Perseverance

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 11, 2014463 views22 comments

Please be sure to View the Large Version

This is one of those shots that I waited quite some time for. I arrived on Day 1 and found a composition I liked. The clouds were great, but they thickened before sunset and snuffed out the good light. I left my camera in place overnight, and returned the next day. A similar weather pattern occurred on day 2, and once again the good light was snuffed out by overcast skies. My camera once again spent the night on top of this sand dune. On day 3, the clouds were a bit different, and sure enough, there was a blast of warm light just before the sun dipped below the horizon. I exposed 4 sheets of film during the minute or so of good light, and my composition from 3 days earlier had a wonderful assortment of clouds.

Please be sure to check out my video journal from this day on my Youtube Channel: Day 3 Video Journal

Fuji Velvia 50 8x10 | Nikkor 150mm SW | Ebony RW810 | Unrecorded @ f/45

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 12, 2014 at 7:17 AM

Really nice comp and light you captured. You're brave to leave the setup overnight. I would think wind might topple the camera

The shadows work well to keep the dune the main attraction. A beauty. Amazing how photographers will hang around seemingly forever for those brief moments of wonderful light. Paid off for you here

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 12, 2014 at 9:45 AM

Beautiful!! The chrome on a light table must be something. You are a risk taker, leaving your camera on the dune overnight.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on March 12, 2014 at 11:11 AM

Very nice, very graphic. So, this is a combination of two exposures, one for dunes and one for sky?

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on March 12, 2014 at 11:16 AM

Thanks Ronald. In the description, I was referring to the fact that I left my camera in position for 3 days, and composed the shot with hopes that there would be some nice clouds in the sky, but I didn't actually frame the clouds this way with knowledge they would be there. It just so happened that 3 days after I setup my camera, some beautiful clouds drifted into the frame just where I hoped they would be. This is a single photo with almost no tweaks.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 12, 2014 at 12:39 PM

Killer photo man and loved your video!!!!

My only thought would be a slight lighten of the left upper corner.

You rock!

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

Comment posted by Louis Pattis on March 12, 2014 at 2:17 PM

Great image, the light is superb, personally I would like to see a little more of the clouds you waited so patiently for, just a small issue. How much does your setup weigh, or do you add extra weight to the tripod, to leave your equipment in place is a brilliant idea, I have seen you do this on your videos before, but in more remote areas. I myself have experienced on several occasions hostile conditions at the Mesquite Dunes and was literally blown off them in 2008.

Registered on March 30, 2012, 0 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on March 12, 2014 at 3:46 PM

Very well thought out and beautiful, I too, would like a bit more of the sky and a bit more light in the corners.

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on March 12, 2014 at 4:42 PM

You are a brave man leaving your camera set up like this for 2 nights, but it really paid off being able to blend in exposures - excellent!

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on March 13, 2014 at 7:15 AM

Classic! Your perseverance paid off and the chrome must have eye popping detail.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 13, 2014 at 9:41 AM

Ben, Great comp with wonderful light and color. I like this a lot! The large version makes me feel like I'm standing right there. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Bill Reid on March 13, 2014 at 11:33 AM

Beautiful comp, colors and light in this Ben.Really like the textures in the fore ground. Great job on this.

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

Comment posted by Glenn Tunaley on March 13, 2014 at 11:50 AM

Great comp and light. Like Nick said, the large version makes me feel like I'm there. Enjoyed the video as well.

Registered on March 1, 2013, 19 Posts, 93 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on March 13, 2014 at 12:17 PM

Strong subject and comp. The mood is captivating. Art!

Ha ha… you are becoming famous. While photographing White Pocket, over the Christmas break, I was approached by an LA based shooter who asked, “Are you Ben Horne?”

Rock on Mr.

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

Comment posted by Jared Warren on March 13, 2014 at 1:25 PM

Very impressive, Ben. It's a very strong, imposing image and the light is beautiful. The vignetting is slightly strong for my taste. The cloud action is the cherry on top of an already delicious image.

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on March 13, 2014 at 6:53 PM

Beyond stunning, Ben. The texture and warm tones in the dunes together with the ridge line leading the eye back, and those gorgeous shadows.... everything is simply amazing. Hats off to you for your persistence in making this image; worth all the hours and days of waiting in my opinion.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 13, 2014 at 8:28 PM

Beautiful use of shadow and light. Very nice composition.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Miller on March 14, 2014 at 5:03 PM

Nice tones, well done!

Registered on March 10, 2011, 56 Posts, 56 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on March 15, 2014 at 8:56 AM

would love to see this tranny. love the colours and the comp works well. that's a lot of reflection time ... 3 days for four exposures. presume that'd leave the digital folks as nervous, gibbering wrecks!!

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on March 18, 2014 at 9:31 PM

Pretty shot, Ben--nice work! One of my favorite subjects....

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on March 19, 2014 at 2:08 AM

Don't know how I missed this one, Ben. The large view is nothing short of amazing. Your persistence and trust in your fellow man is very admirable as is your skill in producing such a treat for the eyes. I agree with Mark, that the upper left could be lightened a bit, but just a phenomenal photograph from an often photographed location.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on March 20, 2014 at 12:41 AM

Thank you for the feedback everyone. It's much appreciated.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on April 26, 2014 at 8:21 PM

Gorgeous light, composition, textures, color. The "chiaroscuro effect of dune perfect.

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments