Critique Welcomed A View from Ptarmigan Ridge

[Brian Moore]

Mt. Baker rises some 10,000+ feet into the air. It's about 50 or so miles northeast of where I live, and is a significant peak in the Northern Cascades Range. There's a scenic spot near the Mt. Baker Ski Area called "Artist's Point." I had tried visiting on two previous occasions:

On my first attempt, in the summer of '22, I abandoned the effort due to wildfire smoke which was growing increasingly dense the closer I got to the mountain. This trip wasn't a total waste because on my way back I came across a delightful brewery nestled in the lowland woods (which was like a salvation because the drive had generated in me a diabolical thirst).

On my second attempt, in April of this year, I got almost all the way there only to discover the last mile or so of road was closed for the season. I didn't have any snowshoes with me. (Visited the brewery again on the way back though,...just to be sure the beer tasted the same as I remembered it.)

Third attempt,...July of this year. No wildfires and the road was open. There are hiking trails up there. One of them is the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail. This view is looking southeast. (I had planned to shoot 120 film with my Yashica TLR but I deceived myself into thinking the winder lever had malfunctioned so I shot my ex-MacKillop Sigma DP1 Merrill.)

 

[Ralph Turner]

What an absolutely splendid view. The fallen tree mirrors the mountain ranges well. That tree on the left bothered me a little at first (a symmetry thing 'n' all that) but take it away and the image is the lesser for it. Very nice.

 

[Brian Moore]

That tree on the left bothered me a little at first

Thanks a lot, Ralph. As I recall I played around with slightly different crops of this image and I liked that tree there after trying different "looks." Nevertheless, I appreciate your comments.

 

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks a lot, Ralph. As I recall I played around with slightly different crops of this image and I liked that tree there after trying different "looks." Nevertheless, I appreciate your comments.

Exactly, it needs the tree

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Must have been thirsty work cutting down all those trees, Brian. I don’t blame you visiting the brewery.

Seriously, very nicely-composed shot.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

A splendid image, a dream landscape! As Rob says, very well composed. I just wonder why the colours are reminiscent of certain old hand-coloured prints. Is this a specific choice of yours, Brian?

 

[Brian Moore]

Must have been thirsty work cutting down all those trees, Brian.

Nothing is too much trouble for my art, Rob.

I don’t blame you visiting the brewery.

Nothing is too much trouble for my art, Rob.

Seriously, very nicely-composed shot.

Thanks Rob. Much appreciated.

A splendid image, a dream landscape! As Rob says, very well composed.

Thank you Gianluca. Much appreciated.

I just wonder why the colours are reminiscent of certain old hand-coloured prints. Is this a specific choice of yours, Brian?

No particularly, Gianluca. It's what emerged from my various slider adjustments in Lr. I do like hand-colored prints so this look suited me. (I should probably make a preset so that I can reproduce the look.) Thanks again, Gianluca.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

I do like hand-colored prints so this look suited me. (I should probably make a preset so that I can reproduce the look.)

That is a good answer [The brain of Brian. Sorry for the joke.]

I like them too and in my editing "work" I sometimes get close to that look (even when it is not intended). Nonetheless, I would have liked it if it had been me who took that photo. You don't need my appreciation, however: well done, Brian.

 

[Brian Moore]

That is a good answer [The brain of Brian. Sorry for the joke.]

I like them too and in my editing "work" I sometimes get close to that look (even when it is not intended). Nonetheless, I would have liked it if it had been me who took that photo. You don't need my appreciation, however: well done, Brian.

Hahaha. “The brain of Brian” is so often a mystery to me.

Thanks for your comments, Gianluca.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well obviously I’m sorry to hear that you were forced to take refuge in beer after the first unsuccessful attempts to reach the site, but it was worth your persistence. Not only is it a gorgeous view, the composition is superbly framed by the trees, and the hand-coloured look is very effective I think (must be your late 50s phase!).

Anyway, what I want to know of course is did you visit the brewery again after the long hike?

 

[Brian Moore]

Well obviously I’m sorry to hear that you were forced to take refuge in beer after the first unsuccessful attempts to reach the site

Nothing is too much trouble for my art, Pete.

Anyway, what I want to know of course is did you visit the brewery again after the long hike?

I think this question belongs in that 1% category you mentioned in another post.

Not only is it a gorgeous view, the composition is superbly framed by the trees, and the hand-coloured look is very effective I think (must be your late 50s phase!).

Thanks Pete. Much appreciated. (Maybe I'm regressing to my late 50's.)

 

[Beth Carter]

congrats on finally making it up the mountain. love the wood at the bottom and the trees for framing. the northern cascades are great.

 

[Brian Moore]

congrats on finally making it up the mountain. love the wood at the bottom and the trees for framing. the northern cascades are great.

Thanks Beth. The Cascades are wonderful.