Nightfall

Nightfall on the Colorado River in the Mojave Desert
California Arizona Border

Shot a few more out there right after this one but when I turned my back I heard a crash... . Busted the lens, now I know what the front lens element looks like out of the barrel. It's about an inch thick, popped it right back and shot a few.... Poor lens rolled into a lake only 6 months earlier. Anyone want to buy a 24-105? I'm kidding you!

Anyone know about backpacking out in the desert. If you don't need a permit how are you supposed to keep the search and rescue from deciding on taking a look for you? Your car has to be parked somewhere.

Here a link to a version shot earlier in the day. Daytime photo

Great photo...composition and colors are fabulous. Not sure if it's worth that lens though....

Steve, as soon as I saw this one I knew it was that area of Arizona / California Colorado River. A little bit dark in the LR area, but I'm sure it's OK in print. As for Search & Rescue, I might suggest a Spot Finder unit.
Sorry to hear about the lens.

Looks like a great spot to shoot, but a little dark for my tastes, hope you do another sometime.

Here is what the lighting situation was, the sun went down long ago to my right so that part of the canyon is dark because it is night time. The higher peaks are catching the last bit of reflected sunlight. The glow in the background is light pollution not the sun or moon. That is why I have left the scene pretty dark. The black border might help your eyes adjust.

Dark areas brightened here but I prefer the first version because it's night and it should be dark.

Tony, If someone told I was going to break a lens if I went out, I doubt I would stay home. Just fix them and keep shooting.

First version works for me Steve, love the glow and star trails.
Too bad about the lens though.

I like the version with the black border. Great twilight blow and glow on the peak. Definitely a bummer about the lens.

Steve,

Excellent night time photography and yeah, the black border helps. Sorry about the lens man!

I like the balance here, but something is telling me I wish I could see more sky, but the river is pretty much the main subject since that's how you composed it. Nice work.

Lon

Steve, the black border does help here. That's why I said in my first comment I'm sure it was going to be fine in a print, just hard to see the contrasts in these smaller images on-line here. I really like the comp on this one. I think I recall you had a similar shot from around this location last year maybe? Regardless, the Colorado River snaking through this arid region makes for an amazing scene overall.

Steve, you did a nice job in difficult lighting (or rather the lack of light). I agree with Lon about the inclusion of more sky: I really like the star trails and the color, there. The black bordered image works best for me.

Sorry to hear about the lens. I would cry if one of LF lenses had an uncontrolled flight into terrain!

--P