"Thanks for your comments Tom and Sam. Some images immediately are 'likeable' or perhaps 'accessible' is a better word. This IS a busy shot but it is also a deep shot. There is a lot to see and it is a bit of challenge. Perhaps one has to work more at 'getting' this than many landscapes one sees. It works for me despite the busyness, because it is in balance and multilayed. It IS a study in contrast and tones, like much of b&w work, but unlike many shapes and form factor less here than a dynamic tension that resonates between the different elements."

"Another very interesting aspect of this is the dialectical process it embodies. This image is NOT realistic. Two major alterations (at least) have produced what we see: the transformation of hue to pure value, and the transformation of the value distribution itself so as to increase the contrast. The whole effect of this is to bring us the familiar, the recognizable, in a novel way, and THAT compels us to look anew at the familiar. That, in a nutshell, is what art does, pure and simple. It freshens our experience of the world. I live for this sort of experience, and am endlessly grateful when it occurs."

"I think this is a wonderful image. And would second what Tom said. At our last meeting we discussed "busy-ness" in fotos. I believe their are images and then there are images. This is the latter, one of those wonderful images that is beautiful in the way you shot it technically, but is also what I consider a transformative experience when viewed. By that I mean, one has to do some work to understand and perceive the image. In doing so, the viewer is transformed. Once resolved, the viewers perception of the photograph is now viewed in a deeper and more exciting fashion. You have balanced so many things here that reach down, and pull us into the image in close to qualities hard to express. Make sense?"

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"Tom, thank you for taking the time to write your thoughtful analysis. It is always interesting to hear what attracts (or not) someone to an image, a piece of art, a concept. I suspect your experience happens to others but perhaps at an unrecognizable (by them) level, i.e. subconsciously. For you, with your training, you were able to recognize this process (abstract imagery resolved to concrete objects) and observe it at the conscious level. Fascinating. For me, I am always looking at and working with the play of light, shadow, lines, angles and patterns (abstractions) whilst trying to be rooted in the very real world of clean composition. This image has a LOT going on: the river, the trees, shadows on the ground, shadows on the mountain, the sky and its clouds, bright and dark spots, etc. Creating a busy image is easy and they are usually not terribly successful. The trick, I believe, is to create an image that can be a journey or discovery, but also not produce a sense of distraction or unease. I had another 7 images similar to this one that I had processed. Each had elements that worked, none have quite the same feel as this one. The balance of this image allows for a restful and fruitful exploration...or so I think."

"Jeff, this is amazing, and I want to be very clear as to why I say this. The very natural light/dark bands that march across the image appeared to me first as a strong abstraction, and then the image resolved into something recognizable. All visual reality is really abstract, and our brain makes from this recognizable objects (can you tell I'm a psychologist?!). Only rarely do we get to EXPERIENCE this happening right before our eyes. More than any other image I can easily recall, this one gives me that experience. I think this is an extraordinary achievement. I'm envious (as I usually am of your work.) Wonderful!"

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"AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"That's a cool image!"

"Thanks all for your comments!"

"бесподобно!!!!!"

"pretty!! :D"

"I would love to be able to go to the places you do to shoot. This is an amazing photo."

"very beautiful !!!!!"