Checkerboard Sunset

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 10, 2009352 views20 comments

Like a lot of folks, I just returned from a trip to Zion last weekend. This is from the checkerboard mesa area on the first night of my trip. I had never been to this park before and was thoroughly impressed.

Comments and critiques appreciated.

Sony A850, 16-35 @ 24mm, 1/13, f/11, double processed raw

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on November 10, 2009 at 2:19 AM

I like this composition!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Mat Malone on November 10, 2009 at 2:59 AM

Hey Mike,

Great scene. Looks unfamiliar to me. I love the light hitting the red rock in the FG. I think my only suggestion would be a bit more sharpening.

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

Comment posted by Martin Stankiewicz on November 10, 2009 at 6:27 AM

This is an interesting image. I like the comp.

Registered on October 26, 2008, 52 Posts, 462 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Canning on November 10, 2009 at 7:59 AM

Nice warm light on the mesa and foreground. Composition looks good (maybe crop a little on the right). Sharpness looks a little soft to me.

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on November 10, 2009 at 8:06 AM

Nice comp and really nice light on the fg. Well done.

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 10, 2009 at 8:35 AM

Nice light and comp on a difficult to shoot landmark.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on November 10, 2009 at 9:32 AM

As recognizable as this landmark is, I've always felt that it doesn't lend itself well to really great compositions. You've done well here though to capture the east Zion sunset mood, with the warm light on the foreground and the cooler light on the formations and cliffs in the background. The clouds add interest as well, although it looks like there might be a contrail or two embedded in there that might be worth trying to clone away.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Bohlander on November 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Thanks for the comments. I tried a different sharpening technique for the smaller file.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/4093020406_1a00947eb8_o.jpg

If someone knows how to make the above appear as an image here instead of link, please let me know.

Registered on August 22, 2008, 14 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 10, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Really fine take on a location that is a tough place to come up with a composition. This works really well. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Anish Desai on November 10, 2009 at 11:32 AM

I haven't seen many attractive compositions of this iconic spot, so good job working the area and putting this scene together. The warm sidelight really conveys the afternoon mood of this wnoderful place.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 49 Posts, 410 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 10, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Mike,

Really nice. Good comp + good light = good photo.

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on November 10, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Wonderful lighting leads the eye effortlessly through this beautiful scene! I don't know that I've ever seen a shot from here that captures the character of this Zion landscape better.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 10, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Excellent comp and light Mike. One of my favorite views in Zion.

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

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on November 10, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Very nice. The light on the foreground trees and the monolith in the rear give this image great depth. Nice color to go along with it make this a great image.

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

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on November 10, 2009 at 1:39 PM

Really nice light and the best shot of checkerboard mesa that I've seen - well done. Would like to see a little more detail in the lines on checkerboard maybe.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on November 10, 2009 at 3:35 PM

Mike, you have really captured the way light and shadow play with each other here in canyon country.

Your comp shows the way you can see the light with the cone's face lit on the right side. Great processing job too, it's very natural. The second version's sharpening looks just right, hope to see some more from here soon.

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

Comment posted by Art Escobado on November 10, 2009 at 9:50 PM

Thanks for sharpening your image-it has reached a better presentation level, and yes the checkerboard mesa is tough to shoot, you pulled off a great "large landscape" shot in a place where most fail.

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 10, 2009 at 10:03 PM

Nice light both on the mesa and the foreground. Things feel a bit soft here, but I'm sure that's just the web presentation.