Alvord Desert, OR + repost

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 27, 2012262 views10 comments

This is a 115 second exposure using a 10 stop filter from the Alvord desert right around sunrise. The color in the sky was ok to the naked eye, but I really liked the motion in the clouds. Conveniently the 10 stop filter both caught the motion and accentuated the color that was there nicely.

Thanks for the critique in advance!

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on February 27, 2012 at 6:12 PM

Beautiful Scott. Playa and sky look really nice. If I had to critique, I'd say the vignetting on the bottom is a bit strong. I like it there just a bit less maybe..? Also, my eye wants that plateau in the distance to be centered. I'm really just nit picking I guess, it is really a cool shot. Well done.

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 27, 2012 at 7:53 PM

b/w for the win!!!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 27, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Perfect scene for that cloud blur. I agree with Jeremy about the vignette on the bottom.
I like the color contrasts too, but the textures are so strong here, I wonder what a high-contrast B&W conversion would look like.

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

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on February 27, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Very nice image...I must agree, I do like the motion of clouds paired with the stillness of the ground. Cool!

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on February 27, 2012 at 10:59 PM

hi scott, this is a really nice scene! i like the textures and the vingette you applied.

i cant be sure, but it looks like you might have some CA in the distant plateau. easy fix if its there.

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Miller on February 28, 2012 at 2:36 AM

Jeremy - The I actually toned down the out of camera vignetting to get this version! I toned it down a bit more with this repost. As for the centered plateau - it was either center the cloud motion direction / bright spot from the rising sun or the platueau. I choose to make it look like the clouds were streaking from the bright center of the image right above where the sun was rising.

Aaron - I will eventually get around to a B&W version of this as well, but I have other shots from here that will work well in B&W but won't look good in color, so I choose to keep this as color for now.

Waye - I think the above to comments answer your points! Thanks for commenting!

Cristina - Glad you liked it! Thanks for the critique

Navin - Great catch on the CA, this repost has it removed.

I also darkened the center bright spot a bit at the advice of my wife!

A larger version can be seen here: https://plus.google.com/photos/107682790244897946166/albums/5673650040175132625/5713935946636654210

Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 28, 2012 at 9:59 AM

I like the comp and the light you have here. There is almost a sense of monotony in the endless playa.

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

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on February 28, 2012 at 12:50 PM

Great repost. Yeah I could see that the clouds would take precedent. Well done my bratha!

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on March 3, 2012 at 12:45 PM

Nice shot. The repost addresses any issues. I like the subtle line in the playa.

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

Comment posted by Joe Abounader on March 4, 2012 at 2:18 PM

Excellent near/far composition; I love the patterns in the foreground. The way you captured the movement in the clouds vs. the static and dry nature of the desert, as well as the colours in both parts of the photo, make for an effective contrast. Well done.

Registered on June 15, 2011, 14 Posts, 58 Comments