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Welcome to the North Pole
2nd PlaceWelcome to the North Pole
LalliSig


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Postcard II (Advanced Editing V*)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
Location: Bláfjöll, Iceland
Date: Nov 15, 2006
Aperture: 2.0
ISO: 1600
Shutter: 30 sec
Galleries: Landscape, Nature
Date Uploaded: Nov 19, 2006

 Went on a roadtrip after midnight with my buddy Indriði ( indridistefans on DPC) this last tuesday (well technically wednesday since it was after midnight) and we took a couple of shots, he is probably going to enter this challenge with something similar. The temperature was about -10 celcius so it was freezing but it was very refreshing standing out in the cold for an hour or so under those stars, at least we didn´t fall asleep during the ride home. Taken at 01:18 am.

Anyway, love the 5D and iso 1600, combined with a large aperture lens. Too bad the 28mm is a bit soft in the corners so wide open but nothing that I feel is hurting this image. Hope to buy the 24mm 1.4L one day to be able to have an even bigger aperture and hopefully a little better image quality too...

Post processing was somewhat but really nothing that wouldn´t be legal in basic editing except I did a seperate curves adjustment on the ground and the sky. Vignetting is not added this time in post processing as I am doing normally but it´s a side effect from the big aperture and the wide lens, I kindof liked it here and didn´t correct it this time.

I was contemplating having this shot as only 600x400 and adding a white frame and writing the title of the image there as a postcard would say but I felt the image lost a little punch with the reduced size so I opted not to do that, hope nobody will hold that against me :)

The orange light in the left side of the frame is ambient light coming from Reykjavik.

Wow! Can´t believe I got an 8+, though that would be next to impossible. Don´t care that I didn´t win as I never expeced that in the first place, who can possibly complain about a 8+ and a new personal best score, I never thought this image would do this well anway but glad it did :)

It´s one of my personal favorites and it´s going to go up on our wall printed out on canvas possibly as big as 90x60cm. Thanx!

Later entered a photo taken right after this one in the Free Study XV, here it is so people can see how they match.


Statistics
Place: 2 out of 266
Avg (all users): 8.0435
Avg (commenters): 9.1356
Avg (participants): 7.9469
Avg (non-participants): 8.1368
Views since voting: 36364
Views during voting: 598
Votes: 230
Comments: 133
Favorites: 162 (view)

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AuthorThread
 01/06/2016 11:53:33 PM
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Message edited by author 2016-01-07 04:54:20.
 01/06/2016 11:48:20 PM
a white frame and writing a couple of shots, the title of the image there as a later entered a photo postcard would say but I felt the image lost like [url=www.mudanzavalencia.com.es]mudanzas valencia[/url]
 12/08/2006 01:27:45 AM
Til hamingju Lárus með að ná mynd yfir átta. Glæsilegt!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2006 06:34:35 PM
Lovely, tender and then with that exotic feel. Congratulations on your RED.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2006 10:32:03 AM
Congratulations, larus, on yet another fantastically beautiful entry!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2006 08:50:06 AM
Gorgeous! And thanks for the added detail about the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2006 04:53:54 AM
Til hamingju með árangurinn! Gaman að fylgjast með þér rúlla upp hverri keppninni á fætur annari

Frændi í Borgarnesi
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2006 06:10:02 PM
Incredible... i need to get up there!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2006 12:48:03 PM
absolutely stunning Larus, WOW!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2006 06:53:14 AM
Magnificent shot Lárus, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2006 03:01:15 PM
Frrrábær mynd Lárus. Congrats on your 8+... this picture is amazing in all aspects.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2006 10:39:02 AM
To all of us that have wondered at one point or another what the wow-factor is. See the picture above "WOW-Factor" from left to right - top to bottom. GREAT SHOT!

Message edited by author 2006-11-30 15:40:16.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2006 09:37:06 AM
Getting to the point that saying congrats is getting repiticious Larus *grin*
Congrats on this magnificent shot - you make it look too easy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2006 09:33:52 AM
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2006 08:39:16 AM
this literally moves me to tears -- stunning. I've never seen anything like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/29/2006 01:31:22 PM
like you need more comments lol, but I'll add anyways. This is beautiful.

My almost 6yo daughter saw it and asked if Santa's house was behind that mountain on the left side where it's all lit up. I told her yes. SO now you need to get a picture of Santa's workshop. jk

This is breathtaking!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2006 07:57:04 PM
this is definatly the best shot ive ever seen...pound for pound.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2006 06:14:59 PM
Beautiful shot. I think the soft corners, if anything, added to the shot. Congrats Larus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2006 04:25:34 PM
great photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2006 04:36:45 AM
Wow...this is an amazing shot! Beautiful colors! Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2006 03:07:44 AM
You have captured a very beautiful North Pole. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 11:45:46 PM
Fantastic picture of a fantastic view. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 05:15:44 PM
Just incredible shot!!! A well deserved ribbon. How you got 2nd with an 8 is beyond me... But congratulations again...Beautiful shot....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 05:04:31 PM
Many of us will never get to see something like this. It must have been breathtaking in person. Thanks for bringing this to us. It belongs in photo history!

Message edited by author 2006-12-16 23:28:28.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 03:51:51 PM
beautiful shot. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:51:27 PM
A very stunning scene, congrats on winning the red ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 10:53:55 AM
Everytime I take a night shot for a challenge you leave me a comment on how this is good but up here in Iceland you need to bring something more to the photo because you are used to seeing Northern Lights and then you give me a 6, LOL. Now I see exactly what it means to take a night shot!!!! Congrats on the 8!

Message edited by author 2006-11-30 04:52:51.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 09:38:39 AM
Great job on the win Larus, very well deserved! Lucky those stars didn't move much :D Keep up the great work !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 08:15:38 AM
Incredible image! Are you going to make this one available for print for the rest of us??? :) Congrats on second place and your well deserved score :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 07:41:41 AM
What a stunning image - truly beautiful. Congratulations on a very well deserved 2nd place.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 07:29:44 AM
Great shot Larus. Figured the lack of text might knock you down a smidge but still an 8+. Looking forward to receiving this card.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 04:51:44 AM
You should submit to APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 04:45:04 AM
A Beautiful Image!!! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 03:48:06 AM
A magical image, Larus!
:-O
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 03:09:46 AM
Congrats Lárus for your membership at the elite 8+ club. The photo is unbelievable. TÆR SNILLD, as we Icelanders say it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:34:19 AM
Congratulations now I see that I need a 5D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:26:21 AM
Til hamingju Lárus glæsileg mynd!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:22:31 AM
Wow, another 8.0 score! Who could ever imagine an 8.0 score and not winning blue. What an incredible challenge! This is spectacular! CONGRATULATIONS!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:08:41 AM
Ertu að grínast með þessa mynd??!!! Þvílík snilld! Til hamingju annars með 8+, magnað kvikindi.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 02:03:33 AM
This will stay there forever. :)) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 01:40:03 AM
Larus
Man that was close
I have been sitting here following my score as it dropped all week knowing that there were some really really great great photos in this challenge and I had yours and Alex's photos picked as being ahead of mine (with a few others)so I was not surprised to see another 8 in the challenge
congrats on the top score for your camera
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 01:33:45 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon with this simply stunning image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 12:48:02 AM
8+ club now huh? .... we never gonna see you again now you joined that elite club..

PB not bad mate, to be honest this shot is WOW!!! & WEEEEEEE! & YOOOOO!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/27/2006 12:21:01 AM
Ertu fatlaður??? Þetta á ekki að vera hægt. Vá.

Tilhamingju. Þessi mynd á þetta skilið. Það er líka kúl að lenda í 2. sæti með 8+.

Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 11:48:50 PM
Wow. Congrats on your 8+ score Larus and your PB.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 10:13:34 PM
Mr Larus my friend, congratulations on a breathtaking photo, an 8, and the new 5D top score crown.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 09:59:32 PM
Congrats to your red, a new PB and and a whopping 8+ score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 09:11:24 PM
An 8 but no blue - my god things are getting tough round here ;-)
Top spot for the 5D too - I don't even figure on the front page with my tiny 7.5's - heheh

Congrats on the red thugh.

Message edited by author 2006-11-27 03:16:51.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 08:50:41 PM
This is another favorite of mine, and love, love, love this one Larus. You have really captured a magical scene here, and brought so much joy to so many, with this truely wonderful image.

"C.O.N.G.R.A.T.U.L.A.T.I.O.N.S."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 08:28:11 PM
Only one thing wrong with this image, the North Pole is in Canada. ;oP

Excellent capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:59:45 PM
WOW, WOW is all the words I can get out of my fingers - Not a bad snap shot at all :-))
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:47:37 PM
awesome... congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:34:47 PM
Til hamingju Lárus - kominn í 8-hópinn :)

Congratulations on yet another ribbon, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:30:45 PM
Congratulations Lárus! The first 8+ way to go. Þetta er alveg brjáluð mynd hjá þér annars, vel gert.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:25:30 PM
Jeez that's stunning. Big congrats on your ribbon and 8 score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:17:41 PM
An 8+ score... How amazing for you with this one of a kind perfect image. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:14:50 PM
Wow, Larus. I missed it in voting, but this would've been a 10. You must have been thrilled just to see this, much less shoot it. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:14:15 PM
breathtaking, congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:11:31 PM
Congratulations!!! Incredible shot!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:11:01 PM
awesome shot! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:10:20 PM
Congrat on 2nd place .Great Post Card
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:07:46 PM
Congrats on your PB!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 07:06:23 PM
absolutely breathtaking! i soooo want to visit Iceland one day. congrats on such a gorgeous shot and another ribbon. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/26/2006 06:55:01 PM
Beautiful - I wish I could give it a 12!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 03:44:09 PM
Wow, that looks like another planet, amazing photo. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 03:25:25 PM
Stunning photograph! Please tell me where this is. I want to move! Very nicely handled, the balance between sky and foreground is perfect. I just wish you had added some text down at the bottome right hand side to give a location. You definately sold people on taking a trip here, but where is here? Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 02:51:16 PM
Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 01:54:20 PM
Super super shot. Not super-postcardy of its own right, but super nonetheless.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 11:19:03 AM
Love the colors and the composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 11:11:12 AM
wow, beautiful bumping to 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 08:55:35 AM
Surely this will ribbon. Probably with a very high score too :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/26/2006 12:02:04 AM
One of the best landscapes i have seen on DPC
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS TAKE A RIBBON.
10
good luck

Kev
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/25/2006 11:50:00 AM
Wow - the stars and the aurora lights are beautiful. This is not fair!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/25/2006 01:31:26 AM
Wow!! The green and the light are stunning, as is everything else, such as leading lines, composition, clarity! I wish I were half this good. Way to go, whoever you are.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2006 09:17:10 PM
Hey, you need to clean your lens, just kidding. Awesome shot, should finish high. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2006 06:18:03 PM
Fantastic sky with stars, road through the snowy mountains. I think that you could have come up with a better title that's not so obviously false, but the image is so good that there's no penalty from me. 10 and hope that it does well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2006 04:46:42 PM
Breathtaking shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2006 10:03:59 AM
Lovely. Though I'm betting it's Iceland and not the North Pole. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 09:40:10 PM
wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 08:18:42 PM
Wow...

That's not fair competition with you guys having such scenary to shoot - it is not even funny! :-). OK, I think you have to get out and endure some little cold too, so all is even.

Terrific image: I wish there was less road there (cropped the bottom an inch more), but what do I know and who really cares? I can lift the eyes just a bit and enjoy the scene.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 07:55:09 PM
how much manipulation.........? really curious.......wonderful, interesting image! my guess is this will ribbon....nice comp if a little flat........nice work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 03:54:34 PM
wow... WOW! If ever an image hit me in the face at first glance, this is it. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 06:42:39 AM
Truly one of the most amazing photos I have ever seen! Amazing colors and scenery, great composition and exposure. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/23/2006 01:32:43 AM
Absolutely beautiful colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 10:35:15 PM
Stunning and get top vote from me..... "TEN".....
This would be one of the very "BEST" images, that I have ever seen at DPC.....
Just B-R-E-A-T-H-T-A-K-I-N-G.....The very "BEST" in this challenge.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 06:34:37 PM
Takes my breath away! Looks like another planet!! If not, it's got to be Iceland. :)

Fantastic image in every way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 03:56:26 PM
absolutely awesome!!! adding to faves!!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 11:31:54 AM
LOL, I know who took this :-)

Nice one mate. definitely a ten from me. Gotta love that 5D eh?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 08:12:25 AM
Amazing lighting and perspective. Well done. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 07:59:10 AM
Very nice. Great colors, great comp. Not too cliché postcard. One of my top pics. Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 06:44:58 AM
This is gorgeous!! It's like a painting. Fantastic color in the sky. What can I say but: wow. The exposure is perfect so that the stars and sky are rendered beautifully but the landscape is exposed great as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 02:23:58 AM
Oh wow, are those stars??? I love those colors in the sky!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/22/2006 02:15:02 AM
Uh...thats really magical and magnificent view.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 10:42:30 PM
Amazing!!! Are you on Earth???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 05:01:48 PM
There we go! A really beautiful aurora borealis - amazing work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 04:53:29 PM
"North Pole" in white text on the bottom right would have made this shot a 10 for me. Talk about wow. :) 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 04:26:51 PM
AMAZING colors! Congrats on an incredible image. I'm always a sucker for Northern Lights shots. - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 01:48:57 PM
When I saw this, my breathing literally stopped. This is AMAZING. This must be the picture that someone in the forum mentioned as the best picture they had ever seen on DPC: and boy, were they right. If this, however, is not the aforementioned image, that's ok too, as it is one of the most incredible images I have had the pleasure of seeing. Now I know why I love DPC. It is witnessing a gem like this pop up on the screen unexpectedly. which takes your breath away. Oh, by the way, this is going home with the blue!
Thank you so much for sharing it with us. A visual inspiration indeed! Oh, and this is deserving of nothing LESS than a 10 (in my book).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 12:39:40 PM
You have my number 1 vote for this contest; my only 10. Certainly the image is better for the sake of having no text. But overall it is a very seasonal view and exquisitely beautiful. In Iceland you certainly have some lovely vistas. But even better, there are some talented photographers to relay them to those of us who are too far away to see them first hand. Well done and season's greetings.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 10:55:45 AM
superb. this has my vote for a top 10. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 09:48:01 AM
This will be tough to beat. Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 09:31:25 AM
Love this - the detail of the stars and the clarity of the foreground is wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 08:23:53 AM
Love the photo, would have been nice if you had added some text, maybe your title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 05:58:01 AM
THat just draws in the eye. Wowsers - magical. I understand why you chose no type!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 04:34:55 AM
A simply amazing photograph, incredibly beautiful. If you had gone one step further and done the complete postcard theme this would be a ten from me. Of course, I do understand not wanting to ruin a photo this good. Great job, 9!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 01:20:54 AM
wow!!!!! 10 10 10 10 10.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2006 12:32:15 AM
I feel like I'm there. Beautiful. A "10" from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 07:21:36 PM
Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 07:07:37 PM
wow i like this alot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 03:04:32 PM
What fantastic color! I love how the road just kind of disappears into the mountains under the lights too...absolutely beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 02:31:41 PM
a magical shot, great DOF the sky is striking and the whole picture works well together
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 10:31:02 AM
Wooah !!
(no vote)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 09:42:12 AM
dísös! þvílík fegurð! 10 engin spurning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 09:22:35 AM
Amazing to see this. WOW oh WOW. Love it. Like another planet. Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 09:03:25 AM
awesome, doesnt look real... i have to go here one day.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 07:53:34 AM
WOW! If I ever go there, I'll buy that card. This is spectacular.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 07:10:39 AM
very nice. Is it really the North Pole? 7 for now
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 06:49:11 AM
Spectacular!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 06:17:05 AM
Wow, what a capture! Would have been better with text
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 04:30:09 AM
Those colours are amazing. What a beautiful place.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 04:10:43 AM
OMG, hopefully one day I will see that with my own eyes. For now your great postcard will have to do.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 04:10:12 AM
Stunning. Wish the text were on the "card."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 03:58:01 AM
fantastic colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 03:10:04 AM
Amazing colours.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 03:03:26 AM
WOW! Gorgeous image... hopefully I'll make it through 20% so that my 10 on this will count! Nicely done... I'd be interested in which camera was used/time/lack of noise.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2006 12:04:02 AM
Of course, that can't be the North Pole, as it is just ice there with no roads.
So a better title would be "Welcome to the Arctic Circle".

Yeah, whatever - this picture is great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 11:55:26 PM
has to be a ribbon winner...MUST BE...wish you had some text on this to give it a real postcard feel though...9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 11:29:28 PM
I am quite lost for words - all I can come up with is WOW!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 11:23:29 PM
wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 09:18:37 PM
Wow just amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 08:08:03 PM
wow ... this is just such an amazing photograph .. could be a winner ..... =10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 07:49:56 PM
WOWOWOWOWOW! I can almost guarantee this will ribbon! HOLY CRAP! This is by far one of the coolest photos I've seen on this site. I'm adding it to my favorites.

I pretty much love everything about it...WOW 10+++++
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2006 07:32:28 PM
WOW.10
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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