Posted by John Williams on March 16, 2008 at 10:49 PM
A big thanks to those who answered my request for info on AZ wildflowers last month. The folks and I spent a great day enjoying Organ Pipe National Monument. The flowers were mainly roadside on the way from Gilbert to OPNM, but were quite good in one portion of the Ajo Mountain Loop that had nice sections of Mexican Poppies.
Unfortunately the day we visited was quite windy (in fact the poppies didn’t open until around noon) and hazy, which was limiting . We had been told that the flowers were also good in a different section of the monument and headed there for the late sweet light, but unfortunately the flowers were nowhere near as nice and we didn’t have enough time to make it back to the nice sections. Regardless, I took a few photos of the poppies when the light was a bit harsh and the one advantage is that the poppies glow a bit with bright lighting .
The next day on the way back we stopped at Picacho Peak. There were some good flower patches there, but not as nice as OPNM. (Here's a photo of the sunset that evening from Picacho.)
Nikon D80
Tokina 12-24mm f/4.0
12mm, 1/60sec at f/22
Posted by Guy Schmickle on March 16, 2008 at 10:57 PM
The poppy shot is nice, but I'm really diggin' that shot from Picacho Peak. Well done.
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Really nice shot, John, but that teddybear cholla sunset is incredible! Those things scare me. I've still got spikes from one of those floating around in my fingers from seven years ago.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on March 17, 2008 at 1:08 AM
The sunset shot is a monster. One of the best I've seen from Picacho.
Both are nice shots, John. I haven't tried shooting many poppy scenes, but imagine it's pretty challenging given that they are typically closed up during the sweet light, and don't fully open until the light is getting much more harsh. These do have that great, warm glow - very nice.
I'm a little torn on the sunset shot. Definitely looks like an epic scene, but I think some contrast work could elevate it even further. The sky feels a little flat to me.
Posted by John Williams on March 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Thanks again all, especially for the kind words on the sunset shot.
Rick, when I posted the sunset on ESS many thought the shadows needed to be opened a little more. I'll be doing that in the near future, and I'll play with the sky contrast when I do to see if I can improve it a bit. Thanks!
Discussion
10 repliesUnfortunately the day we visited was quite windy (in fact the poppies didn’t open until around noon) and hazy, which was limiting
The next day on the way back we stopped at Picacho Peak. There were some good flower patches there, but not as nice as OPNM. (Here's a photo of the sunset that evening from Picacho.)
Nikon D80
Tokina 12-24mm f/4.0
12mm, 1/60sec at f/22
RichieV
I'm a little torn on the sunset shot. Definitely looks like an epic scene, but I think some contrast work could elevate it even further. The sky feels a little flat to me.
Rick, when I posted the sunset on ESS many thought the shadows needed to be opened a little more. I'll be doing that in the near future, and I'll play with the sky contrast when I do to see if I can improve it a bit. Thanks!