Posted by Zack Schnepf on November 17, 2006 at 1:59 PM
I'm looking for opinions again, another crop issue. I like these both, but can't decide between them. The first is a crop eliminating some possibly distracting elements, the second is the first crop I tried.
These were taken near the wave, as the canyon wall opposite to me was lit up by the rising sun reflecting incredible light on me and the sandstone patterns. This was taken just minutes before I broke my sweet 17-40L. Amazingly I have not saturated this image at all, just added a bit of contrast.
5D
17-40L
1/10, f/18, ISO 100
Posted by Zack Schnepf on November 17, 2006 at 1:59 PM
#2
Posted by Mark Hudon on November 17, 2006 at 2:05 PM
The second one does it for me, Zack. I feel more of the "zoom to the corner" feeling in it than the first
Posted by Sean Hyde on November 17, 2006 at 2:20 PM
Ditto Marks opinion and comment. Vote = #2
<jealous>
Posted by Mark Windom on November 17, 2006 at 2:21 PM
# 1 for me...it has a "cleaner" look to it without the darker band running up the right side.
How did you break the 17-40??
Posted by Philip Kuglin on November 17, 2006 at 2:45 PM
You make it hard, but teh #2 one is my choice for the same reasons Mark states.
Posted by Eric Hahl on November 17, 2006 at 2:55 PM
Ditto #2. The darker band on the right really helps lead you into the corner.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on November 17, 2006 at 2:59 PM
The Story of the 17-40L's Demise, and My Triumph Over the Elements
Right after I finished shooting this amazing sandstone area, I moved to a nearby area which was more exposed to the wind which had been blowing pretty good that morning and was only intensifying. I set up a comp with a very stable tripod setup, and noticed how heavy my pack was getting since I forgot to take it off before setting up. I let go of the tripod thinking it was a good stable base, I starting taking off my pack just a few feet away when a huge gust of wind atleast 40 MPH whipped up out of nowhere. I turned around in panic with my pack half off and just cought the last second of my camera taking a dive bomb onto the rocks. it bounced and the 17-40L sheared off at the base and rolled to stop a few feet away. There was a palpable sinking feeling in my stomach and I got physically sick at that moment; I thought both my camera and lense were toast. As I inspected the camera (5D) I noticed except for some dings on the exterior it was fine, I even turned it on and saw that it could play back photos just fine. Thus started a journey to return before sunset with a replacement lens.
I have been wanting to get into the wave for 3 years now, the first time I tried a few years back I lost the lotto and didn't get to go. Jeremy and I lost the lotto for the first day we tried to get into the wave as well, but finally on our last day we had in the area we got in. Then we had hiked 3 miles in the dark before sunrise to get to the wave as the sun was rising, which is not that easy of hike. With those thoughts fresh in my mind I determined to go back to Truck and get my 24-70L which I had not brought because of the weight. I found Jeremy, told him the sad news, left my pack with him, got the keys from him, and started off back to the car with just some water in my pocket. It was an arduous hike back mostly along the stone buttes back to the truck, it was now late morning in the desert and sun was beating down on me. I finished the last of my water as I got to the Truck. I was already exhausted, but I was determined to get back and photograph some more at this place which I had waited so long to get into. It was a nasty hike back, the wind had only gotten worse and dust devils were constantly forming and running me over out in the desert. I finally made it back feeling as if some skin layers had been sand blasted off me only to find most photograhers wouldn't even take their camera's out in these conditions.
After Jeremy helped me get my lens onto my camera without getting sand in it, I waited hiding in a cave I found to avoid the sand and wind. The wind never let up, but we persevered and shot our evening shoot at second wave anyway. We got some great shots including the classic second wave shot in nice light. It was actually a very rewarding experience and one that tought me something about the nature of myself, and it was worth it.
- the end
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on November 17, 2006 at 5:29 PM
I love #2. Sorry to hear of your loss but thank God it WAS the 17-40 instead of the 24-70 ! That would be that much heavier which could have caused more damage to the 5D and that lens is 2x the price of the 17-40. Still a painful loss but thank goodness 5D made it
Posted by Curtis Knight on November 17, 2006 at 5:50 PM
I agree with the crowd on this one. #2 is the stuff
Posted by Jeremy Cram on November 17, 2006 at 6:09 PM
The second one fo sho. The lines have a much better leading to them.
I vaguely remember arriving at the wave first in the morning ans saying "Whatever you do don't let go of your tripod....." A hard lesson, but you did well to get it done to shoot sunset.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on November 17, 2006 at 7:20 PM
If that isn't an I told you so, i don't know what is
Yes, a very expensive lesson it was.
Posted by Philip Kuglin on November 17, 2006 at 7:34 PM
Zack,
I think you were lucky in a way - could have been a total lost of your lens, camera and tripod. I remember being in Hunts Mesa and having the wind very similar. I was done for the night and was taking off my polarizer. I took my hand off the tripod for a moment and the whole setup tipped for the 1500+ foot cliff. Instinctively dropped the polarizer and grabbed the tripod with both hands. I watched the polarizer bounce a couple of times and go off the cliff. OK I know a polarizer is not nearly as bad as a 17-40, but it could be worst.
Is front element OK? Because if it is only the EOS mount that is a cheap fix. I did the same to my 24-70L - ripping the back circuit board and flex cable right off and it only cost $178.
I looked at #1 and thought, what would improve this? More convergence in the UR corner. Sure enough it's #2.
Nice shot and story. Two years ago I watched my EOS Elan II with 28-135 IS take a nose dive onto the pavement at Cape Horn after a gust of wind.
#2 for the reasons Eric and Mark H. said. Wonderful shot, and an heirloom story. Sorry about your lens. Looks as if a lot of us have learned the "don't-let-go-of-the-tripod" lesson the hard (expensive!) way. I had just paid for a complete overhaul of camera body after extensive shooting for over a month capped off by a long weekend of blowing sand at the ocean. Brought the camera home from the repair shop and set it up with my 105 macro on a tripod. I turned around for one second to check on my dog and BLAM! Back to the repair shop to have the face plate of my camera replaced. Gad... It was painful enough, and earned me the "woeful story of the week" award, but I am so glad I didn't have to do all that hiking through the desert! Now that's determination!
Posted by Janet Bentley on November 18, 2006 at 12:20 PM
#2 by far gives the best eye motion to the frame IMO. What an adventure, and glad that you stuck with your opportunity to get some great shooting in.
Just curious. My tripod has a hook hanging down from the center post that could be used to hang a weight from. I haven't used it mine I don't want to carry a lot of extra weight while hiking, but would a rock slungin a bean bag from the center post been enough to keep your baby from diving? Of course, one never knows what they will find under a rock, especially in that area.
Janet B.
Posted by Rick Lundh on November 19, 2006 at 3:33 AM
anudder vote for number 2. Did you compose any at this location where the middle line didn't divide the image so much? Maybe more slanted or something? Either way, 2 is very nice.
Posted by scott lanz on November 19, 2006 at 8:16 AM
Hello Zack. Having hiked to the Wave, I have to give you a lot of credit for hiking all the way back again for the 24-70. Most non-photographers would not understand. I am really enjoying the images you got on what looks like a very good trip tp the SW. As for the choice here, I'd go with #2.
Discussion
17 repliesThese were taken near the wave, as the canyon wall opposite to me was lit up by the rising sun reflecting incredible light on me and the sandstone patterns. This was taken just minutes before I broke my sweet 17-40L. Amazingly I have not saturated this image at all, just added a bit of contrast.
5D
17-40L
1/10, f/18, ISO 100
<jealous>
How did you break the 17-40??
Right after I finished shooting this amazing sandstone area, I moved to a nearby area which was more exposed to the wind which had been blowing pretty good that morning and was only intensifying. I set up a comp with a very stable tripod setup, and noticed how heavy my pack was getting since I forgot to take it off before setting up. I let go of the tripod thinking it was a good stable base, I starting taking off my pack just a few feet away when a huge gust of wind atleast 40 MPH whipped up out of nowhere. I turned around in panic with my pack half off and just cought the last second of my camera taking a dive bomb onto the rocks. it bounced and the 17-40L sheared off at the base and rolled to stop a few feet away. There was a palpable sinking feeling in my stomach and I got physically sick at that moment; I thought both my camera and lense were toast. As I inspected the camera (5D) I noticed except for some dings on the exterior it was fine, I even turned it on and saw that it could play back photos just fine. Thus started a journey to return before sunset with a replacement lens.
I have been wanting to get into the wave for 3 years now, the first time I tried a few years back I lost the lotto and didn't get to go. Jeremy and I lost the lotto for the first day we tried to get into the wave as well, but finally on our last day we had in the area we got in. Then we had hiked 3 miles in the dark before sunrise to get to the wave as the sun was rising, which is not that easy of hike. With those thoughts fresh in my mind I determined to go back to Truck and get my 24-70L which I had not brought because of the weight. I found Jeremy, told him the sad news, left my pack with him, got the keys from him, and started off back to the car with just some water in my pocket. It was an arduous hike back mostly along the stone buttes back to the truck, it was now late morning in the desert and sun was beating down on me. I finished the last of my water as I got to the Truck. I was already exhausted, but I was determined to get back and photograph some more at this place which I had waited so long to get into. It was a nasty hike back, the wind had only gotten worse and dust devils were constantly forming and running me over out in the desert. I finally made it back feeling as if some skin layers had been sand blasted off me only to find most photograhers wouldn't even take their camera's out in these conditions.
After Jeremy helped me get my lens onto my camera without getting sand in it, I waited hiding in a cave I found to avoid the sand and wind. The wind never let up, but we persevered and shot our evening shoot at second wave anyway. We got some great shots including the classic second wave shot in nice light. It was actually a very rewarding experience and one that tought me something about the nature of myself, and it was worth it.
- the end
I vaguely remember arriving at the wave first in the morning ans saying "Whatever you do don't let go of your tripod....."
Yes, a very expensive lesson it was.
I think you were lucky in a way - could have been a total lost of your lens, camera and tripod. I remember being in Hunts Mesa and having the wind very similar. I was done for the night and was taking off my polarizer. I took my hand off the tripod for a moment and the whole setup tipped for the 1500+ foot cliff. Instinctively dropped the polarizer and grabbed the tripod with both hands. I watched the polarizer bounce a couple of times and go off the cliff. OK I know a polarizer is not nearly as bad as a 17-40, but it could be worst.
Is front element OK? Because if it is only the EOS mount that is a cheap fix. I did the same to my 24-70L - ripping the back circuit board and flex cable right off and it only cost $178.
Nice shot and story. Two years ago I watched my EOS Elan II with 28-135 IS take a nose dive onto the pavement at Cape Horn after a gust of wind.
Just curious. My tripod has a hook hanging down from the center post that could be used to hang a weight from. I haven't used it mine I don't want to carry a lot of extra weight while hiking, but would a rock slungin a bean bag from the center post been enough to keep your baby from diving? Of course, one never knows what they will find under a rock, especially in that area.
Janet B.