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Camelback light
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Camelback light

by Peter Coskun

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 29, 2012346 views19 comments
A view looking towards camelback mountain during an incredible light display. Mcdowell mountains, Arizona. I liked the way the sun burst over the horizon. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Canon 7d
Canon 17-40mm @24mm
ISO 100
f/14
1/15 sec
2 stop grad ND
Tripod

Comments

19 comments
Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on March 30, 2012 at 1:54 AM
Hi Peter,

The foreground composition turned out nicely and the warmth and glow are spectacular. I'm on the fence about the shallow depth of field in the mid ground chollas. Overall, I think you did a great job though...
Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 30, 2012 at 3:02 AM
Thanks Michael, when I opened it up I was disappointed with the slight softness of the midground, but I couldn't pass up the light. I hope I have a similar chance in the future to capture this scene because it is really something beautiful to see in person.
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Taylor Reed on March 30, 2012 at 3:58 AM
I like how you filled so much of the frame with this cactus! The sunburst is nice too.
Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 30, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Peter, Yes, I bet this was wonderful to see in person, and it is wonderful to see here as well. I agree about the mid ground softness but still I very much enjoy this. The highlighted edges are so cool looking!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Rodrigo Sandoval on March 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Peter,
I love the light here. You got it perefectly! Excellent composition as well.
Registered on April 4, 2009, 13 Posts, 254 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 30, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Thank you all for the feedback and comments, will probably try a focus blend the next time I'm out there.
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on March 30, 2012 at 2:43 PM
This came out really nice and I like the backlight on the fg cactus. Good control on the DR as well. Nicely done.
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Geoff Powell on March 30, 2012 at 2:53 PM
Great light and color. I like the mid-range aperture choice forcing the eye to swiftly glance over the softer mid ground and focus on the sharp foreground and bright sunburst. Very nicely thought out.
Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 30, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Thanks Rudy and Geoff!
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Prower on March 30, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Love the backlighting! Those needles are super sharp (excuse the pun!). The DOF is probably perfect also, but it doesn't look like f/14 unless you purposefully blurred some of the image. I am wondering if the sun could have been controlled any better with a reverse grad or careful consideration of aperture.
Registered on February 5, 2012, 24 Posts, 167 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on March 30, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Well done!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on March 30, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Better than a lot of what's in AZ HWYS now. This is a very beautiful image.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on March 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Beautiful scene Peter. The light catching those middle cholla is really something. I'd vote for a focus blend too; it would be great to shoot for that next time.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 31, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Thank you Tony P, I think what happened was I focused primarily on the upper most branches of the cacti thinking I was getting the hyperfocal distance, but with the zoom it made it a little more difficult. This is an image I'm still trying to capture, but really need the same conditions or better and those have been few and far between.

Thanks Youssef,appreciate it!

Tony K, that is a huge compliment and greatly appreciated. I am hoping to get some work published in AZH sometime this year.

Thanks John, a focus blend is in my plans for this future shot.
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Fischer on March 31, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Great DOF of course. Wonderful color and texture.
Pleasing color and composition.
the fisch
Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Fischer on March 31, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Great definition up close and I guess that was the focal point of what you wanted to present. The texture of the needles might have been lost with everything being in focus. Photographers choice. Wonderful color and texture.
Pleasing color and composition.
the fisch
Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 31, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Great light!!! Nice composition. :toast:

A vote for f/22
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 31, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Thanks Mark, I'm going to try using a smaller aperture next time and blend for DOF.
Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments
Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on April 3, 2012 at 3:39 PM
This capture is very nice example for DOF, showing 5 layer sharp and clean. TFS.
Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments