Summit Reflections, a photo from La Paz, North

Photographer's Note

A view of Huayna Potos�, 6088m, an hour's drive from La Paz and often described as the easiest 6000er on Earth. If a final 250m 80� ice climb to a wind swept summit can be called easy, battling with altitude sickness, freezing temperatures, numb arms and numb brain, well, then I guess it is easy.

I have posted an alternative version as a workshop here. It took me a while to figure out why the reflected shape of the mountain didn't match its topside view. Then I realised that the big black area towards bottom right was not reflected sky but actually a shadowed area of the lake shore. I thought this made the photo look unbalanced, so I lightened it to reveal a hut down there and details of the lake shore. But then the lighting just didn't seem right, so I decided to stick with the original shot for the post. Please let me know which you prefer!

mortijo, ls7902, asajernigan, robiuk has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kaustubh10 (182) 2008-02-01 9:15

Hi Phillip,

Very beautiful and clear shot here. I think the original version is better. It provides a better contrast overall. I like the grass and shrubs in the foreground also. Nicely done.

regards,
Kaustubh

mortijo (12828) 2008-02-01 9:39

Excellent shot. Very sharp and clbrilliant colors, athough the sky is a bit too ble (polarizer?). The original version is the best i.m.o.
Greetings John.

thrudur84 (421) 2008-02-01 9:49

What brutal looking landscape! I really like the polarizing effect with the sky meeting the snowy top of the mountain.

Hope you liked your hike up there and I congratulate you on your strength to have made it up. I know I never would have:-P

ls7902 (7380) 2008-02-01 10:58

Hi Phillip,
Very nice composition of the snowy peak and lake/dam. Great FG flowers & grass for much balance & depth. I like this one better than the WS which doesn't look natural in the brighten area. I think the opening up of the shadow area is too much & abrupt. I'll try a WS if you drop mind.

Regards,
Latiff.

[workshop] [compare]

Niebaotan (300) 2008-02-01 11:36

Hi Philip!

Amazing scenery which you have captured well in this shot. Lovely reflection and nice colors. Also, good composition.

TFS
/Peter

asajernigan (21427) 2008-02-01 12:40

Phillip,
This is a great shot! Your composition is great with the reflection adding nice depth to the shot. The flowers and grass in the foreground add a nice splash of color to the shot. The polarizer has caused the colors to be very dark, maybe you could lighten them and bring out more detail.
TFS,
Asa

drweizy (536) 2008-02-02 6:37

The foreground was applied very well. nice sahot.

dkeus31 (27739) 2008-02-02 11:35

hello Phillip,
a brilliant picture, the light is good, giving details and nice colors.
the framing also with the good framing giving a good depth.
regards
didier

emka (158204) 2008-02-02 17:17

Hi Phillip,

Wonderful shot of Huayna Potosi. Maybe i like best the second workshop because on it is clear what is the shore and what is the reflection. I like the composition with the shrubs in the foreground. I understand you were on the summit. Have you made photos there?

Cheers

Malgorzata

indraajeet (1912) 2008-02-04 7:32

wonderful scene. i always love mountain reflections. nice colours and pov
indrajit

Dyerco (10185) 2008-02-09 9:14

Hi Phillip
A wonderful composition but a tad too underexposed. The snow appears a little gray on my monitor anyway. I want to increase the exposure by a half stop. Nice FG interest.
Phil

robiuk (10807) 2008-07-01 13:58

Hi Phillip,
Wonderful light, especially for the FG.
I do prefer this shot over the one in WS, as that other
one reveals details that a rather distractive and unpleasant.
Also, this one seems to be underexposed for a stop, which is a bonus
as so many photographers make the same
mistake of overbrightening their photos - and then ruin
the effects of natural light.
Well done,
Robi