Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far
Straight out of “Landscape Photography 101.”
Now here’s a theme I can sink my teeth into. A strong foreground element starts your visual journey into the photograph, with the main subject in the distance, the destination.
Summer Warmth.
(from my favorite water-lily hot spot)
Winters Cold Embrace.
(I was particularly drawn to the apparent reflection, rendered in ice and snow, of the distant mountain)
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This entry was posted on September 8, 2012 by Jeff Sinon. It was filed under Landscape, Nature, New Hampshire, Photo Challange and was tagged with bellamy reservoir, clouds, jeff sinon photography, landscape, lily pad, mountains, Mt. Chocorua, Nature, near and far, new hampshire, Photography, postaday, postaweek2012, reflection, summer, sunset, water lily, winter.
Comments and thoughtful critiques are always welcome.
Lovely!
September 8, 2012 at 12:01 pm
September 8, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Can’t stay here too long… it’s going to hurt my self-esteem ;P. You nutter! These are unbelievably beautiful!
September 8, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Thank you Paula. I’m glad you like them. Now go take some more masterpieces of your own!
September 8, 2012 at 12:57 pm
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Love them, Jeff. I particularly like the last one with the ice edge on the water. As you say, the “reflection” of the mountain is a nice touch, but I also really like the chilled feel that the clouds over the mountain add to the image.
- Nate
September 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Thanks Nate. It took a little trial and error to get the composition where I wanted it, it also took me forever to get it the way it looks now, and I’m still not 100% happy with it.
September 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Two fantastic images, Jeff, and what a contrast. I love the implied reflection of the distant mountain in the ice and snow in the foreground. This is the stuff of real meditation.
September 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Thanks Gary. It was very nice of the ice to form that way for me.
September 8, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Wow, they both are beautiful! But that second one is pretty amazing!!Love it!
September 8, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Thanks Stephanie. I’m surprised more people seem to like the second one. I almost gave up on it. I usually don’t spend nearly as much time on a photo in post as I did on this one. If it wasn’t for the ice mirroring the mountain, the reason I shot it in the first place, I would have given up and deleted it after the second or third attempt.
September 8, 2012 at 1:55 pm
The first photo gives me a sense of warmth, but with the grey clouds, it feels unsettled.
September 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm
The entire time I was standing there, over my knees in the water to get past the foreground clutter, I kept hoping the sun was going to find just the right opening to just ignite the clouds. Alas, it never happened.
September 8, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Often photographers must wait for the right moment to happen, but your photo gives me the right feeling.
September 8, 2012 at 2:02 pm
How very true! The number of times Mother Nature has conspired against me in getting the photo I want is too numerous to count. But how much, and for how long, would it remain fun if it suddenly became easy?
September 8, 2012 at 2:08 pm
That’s the challenge. If it became easy, you would lose interest, is it not?
September 8, 2012 at 2:14 pm
In very short order. I enjoy the “sport” of it. If I knew without a doubt, that every time I ventured out with my camera, that the sky would be dramatic, the scenery perfect, I would very quickly lose the motivation to go out. I’ve been to numerous locations not come home with the shot I want. I’ll continue to go back until I do get the shot I want. And even then, it can always be better can’t it? Either I become better at the craft, or the sky/scene is that much more perfect, no matter how happy I am with a photo of a given location, I’m always thinking of ways I can improve upon it.
September 8, 2012 at 2:27 pm
That’s how we evolve into being the experts of what we do.
September 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Well done as always! That bottom one had my brain going sideways for a bit. Wow!! Gorgeous!
Btw when I shot mine, I did one with the handrail in the picture only because of the angle I was at. Then I realized, wow…I could use that for great foreground and perspective. And your photos helped me to remember that. So thank you for the inspiration!
September 8, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Well Karina I just got done checking yours out, and it sure came out very nice. The railing does lead you right into the frame. Well done!
September 8, 2012 at 1:57 pm
great!
September 8, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Beautiful!
September 8, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Thank you!
September 8, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Stunning!
September 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Thanks Joy. Love the new gravitar pic!
September 8, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Thank you! My mom said that the other one was “not okay.” As much as I hate to admit it, I changed it because that comment got under my skin.
September 8, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Can’t say whether or not the other one was “not okay,” but the new one is much better.
September 9, 2012 at 9:10 am
September 9, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Just Wow!
September 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Thanks a lot!
September 8, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Wow!! That first one is fantastic. That would look amazing on my wall
.
September 8, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Thanks Cindy! You know where to find me
September 8, 2012 at 3:55 pm
absolutely stunning! i especially like the lilies!!
September 8, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Thank you very much. It’s a favorite location of mine, I’m working on capturing it in all four seasons.
September 8, 2012 at 4:13 pm
The first one is AMAZING
September 8, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Thanks Bashar, I am loving HDR Efex Pro 2! It does such a great job making more natural looking HDR images.
September 8, 2012 at 8:40 pm
… and working with it, you are. I hate winter to live in, but it makes for awesome photos and wonderful seasonal series with a common subject. Great!
September 8, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Autumn and winter are my two favorite times of year for photography. It’s never too cold as long as there’s snow in the mountains
September 8, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Nice shots Jeff.
September 8, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Thanks Jim!
September 8, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Fabulous shots!
September 8, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Elizabeth
September 8, 2012 at 8:43 pm
The first photo is startlingly beautiful. I can see why that is your favorite lily pad place.
September 8, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Thank you very much. I only wish the water lilies didn’t close up by mid day. If I could get this shot with all the hot pink and bright lilies that are usually here, that would be a sight!
September 8, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Pretty Awesome (all of them), Jeff!
September 8, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by
September 9, 2012 at 9:08 am
I can see why you were enthusiastic about this challenge! Both photos are absolutely perfect! And I agree – it’s very cool how the ice seems to reflect that mountain.
September 8, 2012 at 11:37 pm
You know it! I may not be the best photographer to come along, but I’ve read enough “how-to’s” along the way, stressing the importance of having a good foreground element, to know this was going to be right up my alley.
September 9, 2012 at 9:12 am
Beautiful pictures Jeff. Awesome work!!
September 9, 2012 at 1:19 am
Thanks Arindam, I really liked yours as well. Very nice work!
September 9, 2012 at 9:34 am
Good Evening: Very impressive!
September 9, 2012 at 1:52 am
Thank you very much!
September 9, 2012 at 9:35 am
Fantastic!!!
September 9, 2012 at 3:16 am
Well Thank You!!!
September 9, 2012 at 9:37 am
I love the first one, it’s amazing and I love the colours of the second one.
As usually, only nice photos.
Thank you.
September 9, 2012 at 5:33 am
Thanks Cornel. And I only SHOW the nice ones.
The bad ones, and there are more than a few, get deleted pretty quickly. 
September 9, 2012 at 9:41 am
Both amazing and so different!
September 9, 2012 at 11:31 am
Thank you Ioanna. I do like the contrast between the two especially since the warmth of summer is winding down and the cold of winter is right around the corner.
September 9, 2012 at 1:19 pm
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Well shot images Jeff!!
September 9, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Thanks Rick!
September 10, 2012 at 6:19 am
such cool shots – and no reference to the temperature intended
thanks for sharing!
September 9, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Thank you for the nice comment!
September 10, 2012 at 6:23 am
Shockingly stunning colors.
September 10, 2012 at 7:25 am
Why thank you Sir!
September 10, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Speechless .. the puffy clouds against the red of the sunrising is breathtaking.
Fabulous ….
September 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Thank you Isadora!
September 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm
one gorgeous photo — water lilies galore!!! Love it Jeff!
September 11, 2012 at 12:38 am
Thank you Robyn. I just wish the lilies stayed open this late in the day. That would have been perfect!
I hope you are well soon!
September 11, 2012 at 5:40 am
Both technically and creatively superb. Really like those water tones in the 2nd.
September 12, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Thanks again Brandon!
September 12, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Absolutely gorgeous photos!
September 15, 2012 at 5:10 am
Thank you very much Catherine, a very nice compliment.
September 15, 2012 at 7:16 am
I always look forward to seeing your posts for the Weekly Photo Challenge! : )
September 15, 2012 at 10:15 am
Thank you Catherine! Even though I often take liberties with the theme?
I never read the description when I get the notification email, only the theme. I don’t want how I interpret it to be colored by anyone else’s idea.
September 15, 2012 at 11:52 am
I think it’s great that you interpret the theme in your own way. It’s allows your photography to become a more personal expression yourself, your interests, ideas, and artistry. This dilemma is reminiscent of the complex relationship between artist and patron — who decides on the content? Does the power reside with the creator of the art or the person funding the work?
Your selections represent the weekly themes beautifully, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about! Creativity keeps things interesting!!
September 15, 2012 at 8:17 pm
My thoughts exactly!
September 16, 2012 at 9:37 am
September 21, 2012 at 8:11 pm
WOW -to your beautiful photographs!!
September 16, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Thank you very much Deborah, that’s very nice to hear.
I’m glad you stopped by.
September 17, 2012 at 5:38 am
That top one is stunning! Really beautiful.
September 24, 2012 at 8:44 am
Thank you so much. It’s comments like that that keep me going
September 24, 2012 at 8:42 pm
I’m speechless, Jeff! These shots will make me smile all day long
September 27, 2012 at 11:58 am
That is one heck of a compliment, now I’ll be smiling all day long
September 27, 2012 at 8:25 pm
The colors are stunning, especially for the first one !
November 4, 2012 at 8:01 am
Thank you very much Elise, I’m glad you enjoy them. The first is my favorite as well, but I’m not really all that impartial, I like them all
November 4, 2012 at 8:04 am