Hunt's Mesa

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 2, 20174,045 views9 comments

A few weeks ago, I had my first opportunity to spend a night atop Hunt's Mesa overlooking Monument Valley. There was a gap on the horizon which let the warm sunlight hit the sandstone mesas and peaks below before the sun rose up behind the clouds. A CPL was used to cut some valley haze, but of course it mucked the sky a little and some painting ws done on the left side of the sky to even out the blue.
Nikon D810, Tamron 24-70 @ 24mm, f/8, ISO 64, CPL

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on September 2, 2017 at 12:42 PM

Oh, this is a wonderful image. I really like it. I can't think of a way to improve it. A grand landscape bathed with beautiful light. I've been on the road many times in baja when the light was like this and it's always so glorious.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 2, 2017 at 1:33 PM

Gorgeous light Doug! As Igor mentions, that first light is glorious. What I find really neat, although subtle, is how the valley floor on the right leads to a gap in the formations, allowing the eye to wonder the entire frame. I also like the extra room on the right that lets the light flow in to the frame.

Beautiful color, saturation is not too much and processing overall looks great - including correct that polarizer effects - nice job!

This makes me wish I was there that morning. I can only imagine the awe you experienced.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 2, 2017 at 5:55 PM

This is a fine image, Doug. You nailed the soft morning light. The triangle formed by the foreground mesa is a nice anchor and lead-in to the rest of the composition. You did an excellent job with the processing. Well done!
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Ana on September 2, 2017 at 8:53 PM

Lovely. I have to echo previous comments that I really like the "path" that you've left through the various mesas. It strikes a great balance between showing the twisty maze of structures and at that same time it feeling very loose and inviting.

Registered on February 10, 2004, 191 Posts, 1446 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on September 3, 2017 at 6:56 PM

This is beautiful, Doug. I like the rich warm light on the sandstone. Your composition as well as the panoramic format really shows the expansiveness of the scene. Your processing looks good and very natural as well.

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on September 3, 2017 at 7:18 PM

Sweet Hunt Mesa image, Doug. I really have to do that one of these days. Very nicely done.

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

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on September 4, 2017 at 10:58 PM

The depth of the clear image is amazing...
Only in the southwest. Nice perspective with the lead in ridge.
puts me there...

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

Comment posted by John Williams on September 4, 2017 at 11:07 PM

I would have loved to have been there too. I just love the crazy rugged formation the sandstone does in this area, and you grabbed some special light to go with it.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 7, 2017 at 6:30 AM

What a grand view, and the lighting looks pretty near perfect. Excellent job evening out the sky, looks very natural. I lke the pano crop.

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