Posted by Nat Coalson on March 27, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Jim Talaric and I were lucky enough to be in Bisti Badlands for the full moon last week.
This is a double exposure (aka "composite").... but I think an "honest" one... I lined up the shot and waited patiently for the moon to come up in just the right spot, then made two exposures, one for the foreground and one for the moon. Processed in Lightroom and composited in Photoshop.
This was my first time to Bisti and I have to say it is already my new favorite place.
C&C always appreciated!
Posted by Nat Coalson on March 27, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Posted by Derek Sedillo on March 27, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Nat,
Thanks for posting this. I like seeing the moon detail even though as a photographer we know the shot is not possible via a single capture.
You may have noticed my night shot of the moon in the 'recent Sangres' thread. I posed the question of doing something similar with a double exposure. My goal would be to try and portrait what I saw when the moon was setting over the mtn. - a detailed moon!
The hardest part in doing something like this at night is that there is blooming and fringing which have to be taken into account. And if the moon is reflecting off anything like clouds, foreground, etc... then that all has to be dealt with in a natural looking way. This can be a 'very' difficult thing to achieve and I think you have done a good job here. I think clear skys probably helped.
The only thing I wonder in looking at the image is how it might look without the glow/halo around the moon. I think that was a result of the long exposure, maybe not. And it might look better with it vs. without it, don't know...
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 27, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Very nice alignment !
It doesn't get much better than Bisti with a full moon.
Did you run into Momo out there?
You'll have to let me know when you plan your next trip.
I'll give you a geology tour.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on March 27, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Nice, Nat. I'm jealous you got to get down that way. I'm hoping to get some time in Bisti for some 4x5 work this year.
I like the moon shot and agree with the composite, the detailed moon is much more interesting. I think I'd crop the left a little more, both to move the moon and slot off center more and because the far slope doesn't do much for me. Plus there seems to be just a hint of a green cast, do you think that is from the moonlight or long exposure of the foreground?
Nice visualization!
Posted by Momo Vuyisich on March 27, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Hi Nat. I like the photo overall. I think it could be improved by lightening the sky, as well as cropping from the right until the photo is square. I like the linked one better.
Which evening was this? I camped inside Bisti Friday night, and stayed on Saturday until 8PM. Were you the guys in the Jeep Liberty that left Saturday night?
Nat:
I think I would have brought the foreground and sky down a little; it just looks too bright. My mind tells me that the moon should be the brightest object, it doesn't square with the relative brightness of the objects in the image. The composition is spot on, I just think it's too light overall.
Posted by Rik Williams on March 28, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Matt,
Both are great shots. Definitely a challenge and personal prefrence on how to balance the exposure in the moon composite. Your rendition is both beautiful and honest - IMO.
My favorite, though, is your second image. The foreground, mid-ground, and background rocks with the shadows from the right are wonderful. And I especially like your cropping - the x-wide landscape framing is great and makes the composition.
Like the others, I'd like to know where Bisti is.
Rik
Castle Rock, CO
Posted by Nat Coalson on March 28, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Thanks, everyone, for the comments.
Bisti Badlands is BLM land in northwestern New Mexico. About 40 minutes south of Farmington off Hwy 371. It's part of the De-Na-Zin Wilderness.
Posted by Rajeev Thomas on March 29, 2008 at 3:53 AM
Nat...wow sounds like a great place!! I love the placement of moon!! Your patience shows... beautiful details and light, regards, Rajeev.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 29, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Nice job Nat. You captured a mysterious image of a mysterious place.
Discussion
11 repliesThis is a double exposure (aka "composite").... but I think an "honest" one... I lined up the shot and waited patiently for the moon to come up in just the right spot, then made two exposures, one for the foreground and one for the moon. Processed in Lightroom and composited in Photoshop.
This was my first time to Bisti and I have to say it is already my new favorite place.
C&C always appreciated!
http://www.natcoalson.com/external/ncoalson_bisti2.jpg
Thanks for posting this. I like seeing the moon detail even though as a photographer we know the shot is not possible via a single capture.
You may have noticed my night shot of the moon in the 'recent Sangres' thread. I posed the question of doing something similar with a double exposure. My goal would be to try and portrait what I saw when the moon was setting over the mtn. - a detailed moon!
The hardest part in doing something like this at night is that there is blooming and fringing which have to be taken into account. And if the moon is reflecting off anything like clouds, foreground, etc... then that all has to be dealt with in a natural looking way. This can be a 'very' difficult thing to achieve and I think you have done a good job here. I think clear skys probably helped.
The only thing I wonder in looking at the image is how it might look without the glow/halo around the moon. I think that was a result of the long exposure, maybe not. And it might look better with it vs. without it, don't know...
It doesn't get much better than Bisti with a full moon.
Did you run into Momo out there?
You'll have to let me know when you plan your next trip.
I'll give you a geology tour.
I like the moon shot and agree with the composite, the detailed moon is much more interesting. I think I'd crop the left a little more, both to move the moon and slot off center more and because the far slope doesn't do much for me. Plus there seems to be just a hint of a green cast, do you think that is from the moonlight or long exposure of the foreground?
Nice visualization!
Which evening was this? I camped inside Bisti Friday night, and stayed on Saturday until 8PM. Were you the guys in the Jeep Liberty that left Saturday night?
John
I think I would have brought the foreground and sky down a little; it just looks too bright. My mind tells me that the moon should be the brightest object, it doesn't square with the relative brightness of the objects in the image. The composition is spot on, I just think it's too light overall.
Both are great shots. Definitely a challenge and personal prefrence on how to balance the exposure in the moon composite. Your rendition is both beautiful and honest - IMO.
My favorite, though, is your second image. The foreground, mid-ground, and background rocks with the shadows from the right are wonderful. And I especially like your cropping - the x-wide landscape framing is great and makes the composition.
Like the others, I'd like to know where Bisti is.
Rik
Castle Rock, CO
Bisti Badlands is BLM land in northwestern New Mexico. About 40 minutes south of Farmington off Hwy 371. It's part of the De-Na-Zin Wilderness.