Sunrise, White Mountains

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 18, 2013267 views6 comments

Canon 5D Mk II, EF 16-35mm f2.8L II @ 16mm, RRS Tripod w/ RRS BH-40 Ballhead. Singh Ray LB warming filter. 1.0 Sec @f11 ISO 50, 7:42AM, July 01, 2013. Hiked into the Schulman Grove of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest on the Methusalah Trail before sunrise. My objective had been scouted the day before when I hiked the entire 4.5 mile trail and did some shooting on a long dolomite ridge which extended to the east. It was covered with many Bristlecone Pine trees both living and dead. The view is looking into Nevada. Turn the camera 45 degrees then you are looking south into Death Valley.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Ted Gore on September 18, 2013 at 7:33 PM

you have some problems with the processing here. For one, there are some pretty bad halos/chromatic aboration around the branches of the tree. Also think you got a little too heavy handed on the area around the sun. The colors are very saturated, and the transition from the center of the sun to the outer areas are pretty harsh. I think some more work could be done to control the tones here. The bright spot in the sky around the sun is a bit odd, as it looks too hot and discolored at the same time.

Compositionally I'm bothered by the trees being cut off by the edge of the frame. I'm thinking this could have worked better had those been completely in frame. Did you happen to shoot wider?

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 18, 2013 at 8:44 PM

I agree in the main with Ted's critique. However, I don't mind some of the minor stuff (limbs cut off, the halo around the sun). In the main, this is a stellar effort and most of the flaws can be corrected with some reworking of the processing. This is a wonderful first post! All it really needs is a little TLC.

So welcome to NPN, Frank! I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on September 18, 2013 at 10:54 PM

Welcome, Frank. You may find a lot of helpful people around this site.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a fine place to be.
I too agree with Ted’s assessment.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 19, 2013 at 5:05 PM

Welcome Frank. As has been mentioned, the processing looks like it needs some work, but this is a great concept.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on September 20, 2013 at 8:38 AM

Welcome to NPN Frank and a very nice first post. I like your scene here and as others mentioned a few changes could help but nice as is. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 21, 2013 at 2:52 PM

Cool shot!

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