A Cholla

This is an understated little scene from the Mojave National Preserve.

Chamonix 4x5
Fujinon 240mm
Velvia 50

I really like the isolated cholla here, Harley. The dark canyon wall of rocks makes an excellent backdrop to the scene also. I don't recall seeing too many of this exact looking cholla as much as the other varieties out there.
I might try to darken the small ridge in the LRHC just a bit. I think just knocking down the highlights off the yellow will keep ones eyes from wondering to that spot.

Nice contribution, Harley. Good shapes and textures. It won't
be long until photographers will be traveling to this area in pursuit
of wildflowers. I'm hoping that the rains will be timely for a most
productive season.

Nice one Harly, looks like Hole in Wall? Did you take your 4x5 on the rings trail? The cholla stands out and so does that yellow lichen. Very underappreciated scene and place.

When you have small twigs like that in a frame it would be nice to see the print from your 4x5 and your 5D MII, maybe a zoomed crop 8x10 of just the twigs?

Good eye, Steve. That is exactly right on the location. I did not do the rings, only went into the ampitheater and the trail up to the rings. Jason and I both have dogs and as agile as they are, they would not be making it up the ring trail.

Love the purple's and magenta's captured here. The cholla limbs standout nicely against that backdrop too. I'm a little ambivalent about the lichen covered rock peeking in from the LRC, but that's a minor issue to an otherwise very nice image. Well done!

I really need to explore more of that area. Great little scene and I like the rocky background.