Heavenly Balance

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 16, 2011819 views52 comments

I took this the night after my last post (thanks for all the comments on that shot!), as i was driving home i stopped at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to take some final night shots. I didnt really feel like including city lights in the shot, so i decided on a tighter view of one of the cooler rock formations in the park, Balanced Rock. The moon was a bit brighter than the night before and it was almost directly overhead--really lit up the rock well. Out of about 20+ exposures, in this one the rock was better lit--im guessing it had to have caught some light from a distant car headlamp, becuase the exposures before and after werent as bright, but i dont remember any cars around at the time. At any rate, it looked like the best combo of sky and rock to me so i went with it--one exposure. Im still not sure why i included the rock face on the right side (probably to avoid being out in the road thats off to the left here and getting run over...) but it felt right at the time--what can i say. Will be interested in your thoughts!
5Dmkii; 24mm; 20s at f/2.5 (hyperfocused again); ISO 1600
C&C Welcome!

Comments

52 comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on February 16, 2011 at 11:11 AM

Very nice Stan - liked it

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on February 16, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Very nice comp., lighting, color, focus, and star action. The rock in the urhc is a nice touch....uncluttered and elegant!

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 16, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Stan - Seems like star trails are "out", specular stars are "in". Maybe trails have been overdone in the past. This is more whait the eye might see, I guess. A beauty of a shot - wish the right rock face had a little more exposure. Also, a lighter frame or small white edge might create better separation from the boarder.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on February 16, 2011 at 11:20 AM

Sweet work Stan, hardly notice the rock face, would prefer without but since it blends well, a minor issue.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 16, 2011 at 11:25 AM

Harry--ill try neutral gray, the devilish 666's make a good match to the Gods here, maybe...

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on February 16, 2011 at 12:11 PM

This is very cool, Stan. What ISO did you use? The foreground lighting looks great in combination with the starry sky. The rock on the RHS works fine for me.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 16, 2011 at 12:24 PM

Fantastic exposure Stan! Wonderful night sky and beautiful light on the red rocks..

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

Comment posted by Justin Reznick on February 16, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Really cool image Stan, the lighting on the rock is fantastic!

Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 16, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Sorry, Phil--forgot to add the ISO--just did!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 16, 2011 at 12:40 PM

Eye-popping! Stroke-of-luck accidental light-painting or done by a lighting engineer, this sure works. The rock and sky are so amazing, I almost missed the overhanging rock. I think it would work with our without the rock on the right. It adds another interesting layer, even though this spectacular shot does not really need it.
Hmmmm... Now that I am putting my nose to the screen, the brightness of the base rocks makes me wonder what a more subtle version with just the moonlight might look like.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on February 16, 2011 at 1:17 PM

Very cool night image Stan, love the red rock contrasting with the night sky and the curious balance the rock seems to maintain

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on February 16, 2011 at 1:24 PM

You sure captured some rich color in the rock. The sky looks great and this is the kind of quality I will strive for in the night work I have planned.

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on February 16, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Beautifully done. I'd probably go without the rock face but I understand your reluctance to being run over.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 16, 2011 at 2:29 PM

That's a beautiful image indeed- great exposure and pp job, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 16, 2011 at 2:53 PM

Sweet, Stan. Everything is working here.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 16, 2011 at 3:12 PM

I like everything about this shot except that big rock sticking out in the upper right corner. Otherwise this is a very cool shot and composition to me. I do not mind the balanced rock being centered and I like the color contrast between the rock and sky, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on February 16, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Very nice, Stan. Good exposure and I like your composition too. The sky looks great!

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on February 16, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Spectacular Stan. One of the finest star shots I've seen, and great light!

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

Comment posted by Pam Colander on February 16, 2011 at 5:11 PM

Wow! Love this and damn if you didn't catch another meteor

Only thing I don't care for is the URC rock but not a huge deal. What's the bright area to the lower right of Balanced Rock?

Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on February 16, 2011 at 5:13 PM

Nice work Stan, I actually like the rock in the URC as there is a lot of open sky and it fills some of that. My only nit is the very bright clouds/sky at the right horizon (I know, nothing you could do about the city lights glowing beyond) it just looks too bright for the rest of the scene.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on February 16, 2011 at 5:15 PM

This is beautiful Stan. I like the comp and the rock on the right doesn't really bother me. My only critique would be to crop/clone the small patch of snow in the LRHC.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on February 16, 2011 at 5:28 PM

Wicked! I agree with Harry, specular stars are much more appealling to me than trails. Although, I have seen some killer trail shots too. This is so clean, I can't wait to upgrade to a machine with this kind of ability. Someday soon I hope. The cliff bothered me at first, but not really anymore. Excellent!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 16, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Thanks!
Pam--yeah, as Scott points out all the white is snow, guess i could clean that corner up...
Funny--i just noticed that meteor streak you mentioned! Its funny, cuse right around this time, i saw a real impressive fireball just off to the right side here--a long bright one. I really thought i had caught it, so i was really bummed when i searched through all the exposures around that time and i just couldnt find it--must have been just off the frame to the right...oh well, at least i caught that puny streak that you spotted.

Hey Chris--it aint the machine--its the lens, you cant beat f/2.5 or larger on that 24mm prime--its a light eating machine!

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 16, 2011 at 5:43 PM

Another stunner Stan! Just beautiful!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on February 16, 2011 at 5:57 PM

Well done!
I've always liked a slightly lit horizon skyline in these types of images, and you got one here.
The rock in the upper right corner is neither here nor there for me.
Were this mine, I think I would tone down the brightest elements of the base in the foreground.

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on February 16, 2011 at 5:58 PM

i liked this Stan

the vibrant colors works very well here

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on February 16, 2011 at 6:17 PM

Stan, I have always been fascinated by an unstable equilibrium - but this scene seems to be stable at least for a while! Great exposure and composition.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 16, 2011 at 6:22 PM

I love it.

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

Comment posted by Erik Stensland on February 16, 2011 at 6:23 PM

Stan, I've not posted much at all here on ESS (oops, Landscape) for a very long time. Since I have a few minutes free I figured I'd get a few posts in and start right here. What I love about this image Stan is that it has a very three dimensional feel and the texture on the rock looks like you could reach out and touch it. It is a great image Stan and one that I would love to have in my portfolio! My primary recommendation is to crop in just a little closer. There is a small white patch on the bottom right and then there is tree on the far left. Both of these pull my eye away a little bit from the primary subject. I also might be tempted to drop the saturation just a tad. Pretty minor stuff.

Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 16, 2011 at 6:26 PM

I really like this one. I also noticed the meteor streak. I have some images with similar streaks but I was wondering if they are possibly satellites rather than meteors?

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 16, 2011 at 6:37 PM

Ah yes, know it well. I, of course, have the shot of me holding it up.

This is a wonderfully unique take and a great job at that. Love the color combo.

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

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on February 16, 2011 at 6:38 PM

I guess I'm in the minority here but this one seems about 1/2 stop (?) bright to me. I really like the comp but it doesn't quite feel like night to me - love everything else about it.

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 16, 2011 at 7:08 PM

Still blows me away you can have near rock in focus at 2.5 and stars. Really enjoy the light and comp here. Another winner

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on February 16, 2011 at 10:13 PM

If it weren't for the little bit of trees and clouds this would be otherworldly Stan.

Paul

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on February 16, 2011 at 10:43 PM

Nice.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 17, 2011 at 12:18 AM

Wowzer that's a nice one Stan!

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

Comment posted by Bret Edge on February 17, 2011 at 12:34 AM

Yowza! This rocks, Stan! No pun intended. Seriously, this is one of the best night images I've seen in quite a long time.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on February 17, 2011 at 1:27 AM

super cool rock, Stan! The red and blue contrast is sweet too.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on February 17, 2011 at 4:20 AM

Love the color combination here, Stan. The composition works very well too. A fine image!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 17, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Superb shot- love the contrast of cold and warm tones, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on February 17, 2011 at 1:56 PM

This works much better for me than the last one, and this one here makes me appreciate the concept and idea of this night shot series. Considering this image, while looking at the other one, the other one starts to make more sense for me. If that makes sense for you?

A good project Stan!

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

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on February 17, 2011 at 5:09 PM

Very cool take on this Stan, you've created an almost other wordly atmosphere and I really like it in this scene. I wouldn't mind it a tad darker, but either way very nice.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 17, 2011 at 7:23 PM

Thanks for all the kind remarks, folks--glad that this works for most of you! Ill probably make some minor adjustments based on the comments, but not worth a repost.
Mark C--good question, i have no idea how to tell the difference, maybe an expert can enlighten us.. I do know that the streak i saw off frame around the same time was a genuine meteor though!

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

Comment posted by Angela Classen on February 17, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Are you sure this was shot on planet Earth?

Love everything about this - comp, color, processing, just everything. The color gradation in the sky is great.

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on February 18, 2011 at 1:03 AM

Very well done

If the streaks were satellites, they would move through the whole field of view. Occasionally you can get a solar flare from a satellite, but it would be very bright. Both similar images you have recently posted show meteorite streaks

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on February 18, 2011 at 2:14 AM

Yeah Stan, powerful
love this one brother

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on February 18, 2011 at 2:24 AM

This is one of those photographs where the night sky and the foreground are working together perfectly (all too often the two seem strangely disconnected). I also love the way the sky gets progressively darker near the top of the frame.

Good stuff, Stan.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on February 18, 2011 at 6:49 AM

fine shot, stan. i wonder a little about the protrusion to the right - maybe if it was connected with something, it might feel a little less, well, disconnected!? also it make for interesting art but my (personal) inclination would be to tone doen those bright oranges - they might be pretty far from really (although I understand they might be reality added up over 20s). personal pref, though!

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

Comment posted by Ron Pederson on February 18, 2011 at 7:25 AM

Very nice, Stan...but I agree with others about the rock face. I'd be tempted to crop it square from the bottom and clone out the bottom of the rockface....

Registered on October 19, 2010, 95 Posts, 470 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 18, 2011 at 9:14 AM

Fantastic, Stan. Another one I really enjoy looking at. I love the color and that sky is just amazing. The clouds are a great extra touch too. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Thanks for all the comments, folks!

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

Comment posted by Bruce King on February 18, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Don't know how I missed this first time around but this is just plain awesome. The rock at URC doesn't hurt the image IMO and there might be a little too much sky without it. Congrats on a great shot.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments