun rays behind the cloud I think I would consider it with the ground cropped out and put more attention on the cloud and sun rays coming out of it, perhaps it is because I am used to taking landscapes horizontally rather than vertically but did you consider it that way ? or as you say seeing a little square on here is not the same as a nice big print where you can have multiple viewpoints

[habakuk]

Thanks, Simon. Yes, the A3+ print is definitely much nicer, especially with some warm light source.

cheers
®