Posted by Kurt Budde on February 2, 2009 at 5:31 PM
When I first moved to Sedona, I thought - hey, this place is fantastical.. I can just grab the camera and..
Turns out it's a bit more difficult than that. When you market to the tourism industry, you need to shoot what people buy. Icons. In Sedona, people build houses on them. Sigh.
That said, I can push out in to any of the 10 wilderness areas within a 30 minute drive from my front door, and I do that often. However, sometimes you need to make some money, and icons make money. So to that particular end, I've been taking them down one by one. Next on the list; Courthouse Butte. I've spent probably 10-12 hours lately wandering around Courthouse trying to figure a decent comp. The lack of lines around this thing is nothing short of mystical.
Finally got this a few days ago.. thoughts?
Added a little of a luminosity technique I developed to lessen the harshness of the trees, if they look a little different. Don't mind the dust spots, hah!
Posted by John Mumaw on February 2, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Frankly, this isn't really that great an image of Courthouse Butte.
I like the foreground you chose, but the overall light and sky are pretty bland, while the midground lacks contrast and sharpness.
This spot would be well worth revisiting with more dramatic weather/light patterns.
Having said that, I know what you're capable of doing. I happen to think that image you posted last week in the 'Earth, Sea & Sky' gallery was fantastic and could definitely be a moneymaker!
Posted by Kurt Budde on February 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Oh, yeah, just looking for thoughts on the comp
Edit: Thanks! Yeah, one of my best, waiting for some new snow to get out there and do it again!
Posted by Kurt Budde on February 2, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Repost with added contrast, dropped the luminosity for sharpness, etc. That said, I'll be back for some better light, it's a quick hike to this spot from the 179. However, it's interesting in that many people would prefer an image more akin to what they saw, than a magical light display. A kind of, I was here, this is what I saw type documentary image. I find that being able to offer both is advantageous.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 2, 2009 at 6:36 PM
The repost is much better.
Posted by Stan Rose on February 3, 2009 at 7:08 AM
I love the bg, but to be honest not so fond of the fg. I keep thinking, 'what the heck are these two big rocks sitting here for?', they remind me of some not-so-flattering cleavage.
On the other hand, your EP from ESS is a killer shot!
Posted by Kurt Budde on February 3, 2009 at 12:15 PM
That's some serious cleavage then Stan.. the drop there in the middle is about 30 feet. Seriously though, thanks for the input. Looks like it's partially back to the drawing board for this chunk of rock.
And thanks! Kinda funny I didn't know until you told me.
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 3, 2009 at 11:55 PM
I gotta be honest. My immediate reaction was "cleavage" as well - as in a plumber's cleavage.
Keep exploring the area though. Try some extremely low perspectives if the obvious lines are lacking.
I have a shot like this too. And like you, I never saw it until I showed others. It's still a good source of laughter.
Posted by Laurent Baig on February 4, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Kurt, I hear you about photographing around Sedona. I don't go there that often for that very reason. Plus the traffic is awful with all the construction. I'd keep exploring. I think you can find something better than this. That being said, this covered in snow might not be bad and might not look like sun-burned plumber's crack
Posted by Kurt Budde on February 5, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Thanks Jesse. Funny how sometimes we miss the obvious.
Laurent, the construction is actually starting to get better, honest! And it's about time it did.. and if it snows and *sticks* for more than 15 minutes at the bottom of Courthouse, I'll eat my shoes.
Discussion
9 repliesTurns out it's a bit more difficult than that. When you market to the tourism industry, you need to shoot what people buy. Icons. In Sedona, people build houses on them. Sigh.
That said, I can push out in to any of the 10 wilderness areas within a 30 minute drive from my front door, and I do that often. However, sometimes you need to make some money, and icons make money. So to that particular end, I've been taking them down one by one. Next on the list; Courthouse Butte. I've spent probably 10-12 hours lately wandering around Courthouse trying to figure a decent comp. The lack of lines around this thing is nothing short of mystical.
Finally got this a few days ago.. thoughts?
Added a little of a luminosity technique I developed to lessen the harshness of the trees, if they look a little different. Don't mind the dust spots, hah!
I like the foreground you chose, but the overall light and sky are pretty bland, while the midground lacks contrast and sharpness.
This spot would be well worth revisiting with more dramatic weather/light patterns.
Having said that, I know what you're capable of doing. I happen to think that image you posted last week in the 'Earth, Sea & Sky' gallery was fantastic and could definitely be a moneymaker!
Edit: Thanks! Yeah, one of my best, waiting for some new snow to get out there and do it again!
On the other hand, your EP from ESS is a killer shot!
And thanks! Kinda funny I didn't know until you told me.
Keep exploring the area though. Try some extremely low perspectives if the obvious lines are lacking.
I have a shot like this too. And like you, I never saw it until I showed others. It's still a good source of laughter.
Laurent, the construction is actually starting to get better, honest! And it's about time it did.. and if it snows and *sticks* for more than 15 minutes at the bottom of Courthouse, I'll eat my shoes.