by D.A. Edwards
After a chilly morning with the cattle on the BLM land we drove a very short distance for a day hike up Sheets Gulch, a slot canyon that leads in to Capitol Reef NP. Easy walk with a couple of boulder scrambles but nothing too hairy. A couple of miles in it narrows down to a 2 foot wide slot with great red walls on each side. No one else was in there which was nice. Tough to photograph at mid-day but I was mostly attracted to the many drying wet spots that left their cracks and filigree in the mud. I would guess they are dried mud shavings that fell down from the sides.
I liked how the rock edge made me think of a comet crashing into the mud but I could also see it being a distraction.
NOTE: Monochromish Re-post is below.
Comments
14 commentsDave, This is very nice and I think you did an excellent job with the mid-day light. The large version shows this off so much better. Nice color, textures and detail in that. The loose mud shavings makes me think of the bark peelings off of a birch tree.
Nick Bristol
Very nicely done, Dave. Lots of very interesting detail with the cracks and then the peels and I really like the layering and the earth tones. Works for me.
Ypu can't really tell that it is noon, so that worked out! No problem with the rock edge, I think it adds interest rather than distraction!
I saw a similar Guy Tal image this morning on facebook that could be of value to you. He shoots it at early morning light when all is in shadows except the tops of the dry 'flakes'. By doing so he has an image with both warm and cool colors.
https://www.facebook.com/guytalphoto/photos/a.147452699707.110709.146993979707/10153208716194708/?type=1&theater
Loved the large version. Very nice details.
Conceptually and compositionally this has a lot of great elements, but it feels documentary in this presentation. I'm sort of wondering if B&W might be something to consider to bring out the shapes and textures in a more artistic manner.
Great juxtaposition of elements. Lovely.
aF
Thanks all for the comments. I like the monochrome idea although I may go for a sepia tone so that there is a hint of the mud color. It will have to wait until next week though as I'm off to Florida for a few days. I'll do a mono repost on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Thanks again!
ETA: And I like that "documentary" word Tony. Probably something I am usually guilty of.
Simple is beautiful. Well composed with the textures and the different tones of brown. The rock edge is part of the scene and it cuts the pale line giving it an attraction instead of a monotonic line.
The mud flakes add a 3D effect Dave. I also like Tony's idea of B&W. I look forward to seeing it next week.
Geometric, essential, abstract-and-natural....I like it much. And great tones, colour and sharpness management.
All the best,
Sandro
Hi Dave,
This image is appealing for myself, and the diagonals shavings, details, and the vertical cracks keep me interested. I too am looking forward to the B&W conversion. Have a safe journey Dave.
Here's a re-post in a more monochrome look per Tony's suggestion. I did not want to lose the color completely but hopefully this one makes the shapes and textures more dominant than the color.
Very nice textural capture. The top tones almost give a liqued feel that contrasts well with the earth.