Desert Morning

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 13, 2010361 views26 comments

Taken last month at Canyonlands NP, just off the right side of Mesa Arch. I liked the side/backlit effect on the brush. I used a reflector with several exposures to reflect the golden sunlight fairly evenly across the shaded sandstone. I like the glow effect. I would like others opinions on this effect though (i.e. does it appear too 'unnatural') as well as the comp. See LARGER VERSION for best detail.

Canon 5D2. 16-35/2.8. ISO 100. f/13. 1 exposure for the sky, and 5 exposures for the fg, with the reflector oriented to light up different areas of the fg and then blended using the 'lighten' blending mode.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on July 13, 2010 at 9:04 PM

This is very nice. I has so many beautiful elements in it. I just wished you kept more of the sky on the left.

- Dan.

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

Comment posted by John Mumaw on July 13, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Very creative angle here!
I especially like the backlit buttes, spires and mountain range fading into the haze.
An interesting technique you used to light the foreground, and I think you were completely successful. Fine detail, and the backlit brush looks great.

Wonderful capture, Doug!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on July 13, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Strong composition and nice use of the reflector (not too unnatural for me). I even enjoy this as a pano with the sky cropped out. Good stuff!

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

Comment posted by Angela Classen on July 13, 2010 at 9:20 PM

I agree with Eric's comment about cropping the sky out. Would look really cool that way! The light is great, and I love all the layers and textures.

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 13, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Doug,

Interesting lighting choices you made for this photo. It almost flattens an otherwise deep scene, and I find that interesting.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on July 13, 2010 at 9:46 PM

Amazing image, Doug, and excellent technique. What an original take on this place.

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

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on July 13, 2010 at 10:08 PM

impressive technique Doug and thanks for sharing! love the light here and even that slight layer in the backround! great detail throughout and colors. I would just clone the two little "flares??" in the ulc but it doesn´t bother me that much. great work/capture, techs too!!!

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

Comment posted by Doug Roane on July 13, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Thanks folks.

Bruno, what you perceive as 2 flares are actually a notch and side of a butte. I thought they were flares also initially, but looking at other images they are not. There is a bit of flare in the upper left above the fg sandstone, as I was composing with the sun just outside the frame and slightly behind the fg.

Dan, not quite sure what you mean by wishing I "kept more of the sky on the left".

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 13, 2010 at 11:22 PM

I really like this unique view for me. I think the comp is great and you get 5 stars for the creative use of a reflector! Very creative shot!

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

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on July 13, 2010 at 11:55 PM

Great light rays coming from the side. Looks totally natural to me. You enhanced the areas that probably needed it. Beautiful shot.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Chad Merrell on July 14, 2010 at 12:17 AM

Your level of artistry and technical preficiency are amazing on this. I love the rich reds on the foreground rock with more muted background layers and the light in those layers is amazing. I love the light on the bushes. The only thing that I would like (possibly) different is if the background hills above the horizon on the left were just a very little bit darker and more visible. But then again, perhaps not. My daughter just walked in and saw this on the screen and said "That's a really awsome picture. You can see foever." Can I be your student?

Registered on July 8, 2010, 91 Posts, 304 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on July 14, 2010 at 12:46 AM

Very original Doug and I love the processing. The scene looks very natural to my eye. I do wish you could see just a bit more of the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Overall, you handled this light and contrast brilliantly.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on July 14, 2010 at 1:38 AM

doug - this is outstanding - i like it very much. the light is perfect on the plants, the layers, the lines in the fg rock, i could go on. very good!

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

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on July 14, 2010 at 2:54 AM

Doug,,beautiful light and excellent layers... love the light and your perfect exposure!!

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on July 14, 2010 at 3:02 AM

Another sweet example of careful timing for great morning lighting.

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

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on July 14, 2010 at 3:07 AM

A different take... more of a detail with a grand backdrop kinda scene... I love it, especially with the lighting you got here...

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on July 14, 2010 at 3:10 AM

Awesome desert scene, Doug. Totally works for me.

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

Comment posted by Roberto Fernandez on July 14, 2010 at 4:24 AM

Hi Doug! The bush triangle of the foreground makes the comp leading the eyes to the sandstone towers! I'm not sure about the unbalanced to the left, ummmmm

Best regards
Roberto

Registered on November 21, 2009, 36 Posts, 95 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 14, 2010 at 9:13 AM

I like this alot, Doug. You made all this work very well with some great technique. It has a very real (like being there looking at this) feel. Excellent effort!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

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

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on July 14, 2010 at 10:04 AM

Yes! Awesome image Doug. The diagonal comp works very well and great work with the your lighting technique.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on July 14, 2010 at 10:14 AM

Great shot. Love the light you captured here. My only nit would be the right side seems a bit out of focus.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on July 14, 2010 at 2:33 PM

Great depth and backlight. I like blues and so I wouldn't mind a bit more of it in the sky on the right.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on July 14, 2010 at 7:27 PM

Doug,

Fantastic composition and also a fantastic job with your lighting. Looks au-natural to me; the light streaking across the canyon and also hitting the bushes is wonderful and even the light on the sandstone up front looks just right. Congrats on a well crafted image.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 14, 2010 at 9:56 PM

Excellent comp Doug! Backlit dessert shrubs really make the image. Beautiful!

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

Comment posted by Mark Capurso on July 15, 2010 at 6:38 PM

Very cool shot, Doug. Nice to see something different from this location.

Mark Capurso
Phoenix, AZ

Registered on January 4, 2008, 47 Posts, 321 Comments

Comment posted by Nathaniel (Nat) Al on July 15, 2010 at 8:37 PM

I hesitate to comment on this picture. There are so many wonderful elements. The lighting of the foreground is completely successful, as though natural. The detail in the foreground is excellent. The suggestion of a couple of others to crop the sky is well taken. And this idea raises the question of whether the composition itself is well balanced? What is the subject? To me there is a tension between the foreground and the washerwoman that might be resolved if their relationship (size, prominence) were somehow reversed.

Registered on October 3, 2009, 9 Posts, 80 Comments