Last Minute

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 22, 2009410 views42 comments

Been a while folks - my apologies for being somewhat absent. Work, life and just stuff seems to get in the way. It also doesn't help that until the recent trip to the Eastern Sierra, I haven't had any new work to share.

This was captured on that recent trip and on Sunday the 4th for the NPN Nature Appreciation Day. We had a great gathering of about 20 California photogs and met for a couple of hours among intermittent snow flurries. A good time had by all - it was great meeting some new friends.

For all the years I've been visiting the Eastern Sierra, I've always been attracted to the back lit sage and rabbit brush of the high desert chaparral. While waiting for the rise of the full moon near the overflow parking area at the South Tufa, Mono Lake, I watched and photographed the last rays of light hitting the brush.

Quick scan and processing. Would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Thanks!

4x5, V100f, 210mm

Lon

Comments

42 comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on October 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM

I always tell people when we're out on the deserts, Sage and Rabbitbrush are two of the most photogenic plants there are. The lighting really shows these off nicely.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on October 22, 2009 at 12:51 AM

I think this is very nice, Lon. The warmth that the backlit sage brings to the scene is sweet. I enjoy the shapes of the larger bushes in the mid ground and the way the distant cool shadows play off of the warmth in the foreground.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on October 22, 2009 at 1:01 AM

Backlit rabbitbrush has long attracted me though I've never made even a halfway decent image of it. You have succeeded here, Lon. I especially like that the background is completely in shade and contrasts so nicely with the backlit sage and rabbitbrush. Excellent work.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 22, 2009 at 1:06 AM

The backlightning works great here, brings out details in the sage brush so well and contrasts nicely with the darker areas in the image. Also the color-contrasts are effective. As usual a very well arranged composition. Has your signature look to it and its great to see something new from you here - welcome back!

Not sure - but maybe a very minor crop from the bottom could simplify a bit more: There are these stems pointing towards the right - they add some action and "movement" at the bottom that demands a tiny bit too much attention - maybe. I am not saying crop it all away, but maybe just the lowest part of it. Just me thinking loud....

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on October 22, 2009 at 1:20 AM

Mmm, makes me feel like I'm there. Love the golden light and blue shadows. Nice image.

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on October 22, 2009 at 1:39 AM

Love the light here Lon. It makes the Image
Lots of form and shape superbly composed

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Marko Trebušak on October 22, 2009 at 1:59 AM

Hi Lon,

Although backlight is quite dramatic, this photo is still saying "calm and peacefull" to me. And I like arrangement of light/dark parts of your photo.

Cheers,
Marko

Registered on November 1, 2003, 98 Posts, 1260 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on October 22, 2009 at 2:05 AM

What would have been an otherwise 2-d and boring image, has completely come to life with lots of nice layers and shapes because of that wonderful light. Nice find.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on October 22, 2009 at 2:09 AM

Awesome shot Lon!

That is some sweet light!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 22, 2009 at 2:21 AM

This is incredible Lon. That light just makes these bushes come alive with a golden radiance. That and your superb composition make this, for me, an exquisite, beautiful, stunning image. Love it. Spectacular work.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Mat Malone on October 22, 2009 at 3:24 AM

Lon,

You did a great job organizing the brush front to back, and the light really brings it all together. Thinking about the print of this makes me drool

Registered on December 15, 2008, 91 Posts, 882 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on October 22, 2009 at 4:14 AM

Wow Lon, what a beautiful lighting
Awesome

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 22, 2009 at 4:43 AM

Beautiful image sculpted in light, definitely has your signature Lon. Beautifully seen and done.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Steven M Kahn on October 22, 2009 at 6:29 AM

Lon, I like the reverse "S" composition from background to foreground and the slight angularity to each section as well as the lighting. Very well seen scene and very nicely crafted.

Registered on July 20, 2009, 140 Posts, 1198 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on October 22, 2009 at 7:32 AM

wonderful lighting and your composition is superb, Lon. Nice that the background is in shade.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 22, 2009 at 8:32 AM

The layers of light and subtle colors here are gorgeous Lon.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on October 22, 2009 at 9:28 AM

Sublte..and sweet. Nice work, Lon.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on October 22, 2009 at 9:32 AM

Amazing how good light can take a simple scene and make it sing. It takes a master to see and record it this well, great job Lon!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Gloth on October 22, 2009 at 9:35 AM

Great job conveying the beauty of the high desert. It is difficult to pull together a composition such as this and this one works very well. Everything looks great here. The background gives a nice sense of the expanse while the foreground provides strong detail. Well done.

Registered on August 29, 2007, 96 Posts, 1003 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 22, 2009 at 9:36 AM

Great study in light and texture Lon. There is some quiet color in that background sagebrush that definitely compliments the warm rabbit brush extremely well.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 22, 2009 at 10:23 AM

I've seen this light too but have never composed it successfully, Lon. I really like what you came up with here. That foreground rabbit brush is almost a picture of it's own.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 22, 2009 at 10:46 AM

Wonderful light and layers, my friend. Love the backlit glow.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on October 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM

Well done, Lon. I like the lighting and the composition selection that
show wonderful textures and lines in addition to the lighting.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 22, 2009 at 11:13 AM

This positively glows Lon - beautiful! The more subtle colors of the sage really comes through very well in this.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 22, 2009 at 3:25 PM

Way to go Lon! What a soft and beautiful image. Can't wait to see the next one.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on October 22, 2009 at 5:50 PM

I'm enjoying the repeated shapes at different levels of lighting disappearing into the distance.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 22, 2009 at 6:53 PM

Sweet! great light and comp, Lon!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on October 22, 2009 at 6:59 PM

What beautiful lighting, the one thing I always look. Terrific image.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments

Comment posted by Younes Bounhar on October 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Very nice catch, the thumnail really doesn't do it justice (neither does the compressed jpg presumably), but I'll bet you it looks amazing in print.

Registered on November 25, 2007, 81 Posts, 1234 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on October 22, 2009 at 7:16 PM

Love the way that rim light enhances the beautiful shapes and colors of this section of rabbit brush and sage. This epitomizes why I love the eastern side of the Sierra. The only way I would enjoy this scene any more is if I could smell it.

Well seen and captured!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 22, 2009 at 7:27 PM

Thanks very much for the comments folks!

The only way I would enjoy this scene any more is if I could smell it.

Eric, I'm glad you mentioned that because that's a part of the whole experience that we can't bring home in the images. HEY, some one will steal this and make millions.... I can see it now, in a gallery.... scratch-n-sniff prints! Bring the whole experience right to your living room! Ha!

It's a great smell though, that sage.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 22, 2009 at 8:42 PM

Good to see you posting again! A great study in light and texture.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on October 22, 2009 at 9:10 PM

If you've smelled it once in person this just brings all back.

The light really brings out the reds.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on October 22, 2009 at 10:57 PM

Lon,

One thing that separates the good from the great is the ability to take the common and mundane and transform it to the rare and exciting. We love these things because of the memories, the beauty and passion are right there.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on October 22, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Beautiful shot, Lon. Excellent light and detail. Lovely scene.

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on October 23, 2009 at 1:00 AM

Scratch and Sniff...huh? The wheels are turning.

Lon, you've got a way with light. Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on October 23, 2009 at 7:17 AM

you showed off the plants very well. this screams eastern sierra even without any bg as context.
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Beiser on October 23, 2009 at 9:09 AM

Hi Lon, good to see you and your work back. I like what you have done here, the great depth and really showing off these types of plants.

Registered on July 16, 2005, 0 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on October 23, 2009 at 1:21 PM

Good to see you around here Lon. The photo is a beauty.

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 23, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Shots like this want to make me throw out my dslr and transfer.
Really Great Lon

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 23, 2009 at 7:28 PM

Good to see you back, Lon. Your skills didn't rust while you were away, I see. Brilliant image and the perfect selection of subject and light for an intimate portrait of the desert.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 23, 2009 at 10:51 PM

Sage and rabbit brush are two of the most photogenic plants for sure. I'm always attracted to it. The high desert, and eastern sierra "transition zone" Are probably my favorite environments. When you get some nice light on them, it's hard to beat. Your exposure is beautiful(as usual) and the light and subject matter are, well, beautiful as well.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments