"Close Encounter"

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 7, 2011365 views27 comments

This image is from the same night as my last post out on Ibex dunes. I was practically running in the sand quite a distance to get to the far end of the dunes to check out some cool ridges I could see from the top of one of the dunes. This shot was taken after the last image I posted where the "funnel cloud" had dissipated, and a new "space ship" cloud formation had arrived

It was getting past sunset, and the wind was still steady, I wanted a clear foreground, so went with a higher ISO.

Any comments are welcome.

Nikon 3Ds, 14-24mm F2.8, ISO800, F16, 1/25sec, single image

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 7, 2011 at 9:14 PM

Dude, that is sick! You been hangin out with Adamus or something? I think the "wild light" follows him (and you!).

Not a nit (except I wish I had been there!).

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 7, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Thanks Mark, I have been told I have a "horse shoe up my ass" when it comes to luck, so my friends say! Marc A is starting to believe this theory as well! I was glad to grab this image before it got to dark

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

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on May 7, 2011 at 10:13 PM

Sweet sky! I would go for a touch more contrast/brightness in the foreground but that just personal.

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 7, 2011 at 10:21 PM

This is really cool James. Great light and composition. Looks like a ball of fire in the sky.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 7, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Wonderful color in the sky James. As Paul mentioned, I would increase the brightness and contrast in the foreground area which would take this image to another level. There are some wonderful lines and textures in the foreground that should be accentuated here. Beautiful composition..

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 7, 2011 at 11:19 PM

I adjust the curves to bring out more contrast, and give a bit more light to the foreground

Thanks for the comments!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 7, 2011 at 11:29 PM

That's pretty neat, James. This almost feels more animated than real. I really like the quality of light you were able to impart here. I like the sand in the first version and the clouds in the second.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 7, 2011 at 11:54 PM

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (your horseshoe comment)

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM

The subtle adjustment of your repost brings the scene to life James.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on May 8, 2011 at 12:13 AM

Great shot James. I like the repost.

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 8, 2011 at 12:17 AM

I hope I did not offend anyone here with my "luck" comment. If I did, I apologize

Eva, I agree, by adjust the curves of this image, it did add mores contrast to accentuate the ridges in the sand. It also brighten the and added some more warmth to the foreground. I guess it is a personal choice. Thanks for the comments

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

Comment posted by Guy Tal on May 8, 2011 at 9:30 AM

Fantastic image, James. I love the light. Curious about the high ISO.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 8, 2011 at 11:31 AM

A horseshoe huh, Was it off a Clydesdale?

I like the expanse of foreground in this one. You guys did get some beautiful conditions that day. I was thinking the foreground wasa little flat, but you fixed that in the repost. Nice!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 8, 2011 at 1:34 PM

Very cool james, turned out great. I love the leading lines in the FG sand, they lead right to the mother ship cloud :)
I like the repost even better. I do agree with Guy, you could have shot this at ISO 200. That is my only nit.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 8, 2011 at 2:35 PM

Guy/Zack,
Actually I was running around and able to get images fast enough hand held prior to sunset. My last dune image posted was also hand held. Once I lost the light on this image, I bumped up the ISO to keep the shutter speed at 1/25 sec avoiding the tripod. I should have taken my tripod off of my back pack and used it at this point. Good point guys

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

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on May 8, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Nice!
And American clouds are better than Australian clouds.

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 8, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Like the edit. Way to be there and run after the shot! :)

aF

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

Comment posted by Andrew Morrill on May 8, 2011 at 6:51 PM

Awesome shot James - amazing lines and color. I prefer the repost.

Registered on June 10, 2010, 51 Posts, 216 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on May 8, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Killer comp and sky James.
Great job and thanks for sharing

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 8, 2011 at 8:25 PM

I am all for the repost as well

That is why I really like this website and group, I really value your opinion !

Thank you

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

Comment posted by Alex Mody on May 9, 2011 at 1:36 AM

This is definitely a bit more open and empty feeling than your average dune shot posted on here, and I like it a lot! The light really helps, of course. Good work!

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

This is just delightful James! Super comp and the texture in the sand is great. Love it!

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 9, 2011 at 11:30 AM

Very nice indeed James, the sky looks terrific mirroring the lines in the sand.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Mat Malone on May 9, 2011 at 7:35 PM

James this is sweet. I agree w/ Guy -- sky from the second and sand from the first. I have one nit, but maybe it's just me. I don't really like the ripple in the LLC going exactly to the corner. I would prefer a bit of the bottom cropped off so that it doesn't exit right at the corner. For some reason the balance works better for me that way.

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

Comment posted by Vlad Sadovsky on May 10, 2011 at 12:09 AM

Well done, composition with the sandy foreground works really well. While i seriously like the light and contrast, i am a bit unsure about the shapes of the clouds with little too dark in the upper left corner. Nit. Otherwise beautiful work.

Registered on November 12, 2010, 48 Posts, 358 Comments

Comment posted by Vlad Sadovsky on May 10, 2011 at 1:53 AM

Registered on November 12, 2010, 48 Posts, 358 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 10, 2011 at 2:46 AM

That is a good point Matt!, I like that small crop at the bottom, It does balance the image in a better way

As for which version of clouds, and foreground contrast/brightness, is seems to be subjective here so far, and all about preference.

Thanks

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