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Sunlit Midnight on the Trail

Posted by
Barbara Lee (Oakland, United States) on 2 July 2011 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

Well, that is what it feels like here! I am having fun playing!!! Last weekend, we hiked up the Matt Davis Trail to the top of Mt. Tamalpais. I do not take tripods along on this sort of trek, so handheld a series of 3 bracketed exposures to see what I could do with this amazing scene. No, I did not manage to hold the camera steady at the lower shutter speeds, and yes, I blended the three exposures with Photomatix. Then, I just let loose with Nik Viveza and Color Efex and PLAYED! I do know that play is at the heart of creativity, and it was such fun! The result is an image of how it really FELT to be in this amazing space. This had to have been one of the most gorgeous hikes I have ever done in this goregous Bay Area where I live.

If you are ever in Stinson Beach, get out of your car and hike up Matt Davis to Steep Ravine, and head down to the Dipsea back to your start. 7 miles of pure bliss!

Nikon D90 1/25 second F/5.6 ISO 1000 27 mm

To view more of my images, visit my portfolio at Barbara Lee Photography. Also, visit my Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Barbara-Lee-Photography/244133283497[/url

Spotlight photo at http://barbaralee.aminus3.com/image/2010-10-09.html

Maria Draper from California, United States

beautiful tree

2 Jul 2011 5:50am

guillaume from Paris, France

Great effect !!

2 Jul 2011 9:53am

marci from Morocco

magical!

2 Jul 2011 1:44pm

Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States

Wow! This is magical! Heading out to hike Henry Cowell Redwoods today....Tanking my iPhone :)

2 Jul 2011 2:49pm

@Tracy: Great day for a hike in the redwoods, Tracy! Have fun! We are stacking firewood. Not nearly as fun!

Anita from West Nottingham, Pennsylvania, United States

Beautiful! Love the curving tree trunks and the glow! Playing is fun and produces wonderful results.

2 Jul 2011 7:04pm

@Anita: Thanks, Anita! The play was fun. On some level, though, I wish I had had my tripod along so that I could have done this scene "true" justice. But then again, what about art is true? Hmmmm..

DULCIE from Danville, CA, United States

BRAVO. You succeeded in capturing mood, moment and expression. This is a wonderfully created image. Don't apologize for it. :-) P.S. You give me hope that I could manage to get some shots in the woods. Hope I can do half as well !!

2 Jul 2011 10:13pm

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

a great hike. i lived in san rafael

2 Jul 2011 11:51pm

Julie Brown from Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

What a gorgeous scene! Totally worth the effort to get there, which is quite impressive, I might add.

3 Jul 2011 2:14am

Barbara Kile from Ft. Worth, United States

I'm loving this tree and the wood fern! Perfect contrast here too!

3 Jul 2011 1:24pm

DarkElf from Perth, Australia

this scene has a fantastic dream like quality to it! the atmosphere is magical! lovely work!

4 Jul 2011 4:46am

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

Very nice. Happy 4th to you!!

4 Jul 2011 1:43pm

Nikon D90
1/25 second
F/5.6
ISO 1000
27 mm

trees
trail
ferns
branches