Moon over Scott's Bluff

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 7, 2012135 views6 comments

This is Scott's Bluff National Monument near Scottsbluff, NE. I went out with a whole different image at sunset in mind. Some clouds moved in low over the horizon and took away that really nice soft light. I started to leave and as I was heading back to the truck, as I got to a point where I could see around the end of the butte, there was the full moon just coming up over the buttes. Just enough light left to shoot some images and be able get a good exposure on the moon.
This is a very historical spot. Many thousands of people and wagons passed between these two buttes during westward expansion of this country. Three main trails funneled here, the Oregon Trail, the Morman Trail, The California Trail, plus the Pony Express came through the pass between these two buttes. The ruts from the wagon wheels were so deep that you can still see them in some places. Just a little history of the place.
All comments and critiques welcome and appreciated.

Canon 40D
Sigma 70-300
All settings on manual
Shutter 1/20
Aperture f16
ISO 100
81mm
Tripod
Color correction in PSE9

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on April 7, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Very nice, Richard. Nice complimentary colors and exposure is excellent to get detail in the moon as well as on the faces of the buttes. The sky in the BG is nice as well. Always nice to come to places with lots of history to get a better feel for what happened years ago. I remember a place in eastern Oregon where the wheel ruts from the wagons are still visible. Impressive.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 8, 2012 at 9:47 AM

wonderful moonrise. A full moon on the horizon always feels peaceful to me so I'm finding this image very relaxing. Thanks for the history

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 8, 2012 at 11:15 AM

A very nice capture here, Richard. Some interesting bit of history notes too.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 8, 2012 at 2:49 PM

I like the scene and the story. Could maybe see trying to bring out more texture in the buttes themselves.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 9, 2012 at 11:38 AM

The light feels very natural here, Richard, and the composition works well for me. Very nice job.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 12, 2012 at 10:49 PM

Well done! good shot of the bluffs plus the moon. Thanks for the history also. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments