Cholla Sunset

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 23, 2013281 views4 comments

Here is one more sunset picture from the five days of rain we had this winter while camping at Lost Dutchman State Park in the desert at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. I have always been intrigued how the cholla cactus lights up at the very end of the day and have tried several times to capture it. This is the first time I had a really dramatic sky to work with. This is a two shot HDR hand blended. Comments and suggestions welcome.

D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 75mm, f/8, 1/30sec and 1/6 sec, ISO 100, tripod.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 23, 2013 at 11:18 AM

Walt, I personally think the layered approach to this works quite well and I like the unusually dark take on the foreground which shows off just enough of the chollas. I know you don't always have time to do a lot with light like this, but I believe this is captured and processed quite nicely. I can't suggest much, although I suspect some might like a hint more shadow detail.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 23, 2013 at 3:57 PM

Hello Walt

BRILLIANT !!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on May 23, 2013 at 9:27 PM

You gotta love the drama in that sky along with the backlighting on the cholla. Very nicely done, Walt. My only suggestion; and this is just my personal preference; would be a bit of detail in the shadows of the cholla.

Ed

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 28, 2013 at 8:08 PM

Walt, what a unique approach and graphic powerful image that at first wondered if it would work, but then it mesmerized me. Fabulous image. I am not sure if shadow detail would be a compliment or not. Love it as is.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments