Cholla Pano

Joshua Tree Cholla Garden

Something about this one is buggin me. I think it's the color, lack of warmth, or added contrast but not exactly sure. If anyone can offer some thoughts on that I'd gladly appreciate it.

Steve

Perhaps you just didn't have optimal lighting conditions. It looks to me like you got the most of what was available that day. I've tried overcast days. I've tried morning shots with the Cholla backlit. Although I've seen the Colla Gardens beautifully done, I've never been satisfied with my efforts. But like you, I'll keep trying. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Oops, I didn't convert this from Pro RGB to sRGB. I can't put it right now because I'm running another pano right now. Thanks Don. This one looks a little green.

I really like your approach and this comp. It is an awesome idea, and those cholla would look stunning printed big in this format. I think what holds this from being "awesome" is the lack of color and the brighter ulc. With some warm light on those mountains and some pink in the sky, this shot would look awesome. The light needs to compliment the cholla, and right now I don't feel like it is. Hope that all makes sense.

I think the red part of the backlit cactus might be a little oversaturated. Converted from pro photo rgb to srgb.

Don, an easier way to do the backlit cacti shots is to use a soft grad over the top or blocking the sun with the cactus or a magazine or lens hood.

thanks Ben, makes total sense but just had convert the color profiling.

Steve, the second image has more warmth to it and gets a much better look in general. Hard for me to tell on the saturation you have mentioned though. I know this area of JTNP fairly well and have a good feel for the positioning here in relationship to the sunrise. I agree with your thoughts on using the grad too. As Robert stated & I have also seen some amazing captures from this area, and know it was not an easy task to accomplish some of the outcomes I have seen in the past. I have never shot at this exact location Steve as I always come in on the north side of the park during the dawn time period. Too much of a mad dash from there to this location by sunrise. If I ever do make it I hope I could capture something as nice as what you have here.

Personally what I'm missing most is feeling like I'm going to get pricked by those needles - wasn't it you who said when in doubt get closer or something But that's a personal preference, as far as this image goes, I think the lighting is just a little too flat here, ideally some combination of glow (back or front lit) and clouds would do the trick I think.. something a little more subtle. I've yet to get a good shot from there too.

The 2nd image is much better. The only thing missing from this is that it isn't in my image library!



The sky is just perfect the way it is. It is the freaking desert after all and is supposed to be arid.

You're so right Mr. Dry Heat. Thanks for the feedback guys.

I prefer the harsher first photo and would even kill the red halo on the top left. I like the backlit needles. The only thing that would bug me a little is the cropped foot of the front cactus.

I like the blue hue and cold off-green, mixed with the white baclikght...

Hmm... the colors and contrast looked very good to me in the first post. For comparison, I'd like to see an image where the cholla tops were a bit lower in the frame (if even possible). I was thinking that might allow the eye to travel down into the valley a little easier and add to the sense of depth. But then you'd give up that nice color contrast between the gold cholla tops and the blue haze. Nice work either way.