Alabama Hills Storm

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 26, 2016298 views16 comments

This was the sunset in the Alabama Hills below the eastern scarp of the Sierra during an early Autumn storm. This is an older image from 2005 that I've processed in various way over the years. With the help of TK's masks, and processing the sky and the mountains separately, I think this version comes closest to what I witnessed.

The major mountain on the left is Lone Pine Peak. Mount Whitney is hidden in the clouds to the left of the bright notch in the ridge, and the south ridge of Mount Carillon is on the far right.

Tachihara 4x5
Fujinon 135mm
Velvia 100
October 2005

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Thank you for yur comments on my previous image. Your thoughts are always appreciated. cool

--P

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on March 26, 2016 at 7:34 PM

Excellent, Preston. I immediately noticed the nice contrasting combination of yellows and grays throughout the image. Really also like the boulder and vegetation foreground against the mountains and stormy sky. Terrific conditions, and your processing looks perfect to me. devil

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on March 26, 2016 at 8:29 PM

Hi Preston,

Excellent image with warm yellows and cool grays. The placement of the tallest peak and large boulders in the frame makes for an excellent composition. devil

................................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on March 26, 2016 at 8:47 PM

Ground zero for my favorite place on earth and this image speaks to me. Beautiful, subdued color palette, compelling comp. and nice drama in the sky. Excellent work!

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on March 27, 2016 at 2:20 AM

So much to like about this one, Preston! Like Scott, I too noticed the combination of yellow and gray, and it works great. The comp is spot on, the silvery line on the distant mountain tops is sweet, the clouds look gorgeous, etc. No nits, print and enjoy!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 27, 2016 at 9:15 AM

The boulders and grass lead the eye nicely to the ominous sky Preston.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on March 27, 2016 at 9:46 AM

The light/dark transition really works well here. I think the little clump of grass in the FG adds a lot. Well seen.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 27, 2016 at 12:18 PM

Excellent Preston!

As I mentioned to you, I'm really enjoying the somewhat unique perspective. What I mean is here you have presented the boulders as the dominant feature and the towering Sierra occupies a much smaller space, YET, they seem to balance in terms of impression, if that makes any sense.

I'm also enjoying the warmth of the boulders and scattered balance of the grasses and sage throughout. That warmth is also echoed over the summit of the Sierra from the setting sun.

Well done sir!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on March 27, 2016 at 6:19 PM

Has to be one of the best images of the Alabama Hills area, in my opinion. Your composition is amazing, Preston, how the eye is captivated by that bunch of golden grass in the lower right hand corner and then led over the textured rock back to those awesome snow dusted mountains and that ominous sky. Love that touch of warm backlight along the crest of the mountains. Your approach to processing this worked perfectly. Stunning.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 27, 2016 at 9:09 PM

Hi Preston crying

Agree with Lon. really enjoy the unique perspective. reminds me of a delightful voyage.. from the foreground huge picturesque boulders, finishing with the distant mountains and stormy sky..

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on March 28, 2016 at 5:45 AM

Wow! Usually I find large foreground features a just a bit too imposing in a landscape and somewhat distracting to the rest of the scene but I have to say this works admirably. Love the colour combination of grey and green and the beautiful sky. Very well composed and beautiful light Preston, spectacularly good.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 28, 2016 at 10:00 AM

Lovely image Preston. Absolutely crazy about the color palette in this, just love the warmth it portrays. For an image that mainly consists of immobile, large rocks, this image is quite dynamic.

BTW, loving my new monitor and computer. Please let me know if any of my images are too light or dark; running the monitor at 120 currently. Thanks for all of your help!!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on March 28, 2016 at 10:39 AM

This image to me is all about contrasts, and you've done a fine job of handling it. Love the varying colors of the rock and the mountains behind, and the color palette of the image in general makes it very pleasing to view :)

Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 28, 2016 at 3:21 PM

Excellent, Preston. This has a Sierra Club Calendar look to it, a type of image you make better than just about anybody else here. The exposure is perfect to capture the color and beauty of both the fg and bg. All elements are working for you here. The message comes across 'isn't nature a grand spectacle'.

BTW. There is a very subtle but powerful layering composition that's working here. From bottom to top.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 28, 2016 at 5:19 PM

This is real sweet, Preston! Cool perspective and great scene. I like it a lot.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 28, 2016 at 6:39 PM

Subtly spectacular Preston. The yellows throughout the image tie it all together. The touch of snow on the peaks and the similar tones in the clouds are just perfect. You make me want to visit the area this spring, or any time of year for that matter. Great job.

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on March 30, 2016 at 2:24 PM

Beautiful work, Preston. The foreground luminance really brings me into this image. The grasses dividing the boulders takes this up several notches.

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