How the Art Happens - The Calico Forest

October 30, 2019  •  1 Comment

The Calico Forest

The Calico ForestThe Calico ForestPatches of color dot the Gunnison National Forest along the West Elk Scenic Byway captured in this Colorado landscape photograph. "The Calico Forest" is available as a very limited edition of only 20 prints. These signed and numbered fine art prints are 20" x 30" and are $1,000 each.

Fall is my favorite season. I'm especially drawn to the warm hues and warm temperatures that usually persist well into October in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I also love to witness the transitions from one season to the next. These shoulder seasons can be visually and emotionally exciting times.

"The Calico Forest" was discovered while traveling over Kebler Pass along the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway in western Colorado. Later in October most of the aspen trees have lost their leaves but the oak trees hold their brown and copper-colored foliage much longer. And, of course, the conifers add a nice touch of green to the otherwise warm-toned landscape. The subdued, soft, light of a bright, overcast, sky helps bring out the textures and adds a little glow to the foliage without introducing deep shadows and too much contrast. A long, 300mm, telephoto lens compresses the distance in the scene and flattens it a little bit eliminating a distracting, grey, sky and creating a puzzle-like bit of impressionism. The only thing that bothered me about this image was the two V-shaped, dead trees. There just wasn't a way to compose the scene without them. So, I embraced their presence by making them part of the composition, placing them near the lower-left 1/3 of the photo which is one of the strongest positions in a landscape. Over time, I've come to love those two trees. I think they add some interest to the scene and make it seem a little more realistic and believable. Today, it would be easy for me to eliminate them from the scene via tools in my image editing software, Adobe Photoshop. But, they're here to stay!

"The Calico Forest" makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. I could stare at it forever, finding countless small areas to explore and seek more intimate compositions. I want to wallpaper my office with this image! How does it make you feel? I like it so much I have decided that it should be a limited edition. There will only be 20 prints of this image ever made. Each one is signed and numbered and printed 20" x 30". Would you like one?


Comments

David Bachman(non-registered)
You've done it again Dusty ... AWESOME!
David
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Crested Butte, Colorado photographer, Dusty Demerson creates fine art photography displayed as prints and canvases and provides private photo tours in and around western Colorado.

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