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Framed Ocotillo
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Framed Ocotillo

by David Schwaegler

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 11, 2012104 views3 comments
What a beautiful time of year to be in the Sonoran Desert. This image is from the Maricopa County Usery Mountain Park on the east side of Mesa.

I'm unsure of this one so would value your input. I don't think it works very well at the small size, so please view the larger. What I'm trying to do is direct the eye through the dead wood frame and back to the two ocotillos, but I'm not sure they are prominent enough. Of course I have the memory of being there, but for someone viewing just the picture, I'm not sure they would "get it."

Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85 @ 85; 1/125 at f/11, -0.33; tripod
Comments and criticisms always welcome.

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 11, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Generally it works for me, and those ocotillos are very noticeable even in the smaller version. I'm a bit undecided about the dead wood...it works compositionally but it's not entirely appealing to me on an aesthetic level. The light's also a bit on the strong side though it's not unpleasant.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on April 11, 2012 at 9:41 PM
The comp works for me and I like the dead tree framing the ocotillo. Personally, I would have liked to see this closer to sunrise/set to get the lower side-lighting which can really make those leaves on the ocotillo glow brightly and stand out from the background.
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 14, 2012 at 8:03 PM
Conceptually, I like it. Once I read your narrative I can see what you're after and you've composed for that. However, in looking at the picture, this isn't immediately obvious. Everything sort of blends together with the small cactus (sagurao?) being the main focal because of the back lighting. So what you saw and what comes across to the viewer might not correspond, at least it didn't for me. I like the lushness of this desert scene, but I see it more as an abstract.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments