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The 4 month rainy season is ending in California. So I thought I better hike into the hills behind my house and take in some of the landscape before the grass turns golden brown and the clouds disappear for the summer. Also, the oak leaves will get darker so this is the best time to photograph the oaks too. There was so much green that I had to desatureate this a bit to get more fine detail.
So I waited for an evening with some decent light and saw this scene. The big version is 1535x650, so have a look at the big sized panorama.
I spent a while walking around to get the best composition. It was especially difficult to fit the foreground tree on the right into a good spot.
I hope to have some time this week to catch up on what has been happening around here. I see a new 'fast' epz beta version that does look very fast indeed!
Several 0.2 second exposures @F8 with ND grads 0.9 + 0.6
| Title: | Spring Oaks |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 31 Mar 2008 - 4:56 PM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @30 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Tags: | California, Diablo, General, Landscape / travel, San francisco, Spring |
| Votes: | 180 |
Comments
wow! Look whoīs back! 
Grand panorama, Patrick!
Something totally different from you and I love it.....Has to one of your very BEST! IMHO
Nothing new happend here, while you were away....same old same old boooooooooring shots here.........
Jouko
Great light on this sea of green, the letterbox format works really well
An almost surreal shot, simply stunning, a wonderful scene.
Annette
Thanks for having a look!
Yes John and Annette, I rarely see it like this and the light lasted for about 5 minutes!
Thanks Jouko. I have lots of new seascapes but I was curious to see what people thought about this one. Then I'll be back to the booooooring seascapes! I was out in the desert and I have some oasis ones I might upload. I think I'll look at some of those boooooring shots now!
Thanks Alan, it did seem to have 'panorama' written all over it.
Good try Ange, we know what you really mean! I'm blushing now....
Patrick
Great landscape Patrick with exquisite lighting.
Cheers
Alan
LOL......Donīt you dare to do that! LOL.....Pass them, they are sooooooooo booooooooooooooring
Jouko
STUNNING as always Patrick... the way you caught the light is WOW.. you sure know how to pick the right moment to take the shot.
Like the shot, the detail, and the almost "In the night garden" landscape.
But Patrick... What's with the weird green on the hills? The green looks almost like a mask as it goes through the rocks, bushes and tree tops?
jk
and you complain about a lack of landscapes where you are! Nice one Patrick, has an ever so slightly surreal quality to it that I like.
didn't know you had "Land Legs" Patrick It's an absolute stunner large, I love the lighting... 
So where are the Fairies my friend? you need a fairy in a landscape like this surely.
A little darker would be even more magical, but then maybe not.
Fresh alive full of vibrance, clarity and colour.
All the very best my friend,
Dougie
When i saw this it looked like a fantasy land for the Teletubys great photo and dof
GOOD SHOT.Great landscape Image Patrick,great composition and light capture,viewed it large and loved it even more,great work and thank's for sharing it with us all regards Steve.
This must be viewed large to get the full impact, a stunning image Patrick, love it.
Lisa
Fabulous light, Patrick, a super change from your "regular" shots
Fran x
Stunning capture Patrick - like the comp and colours.
Regards Richard.
Thanks for your comments!
Too late Jouko....zzzzz.zzzzz.zzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzz!
JK, the effect is probably from the fine bits of brown grass at varying depths left over from last year. It blends into the green producing lots of different reflected light when the sun strikes it from a low angle.
It is not easy Mark.. There are few good vistas because the way the hills roll, and the trees tend to be in the wetter crevases where they get more water. And the best rocks also have trees growing out from them, as the water stays under rocks too. Also, while this looks gently rolling, most of the landscape is more sharp and vertical and it is hard to find a good open view. Oh, and it is hard to hide 7 million people in the SF bay area!
I have them Tony, but I guess I should exercize them more often!
Sorry Dougie, I saw no fairies but I'll give your suggestion a try and see what it looks like. You never know. The light was unusually soft that day.
LOL Anpix, this is a 100% Teletubby-free image!
Thanks Lisa, the small version does hide a bit I think. Pans have small thumbs too.
LOL Fran, don't worry, I have plenty of new same-old same-olds ready to go!
Patrick
Next time you are taking pics Susalito way just head North, up Highway 1, great coastroad and there's some cracking views up in the redwoods.
WOW what a truly wonderful piece of work, tremendous light. Went large and I could sat in the field and look around all day. Magnificent Patrick
Dave
Green pastures????.......... Clouds????? surely this cannot be one of yours, Patrick.....
Looks really surreal Patrick, a strange light, great pano
Malcolm
Magical, story-book image. Spring has hit you earlier than here but I recognise the colours - just for a few wonderful weeks the greens are fresh and clean and vibrant. Good capture.
Moira
Thanks for looking!
True Mark, but I can't get up there between the end of dinner and sunset! I know... I really should go on a photographic road trip. All of my shots are taken before or after work, or on short trips or vacations. And I rarely get out on weekends!
LOL - You got me Jeanie... It's really just east of Blackpool near Singleton!
Patrick
the light spilling over the hills is amazing patrick, very very nice indeed
rich
Not the common California shot, lovely with the rolling hills and different green tones
Peter
Very interesting shape and form to the landscape aided by fantastic light.Excellent Patrick.
Paul
Some amazing colours in those fields.
Looks a difficult shot to compose but this does work very nicely.
Paul
The large version is superb, wonderful scene beautifully captured.
John
Absolutely stunning! It looks more like a beautiful painting than a photograph, wonderful!
Paul
Quote: LOL - You got me Jeanie... It's really just east of Blackpool near Singleton!
Hahahah! You found me!
Yet another cracking photograph Patrick. I showed the wife and her first words were Ooooooh. Having just seen The Lord of the Rings...again, this reminds me of the Shire where the Hobbits live. You have managed to capture this beautiful scene quite spectacularly. Definitley a winner.
Good pano composition with the 3 main trees in the frame Patrick.Strange greens along the hilltop skyline though. Looks a bit like a scene from a Walt Disney film.
Brian.
Stunning LARGE......gorgeous light, and just love that tree in right foreground.
*Mike*
Thanks for stopping by. I will catch up soon, as I have a bit more time now.
Yes Peter, you usually don't see it like this because it is often brown and dry!
Thanks John, I take really bad portraits though. I'll have to work on those sometime.
Google finds everyone Jeanie! BTW, you may want to put away the rubbish before the satellite snaps your house next time!
Shocking, isn't it Gill?
Thanks Colin.
Brian, The grass at the top of most ridges is really short due to it being drier up there and is extra green for a while after the rains. That is probably what it is.
You should see the 60 inch print Mike, thanks.
Patrick
Thanks for info Patrick. I was only joking about Walt Disney because of the bright film type colours.
Brian.
Very impressive capture Patrick, great light and tones, great as always mate.
Scott
A wonderful country landscape Patrick, love the feeling of wide open space and the lush green colours. I've never seen anywhere that green before, it must be a herbivores paradise!
Something special about this one Patrick (as there is with all your shots). I love the way the light hits the undulating hills in so many different ways resulting in lots of different shades of green. Perfection
Mike
Very beautiful indeed, Patrick. For me it brings the sort of landscapes I might imagine when reading a good book, particularly a fantasy tale. A superb image.
David
Thanks for stopping by! I guess it does have that Hobbiton/fairy tale look to it. That will change in the summer!
No problem Brian. You should see the raw file. It is even greener and Disneyesque.
Patrick
Just came back to this as i viewed it earlier on the puter at work, This looks much richer on my monitor here at home, gorgeous greens and fantastic light, especially nice viewed large.
Wonderful pano. Great composition & lighting. Somehow we don't expect to see scenery like this in California. Could almost be England or Wales.
Rog
Hi Patrick,
nice to see you back,well how green is that valley,wonderful lighting and i love the way it just seems to bounce from hill to dale and back again,the trees are brilliant but i love the one on the right,LARGE IS BEST,this is excellent and its a simply wonderful space and so different from your seascapes.You definitely do magic with your camera and have a great eye. Take care and be safe.Ann
Love the colours and all the various lines. Well composed Partick. All the best. John
It looks a bit like a model landscape with little model trees. The kind of landscape they build for model railways.
wow patrick! this is beautiful!
lovely work as always
regards
chelseak
Thanks for looking!
Yes Terry, it looks different on my lower quality work monitor too.
True Rog, it is different than you usually see in pictures from here. That's why I did it!
Thanks Ann... and luck helps too!
LOL Alex, I think you are right....
Patrick
Another facet of California. Very rural and peaceful. Is there some gigantic spread of houses on the other side of the hill?
Lovely colours and light. JNC
Thanks Jean, there are about 7 million people to the right of this image, but about 30 miles of unspoiled rolling hills straight ahead and to the left. Some small towns are behind me here.
Patrick
What a glorious scene, I wish I lived near somewhere like that, lovely colours.
Nicky
Great shot, definately worth a view large for the detail.
Darren.
I like the detail and the contours brought out by the shadows from the low lighting angle Patrick, but I'm confused by the patches of really bright green on the peaks to the right.
Nigel
Thanks for looking!
Nigel, those areas have really short grass that is different from the rest of the grass. I may desatureate those areas a little more. They are really green and looked surreal even when I took the shot!
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Thank you for your kind words to my upload today.
Almost 2 months ago when I joined EPZ family, little by little, up to now, I am learning.
All the words of wisdom of EPZ family encouraged me to pursue to take a Photography class. But, the primary pre requisite of all those schools is the DSLR camera. I have no money to buy even the cheapest one, that's why I appealed to EPZ family to be my sponsor. Many are well wishers, I appreciated it very much. One told me that he'll gonna create a fund raising in their school but, his father didnt agreed because he was feared to those internet fraud. The other one didnt care for for those fraud that's why she sent me her brother's Nikon D70 2nd hand were she gave it before with her brother. She was very kind indeed to believed to a person like me a total stranger. She did'nt want to mention her name in EPZ family coz she said maybe they misinterpret her as a dirty old woman. That camera is on the way here in the Philippines.
I really appreciated her generosity and my gratitude for her my whole life. Because to other, DSLR is a past time, for me, it is my life. That will be the next bread and butter of my family. When you have time, please check my upload: "Tropical Flower" and the next upload after that were I elaborated all my appeals.
One of the problem is, that DLSR have no lens, that's why I'm appealing again for anyone who have an extra 2nd hand lens. Up to now, no response.
Photography is my passion and life. I want to have a formal study to equip me in the future. The workshop is separated into 3 categories. Basic, Advanced, and Pro. Each category have will take 5 Sundays 9am-5pm each Sunday.
After I finish my studies, I need to practice it religiously. I want to reach even a single step of your journey in photography.
I'm overwhelmed with their votes and approval with my creation the "COTTON BUDS" and gave me 4 User's awards.
Im appealing to you Sir Patrick for a 2nd hand lens fit for the Nikon SLR or if you have a friend who can help. I'm jobless right now, I cant afford to buy one. The money I have is reserve for my studies. I dont want to say anything but I rather prove my gratitude by my works.
You have an excellent shot once again. The other thing is, you enter all the details of what youve done with every pictures you uploaded that's why we are learning from your images not only watching it.
Sincerely Yours,
Dennis
Love the number of patches of light/shade and the lush green looks fantastic
Sean
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Dennis,
Well, I only have Canon equipment and my friends do too as far as I know. But I'll ask around and let you know. You have a good eye judging from your portfolio, so I think you have a lot of possible routes to take. I've been doing photography for 3 years and I've learned by studying and commenting on EPZ, so that is a good way to start. More later...
Patrick
Thank you Sir Patrick for your effort. I really appreciated it very much. You all never go wrong by helping the needy
EPZ is my 1st and last school of photography, nothing will gonna change that even my black hair turn to gray and white.
My deep gratitude Sir Patrick.
Dennis
A wonderfully serene and peaceful landscape. If the whole world could be captured in pictures like this what a marvellous life we would all lead. Fantastic image.
Ron
What an amazing place. Perfectly caught and composed!
Rgds
Paul
The comments say it all m8---however i think the green although natural is unbalancing the shot.
Were all entitled to our opinions and this is a great location--the trees are winning images on there own,the hills are magical---i just don`t like the green (reminds me of slime)
Keep them coming
Kim
Thanks for stopping by!
Kim, that gives me an idea. I'll do one from this spot in the summer with the dry golden-brown hills and dark green oaks, with similar light (if I can find any clouds at that time of year). We will see how that looks.
Patrick
Looks super Patrick its good to look at the larger picture, hope you are well sir
Doug
Simply magical Patrick, I love the light and shadows across the rolling hills - beautiful work!
Sarah *
This is lovely, - nice soft greens, - a change in colour for you!
W
Thanks for havnig a look around.
True Walter, it is a bit of a change. I'd like to try some B&W too.
Patrick
Stunning greens...Wonderful crop, with wonderful light...
Regards
Edgar
Really like the light on the trees and the rolling hills in this Patrick.
Thanks for the straightening advice. I'll give it a go on the one's that need it.
Martin
The quality of light you have captured here, Patrick is just wonderful. This an absolutely stunning piece of art.
Ted
Lovely light on the oaks Patrick, the f.g. fields look as though they have plough ridges running around them from farming activity in the past?
This looks like something out of a fairy tale book without the fairies Patrick
Stunning light on them there rolling hills !
Thanks for stopping by!
No problem Marting, glad I could halp!
Mike, I think it is from animals making trails over the years. Mosly cows and deer. There has never been farming here.
Patrick
This is very nicely composed, Patrick.
I have to agree with a couple of others, however, about the irridescent green: whilst being real, it somehow doesn't look real.
Weird, eh?!
ATB
Bill
Looks like Hobbit country to me Patrick..
Beautiful colours and tones..
Don
Lovely light enhancing the shape of the hills and the different shades of green!
Charlotte
Stunning as ever, Patrick. I love the light and detail in this shot.
Thanks for your comments. It was very green, so much so that I had to desatureate it a bit. I may even do it more for the final print.
Patrick
The sky's a bit glitchy and you appear to have some gamut problems with the green within colour space in places...some are clipped.........BUT
I reckon it's the best landscape you've put on EPZ, Patricko.
Cheers Keith, you have the eyes of an eagle. I had to reprocess this one because the greens were nearly blown out. That is probably when the clipping happened. At first I couldn't figure out why something seemed off other than the sky was getting red to the right of the frame. I'm glad you like this one. I wish I had more time to persue these sorts of scenes in the month or two during the year when there is good green grass and decent clouds and light!
Patrick
I also came to the same conclusion re the greens then read the comments. Fab shot overall though.
John
Woah, I've missed this one, what a shame I can't shortlist it any longer. Love it to the bits, even those crazy green spots up there
Delightful view, awesome work.
Looks like the scenery on my model railway layout.
Good stuff Pat.
Large version is Stunning, P.....Luv the greens in this, Beautiful!
Hoping all is well in your little corner of the world.....
Suz
wow, you live in a beautiful part of the world - wherabouts in California is this? - I studpidly assumed it would all be desert?
what does it look like in april ... is it still green?
Patrick this is one of my favourite pictures out of your entire collection, itīs different, itīs fresh and simple, but itīs a gorgeous composition!!!! again thanks for ur comments on some of my pics...hope to continuing learning from photographers like u!!
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