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"High in the sunlit silence..."
"High in the sunlit silence..."
Bear_Music


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Silence II (Basic Editing)
Collection: Challenges
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Location: Somewhere over Arizona
Date: Jan 24, 2009
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/250
Date Uploaded: Jan 27, 2009

My father was an aviator in WWII. I made this image over Arizona while returning to California for his (and my mother's) memorial service. "High Flight", the unofficial aviator's hymn, was on my mind, I was photographing clouds for it, and was extremely fortunate that this other jet passed by so close to us. I don't expect much of a score, 'cuz nobody would ever use this as a cover shot for "Silence" magazine, but I don't care. Here's the entire text:

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.


RIP, my father. We will miss you.

********

From RAW to CS3, with considerable adjustment of contrast, clarity, highlight recovery, on the way.

IN CS3, shadow/highlight, curves, and levels applied, then a HEFTY dose of Neat Image 'cuz I grained it to bejaysus in transit.

Resize, border, save for web.

Statistics
Place: 54 out of 178
Avg (all users): 5.5687
Avg (commenters): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 5.2545
Avg (non-participants): 5.6795
Views since voting: 710
Views during voting: 330
Votes: 211
Comments: 7
Favorites: 1 (view)


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AuthorThread
02/04/2009 09:32:45 AM
Wonderfully composed and processed. I love the positioning of the jet and it's contrails coming into the frame. The black silhouette is perfect for this.

Honestly, the 'Silence' connection on this for me was there, but thin...I've never been on a jet that was quiet. Maybe an air glider? :-)

As for the 'Photographers Comments'...thanks for sharing. It is a beautifully written tribute to your father.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/03/2009 09:25:33 PM
... I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air." I like how you captured the feeling!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2009 04:26:41 PM
good: nice dramatic clouds and feel. interesting perspective. nice border and clarity to whole image. the colors are great too.

bad: the contrast is a tad strong for me. and overall image is a bit dark. that's about it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2009 04:20:40 AM
Nice shot of this jetliner streaking through some impressive looking clouds. Jetliners are pretty noisy though aren't they? But I do get the feeling of silence that you are trying to convey here. The way one sees the jetliner high above in the silent sky and then sometimes very faintly you can hear the sound of the jet long after it has disappeared from sight. 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2009 12:55:39 PM
nice shot.
Chemtrails !! watch your skies America.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2009 10:31:55 PM
Nice feeling here. Very strong contrast, nice tones. Contrail detail is great. Just wish the plane silhouette was over a brighter spot...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2009 11:07:25 AM
Did you place this in the correct challenge? I like the image. Taken from an airplane, I assume. Jet engines are one of the loudest things I can imagine, even from many miles away. Bumping this up on review, and fresh eyes context. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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