Lonely Mono Tree Sunset

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 3, 2016124 views8 comments

Haven't posted a landscape here in a while!

I look forward to heading back to the Mara Triangle in Kenya on this Sunday.
Although the main focus of the safari is obviously the Great Migration, it's hard not to whip our your wide angle lens on occasion in the Mara.

This is a moody sunset from last year's safari. We were waiting for a building wildebeest herd on the opposite end of the river to start crossing, and with a scene like this behind us, we had it good on both ends.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 @ 24mm
Kenko Pro Circular Polariser
f8.0 | 1/320 SS | ISO-140

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 3, 2016 at 3:23 PM

Very striking image. The lone tree and sun rays are very effective.
Perfect crop and placement of the elements as well.
Extremely fine work!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on August 3, 2016 at 7:56 PM

It is striking, Morkel, a held in check blast of sunrays and cloud drama. I like the tree placement along the frame, I could
see a bit off the top.

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 3, 2016 at 8:07 PM

Very bold and dramatic landscape! I like the placement of the tree in the composition. My eye does tend to get stuck a little in the top of the frame with all of the deep blacks. I can see some lighter clouds that I would be tempted to brighten a little. If you are familiar with luminosity painting using Tony Kuyper's luminosity mask channels you could lighten a lights mask and selectively paint in the darkest area of the sky. This would leave the dark areas alone, but would brighten the lighter clouds which appear dark gray here. I think this would add more interest in the top of the frame without taking away from the radiating light over the tree. Alternatively, a crop to more of a panoramic format also works nicely. Just some food for thought.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 4, 2016 at 2:13 AM

Stunning image Morkel. Love the silhouetted tree and cloud against the sun rays. Your darker treatment adds drama to the scene.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 6, 2016 at 11:11 AM

Hi Morkel! Very nicely executed, I like the fact that lone tree is bravely standing against massive clouds.
I see merit in Brian's suggestion about getting some details in the lighter clouds.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on August 6, 2016 at 3:05 PM

Morkel,
This is a very powerful shot. I wonder how it would look as a pano with much of the sky at the top out of the picture.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 15, 2016 at 4:02 PM

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, folks!
Here's a version sligthly cropped to pano...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 16, 2016 at 3:21 AM

just back from the mara triangle (was there from 24 - 27 July). i reckon we had the wildebeest at the very best that I've seen - at least for a while. hope you find it so.

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