Submitter's name:	Alasdair Mackintosh
Title:	California Hills
Gear used:	OM-4 + 85/2
Diaphragm:	f8?
Shutter speed:	1/250?
Film used:	Fiji Reala 100ASA
Technical information:	A fairly straightforward handheld shot. I used the OM-4's multi-spot meter to take a range of readings from the hills.
Subject information:	This was taken a few miles from the California coast, driving inland on highway 46. As a composition I don't think it's stunning, but I like the way that the light captures the shape of the hills and the texture of the land.
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Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

Normally when I think of california, I think of "golden" hills. It's nice to see there are lush green hills as well. :) I also like the sense of depth in this picture.

Comment left by: Brian Swale (bj@caverock.net.nz)

There are so many similarities in this landscape to some of New Zealand that it's uncanny. The way the residual patches of forest cling to damp spots that never got burned, earthquake fault lines, slumping and slipping patches of earth and rock, farm roads giving a visual focus, animal tracks making a myriad of horiziontal lines on steep slopes, rounded ridge-tops soon becoming step slopes, and so on. Then the sea below. I think the aspect that "makes" this shot for me, is the soft back-light on the young tender grass that makes some near slopes luminous with green; and contrasting with distant parts where the colours are progressively less saturated. Lots to see in this: I like it. Brian

Comment left by: Mike Cormier (no e-mail specified)

It's just too bad you didn't have a nice crystal clear blue sky to work with... but a great shot nonetheless.

Comment left by: Doro (no e-mail specified)

I find this picture really exciting - somehow to me it looks more tele than wide - it's so much depth in it :)

Comment left by: Xato (xato0@yahoo.com)

Nice composition of rolling California hills. I like the 85mm lens choice. I've driven over many California back roads but not Hwy 46 yet but it is now on my list.

Comment left by: Mike Lazzari (no e-mail specified)

I like how the green foreground hills become the distant pastel hills. In fact I would have lifted the viewer's eye by including more background and sky. Beautiful. I gotta get down there in winter.

Comment left by: Keith Rocke (keith@keithrocke.com)

Alasdair - your composition is just fine. Appears that the shot was taken - either mid-morning or mid-afternoon... judging the shadows. Even using the 85mm, the compression works well. The lighting is clearly hi-contrast. The multi-spot averaging allowed 70% of the subject to be reliably captured. The dense shadows (up front) and blown-out hi-lites (background) ARE unavoidable due to the hi-contrast situation. Possibly using a 2-stop ND grad would have brought the background within range. I hope you revisit this location for 'golden light'... pre/post sunrise or pre/post sunset possibilities and plan on using a slower shutter speed, a smaller apperture and (if you have access to one) a ND Grad to bring the background into range. "GREAT EFFORT!!!" Long live OM-4's and Zuikos... :-)

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