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WC #616 - Night Glow

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted January 8, 2014103 views5 comments

I realize that this composition is nothing extraordinary and is probably rather iconic as well. But it is certainly new and unusual for me in that, in all my many years as an amateur photographer, it represents my first ever bona fide attempt at night photography. This of course is the Towers of the Virgin, taken just last year on November 9th at 6:10 AM (about 55 minutes before sunrise) by the light of the first quarter Moon, from behind the Zion Human History Museum. There was quite a contingent of photographers there that morning, although I'd definitely say that the location is not as ... popular ... as the Route 9 bridge over the Virgin River at sunset.

Canon 5D II
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II
16mm, f/4.5, 30 seconds, ISO 1000

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 8, 2014 at 8:36 PM

Jim, I had an immediate deja vu on this one. Not too many of us ZNP photog visitors that have not shot this exact location. However, as you've mentioned not a normal take being a true night capture of the scene. The darkened area is not lost as there really is not anything to see there anyway. So the temple area being lit up along with the sky makes this work just fine.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 9, 2014 at 5:15 AM

That's a wonderfully clear star field, how nice to have clear skies and no city lights. I'm fascinated with the brightness of the peaks in the middle against the darkness on the sides, are they in shadow? Fun idea letting moonlight be your illumination.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on January 9, 2014 at 6:05 AM

Mark, the dark areas on the sides and bottom are due to lower elevation hills and open ground in the foreground which have sandy soil and have grasses and brush and trees and other vegetation growing on them, so there is much less reflected light there as opposed to the sheer sandstone cliffs in the background.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on January 10, 2014 at 12:37 PM

Looks like a successful first attempt IMO.

I really like how the moonlight brightened up the middle of the range with other areas around in the dark. . .makes a great cradling frame for the lit areas. The blue night sky and all the stars make a fantastic backdrop for the graphic cliffs.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on January 12, 2014 at 8:52 AM

Great job for a first attempt at night photography. I like the lighting created by the moon. I know many photographers don't like to shoot the stars with the moon in the sky, but I love the look and opportunities the extra light provides. It doesn't work so well for the Milky Way, though :). I hope you have caught the dark bug and try more of this.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments