Before Sunset . . .

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 23, 2010650 views25 comments

Jimmy Gekas visited one weekend. We went around to see some of the interesting formations in the area, places that I've visited several times before and don't necessarily go to as often any more. But it's always fun to revisit these places and find new pictures.

There are lots of nice details in this area and I have more images from here that I hope to post. I know this formation is approaching icon status, and I wasn't necessarily planning to photograph it again as I already have an image of it in my portfolio. However, this is where the light and clouds were happening while we were there, so that dictated, to some degree, what was photographed.

I don't produce a lot of images that have clouds, so I took this opportunity to experiment with some clouds sharpening. I wanted to convey the raggedy, wind-blown quality of these post-storm clouds, and pushing the sharpness on them seemed to help.

This is the formation a little before sunset. I tried to shoot some images after sunset, but the light was gone.

As always, your comments and suggestions regarding this image would be helpful and appreciated.

5D, 28-200.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 23, 2010 at 11:43 AM

I like this alot Tony. Very nice light, color and looks like wonderful detail in the rocks. The clouds look great to me. Makes me think of an ice cream cone that has been dipped in chocolate.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on January 23, 2010 at 11:49 AM

Really beautiful. I really like the direct light hitting the rocks, especially with the dark clouds behind.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 23, 2010 at 11:51 AM

Whoa, there was indeed some awesome light before I decided to shoot

I really like this shot, Tony! The light on the formations is really, really sweet!

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on January 23, 2010 at 11:52 AM

Hi Tony,

Very naturally rendered. The web sharpening looks good - including the sky. The shadow detail also looks very appropriate. Thanks for sharing. Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on January 23, 2010 at 11:58 AM

Nice work Tony, the light and clarity here are wonderful. Your technigue to present the clouds as you saw them is really working for me, they don't looks smoothed out like they often do. Very nice.

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

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on January 23, 2010 at 12:10 PM

It's always fun to meet up with other photographers. Aside from the chatting, seeing how other people approach certain situations can be very enlightening. I really like that both of you show their individual view of that subject.
I love these rocks - they are otherworldly. Nothing like that can been seen around here. You interpretation works really well. I love the solid composition and the crispness you've got in the formation here. The clouds are fine as well. I don't see any particular cloud sharpening here - but that's not necessary as I want to focus on the foreground anyway. Speaking of sharpening - I see a slight haloing around the rocks which you might be able to reduce by using a "Find Edges"-based mask along your sharpening process. But that's not really a big issue.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on January 23, 2010 at 12:12 PM

Cool tandem posts, guys. Right now I like this one because it makes me hold out hope that even though I haven't made it out the door yet, I might still get lucky with "...after sunrise".

As to the image itself, the colors are great, as usual. The nature of the clouds within the frame justify the space above the formation (the only questionable thing in the composition).

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 23, 2010 at 2:15 PM

I think giving the clouds the sharpening gives them more prominence and adds a lot of depth to the image. Your handling of the light on the rocks is brilliant. A different and impressive shot from you, Tony. Excellent work. I also like the difference in vision between two artists of you and Jimmy's caliber even though you shot the same subject. I also agree completely with Nick that now I am craving a dipped cone from Dairy Queen.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 23, 2010 at 2:37 PM

Wonderful light on these formations. Well done, Tony.

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

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on January 23, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Great stuff, Tony. The warm light really highlights the lovely colours of this formation.

Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 23, 2010 at 4:25 PM

I like the warm light and crisp clouds Tony. I like seeing your post and Jimmy's together. While a study in contrasts, they compliment each other.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 23, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Very nice Tony!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on January 24, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Tony, I like the zoomed in view showing off the texture and the golden hour light. The sharpening does add some lines to bounce around in.

SS

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 24, 2010 at 12:36 PM

i'm commenting on yours before jimmy's.

deserving of iconic status. looks like three-dimensional hieroglyphics. as such (wnd while i note your objectives are on the clouds), i'd have considered slicing something off the top (hieroglyphical sacrilege, i know). wonderful light, and wonderful shapes.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on January 24, 2010 at 2:41 PM

What an amazing rock formation, beautiful color, light and detail. Excellent work Tony.
John

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 24, 2010 at 2:52 PM

Hi Tony
The light ,color and detail are beautifully crafted. I almost see a Loire french castle here. A beautiful image

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on January 24, 2010 at 2:54 PM

This is a very nice rendition of this area. I love the color of the rocks.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on January 24, 2010 at 6:16 PM

I like this one as much as the one on your site, maybe more. I like the way the colors on the stones contrast with the sky.

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

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on January 24, 2010 at 7:54 PM

You have captured the tones and textures here perfectly, Tony. Outstanding work!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on January 24, 2010 at 8:21 PM

great image, tony. you´re work is outstanding. light and colors are sweet and the rock textures are great. the clouds work nicely here, imo.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Enrique Vizcarra on January 24, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Looks rich of colors, very sharp, etc....

I like it a lot :)

Registered on September 10, 2009, 223 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Mervyn Dublin on January 25, 2010 at 3:19 AM

Nice colors and tones! Stunning details too.

Registered on September 23, 2009, 42 Posts, 110 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on January 25, 2010 at 12:09 PM

Gorgeous light, color, and great comp here Tony! I love how the sharpening on this makes it feel 3D-ish.

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 25, 2010 at 1:36 PM

Very nice shot, particularly with the warm light on the formation. I remember seeing the other shot in your portfolio a while back . . . I don't recall it well enough to compare the two, but I recall being quite impressed with it at the time.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on January 26, 2010 at 1:32 AM

A very lovely take on this unique formation, Tony. The textured clouds provide a beautiful backdrop and really make the sunlit sandstone stand out.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments