This is the first morning I have been able to get out this year. The skies were going to be clear at dawn, so I thought I would check out the frozen lake I often visit (Lake St. Clair.) Ice conditions were a little sketchy, so I didn’t venture out more than 10 feet or so from the shoreline. Geometric shapes that I often look for to use as foreground elements were far and few between. The light changes very quick here, especially after the sun just hits the horizon, leaving you little time to explore a lot of options before it gets really harsh on a clear day.
However, my very first shots were of these shapes that I thought looked like neurons or nerve cells. So I labeled these images “Ice Neurons.”
A little strange, yes, but hey – it was what I was thinking at the time. (No worries, the ice was quite stable here despite the appearance of these holes/cracks! 🙂 My neurons were functioning reasonably well. ) Well, I ended up processing this shot two different ways, one color version (Version 1), and one cyanotype version (Version 2). Obviously they are radically different, each evoking a completely different mood. Personally I am not sure which I like better, I suppose it depends on my mood, so I thought I would throw a poll out there.
Let me know which you like best by voting in the poll below.
Ice Neurons (version 1)
Ice Neurons (Version 2)
[polldaddy poll=4362840]
Excellent shot and title
I like the second version – well done
They’re both lovely, of course, but I voted for #1 because color’s my drug.
In this case, the color version is a significantly stronger image, in my opinion.
Beautiful image, Mark! I prefer the color version, especially because of the color of the ice. However, the b&w really does look like it could be cells under a microscope. My wife studies cancer cells, so I’ve seen a fair share of microscope images, and its really cool to see similar patterns at a much larger scale in nature.
Thanks a lot for the feedback folks! Version 2 hasn’t pulled ahead in the votes yet, but it is darn close!
I voted for version 2. I just love how it looks so other wordly, like a moonscape. So unique and interesting. Of course I love the color version as well, but the cyan is just so unique.
I voted for version 1 but I’m equally impressed with v2. Am I undecided? Maybe.
I really liked the first one because of the cold blue color also the sunrise along the horizon drew my eyes out there.
They are both so different! I like version #2, but I think I would choose version #1 knowing the location. I live on Lake St. Clair and know how the morning colors can be – it’s not always very easy to get them! So for this photo I like the more “realistic” version of the lake.
Wow, these were captive, both of them. But, the surreal effect you got with #2 makes it for me. Could have been a photo from another planet.
(And btw, since I haven’t been here for a while, it might be old in your eyes already, but nevertheless, your website design is just great, a visual treat!)
Hey Ove – thanks for stopping by. No, the theme is still pretty new for me also. 🙂
#2 is pulling ahead as my preference also.
Version 1 reminds me of the lake and version 2 reminds me of the moon. Both have distinct presence and power for me. Since I have no desire to go the moon but I do enjoy the lake, version 1 tweaks me more. I’m also impressed how you could see both versions and present them. I consider that something many people could not do.
I’m one of those can’t decide people. The images both have very different moods associated with them. I love the top one for it’s colors and other-worldly characteristics. The bottom one is deep and menacing like it’s from a completely different place in this world.
pj, Anita, Earl – thanks for your input!
It’s almost impossible for me to decide. It depends on mood, as you write, but also on YOUR intention as an author. If you want to present landscape – I would prefer the first one. If you want to present something more creative, abstractive and original, it will be definitely the second photo. The mood and look of both photos differs so much that it’s really impossible to choose one of them. If I really had to decide, I would probably choose the cyanotype version because you named the post, and also photo, “Ice neurons” so you probably wanted to emphasize those cracks in ice and that’s done better in the second photo. Colours in the first one drag attention from them a bit.
By the way, fantastic colours in the first one. The bumpy ice looks really alien.
Good point on the cyanotype Tomas. Yeah, I was wondering if they were too radically different to be able to choose between both, so for now I just placed them both in my gallery. I certainly appreciate your thoughts.
Version 2 – It has a stronger impact with me…the “Ice Neurons” look almost alien and version 2 heighten that feeling.
I feel confident that if I came back to view the two versions multiple times my choice of favorite would change nearly as many times. For me, too, I think it would depend on my mood.
Both are good, but I had to go with version 2. No real reason for the choice other than my gut reaction. It just feels stronger to me.