The Painted Desert

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 10, 20131,218 views12 comments

A rainbow fills the void across the vastness of Canyonlands National Park. This image reminds me of the paintings of Albert Bierstadt, a famous 19th century painter known for his romantic western landscapes. His images often had a special quality of light some art critics called "Luminism", and I'm sure he would have loved the beautiful storm light over the canyons on this day.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Kane Engelbert on April 10, 2013 at 11:45 PM

Hmm, I'm trying to understand the huge vignetting. Possibly to express "mood" or emotion or make up for the lack of your usual amazing comp and lighting. Mike your stuff is Out of this World...You are literally a true inspiration, however this one falls a little short to my eye. Nice rainbow, normal cliffy desert scene at Canyonlands with some nice cloud cover and light. I suppose this kind of shot looks amazing to most people, but for "you" I'm left feeling a little empty. Harsh, I know..

Registered on June 14, 2009, 63 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on April 10, 2013 at 11:50 PM

Does have a Bierstadtesque look to it Michael. Great storm light captured, and the rainbow is a bonus!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on April 11, 2013 at 12:56 AM

gorgeous light and great sense of depth.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on April 11, 2013 at 8:30 AM

Exactly what Kane said. Your work has amazed me and inspired me as few have, yet this scene almost feels 'rushed' in order to capture the bit of rainbow that you saw. Perhaps this is one of those scenes where the camera could not quite capture how you felt when seeing the elements unfold.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on April 11, 2013 at 11:23 AM

Gorgeous scene under some very special conditions. The stylistic presentation looks appropriate and has your usual deft touch.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on April 11, 2013 at 4:09 PM

The light and the drama here is spectacular and the rainbow finishes everything off in this scene, Mike. This is being super nitpicky; and I am sure there was nothing you could do about it; but I find myself wishing that FG shadow was not there. Just my opinion of course.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 11, 2013 at 5:38 PM

Michael, I'm enjoying this a lot. Really some wonderful conditions and light you captured in this image. It is quite a view too!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 11, 2013 at 8:51 PM

Love the drama and the light here Mike. I think the shadows and dark, ominous sky add to that drama.

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

Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on April 12, 2013 at 1:47 PM

Beautiful moment in time, wonderfully captured Mike! Love this!

Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on April 12, 2013 at 9:02 PM

Beautiful mood and tones to this Mike. The rain showers and rainbow add a great deal to this image. Wonderful.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on April 12, 2013 at 10:06 PM

I think your caption describes this very well. Wonderful display of light and a good capture. Interesting to read about the comments criticising the composition; I've always felt the great majority of rainbow photos don't come with a fantastic comp. A fine landscape even if not quite in your best bracket of work.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 19, 2013 at 11:23 PM

im late to the party--but gotta put in my 2 pennies: this is awesome, Mike--it really is only the vignette that spoils it, and the dark frame aint helping. Get rid of the vignette and its a winner IMO

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments