Well, here are 3 more shots from my time down there this fall, and since I have not been able to shoot for almost 2 months, I have to resort to playing with what I have in the files.
I liked the light on the dunes in this first one.
The second one is my attempt at capturing as many of the elements that make up the valley as I could in one shot. This has the sage and brush and the flat prarie and then there are the smaller hills and of course some 14'ers as a backdrop. Oh, and the ever present wind blowing the brush in the foreground.
The last one feels like it belongs in a Zane Gray novel with a line starting out something like this, " My big bay was weaving his way through the rabbitbrush and sage under threatening skies along the Rio Grande."
Posted by Pam Colander on January 7, 2011 at 9:44 PM
These are all spectacular Morris and I especially love the third one (and your narrative )
Posted by Bob Karcz on January 7, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Love the sweet light in the first one! The colors and lines in the 3rd image are spectacular!
Hell Morris, I'd be thrilled to have images like this floating around on my hard drive just waiting to be processed. All three are nice but the light in the first one is outstanding and everything about the 3rd one calls out to me. Good stuff!
Posted by Jared Atencio on January 8, 2011 at 2:39 AM
I can't believe that first shot was just sitting on your HD?! The light is terrific and love the needles making an appearance. That third shot is great as well. Is that the start to the Rio Grande Gorge? There are tons of rattlesnakes around there...
My limited abilities to critique say:
Number 2 works well for it's stated purpose
Number 3 is AWESOME...great comp...good color
NUMBER TWO..I'm with Bret..if that was on my HD I'd call myself a landscape photographer, what great light
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 8, 2011 at 10:11 AM
I like them all but #3 is my vote to bring to the white elephant!!! Awesome!
Posted by Don George on January 8, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Number 1 and 3 are fantastic. Have you ever thought of writing western novels?
Posted by John Mumaw on January 8, 2011 at 10:20 AM
The light on the sand dunes is so sweet! The 'development' of that one is perfect.
The inclusion of the river makes #3 sing. See if you can't make the yellows of the rabbitbrush 'pop' a bit more by removing a bit of the blue color cast in the foreground.
Heh heh...Zane Grey you ain't, but I can certainly see some kind of narrative to complement this beautiful scene.
Fine representation of the great San Luis Valley, Morris!
Posted by Don George on January 8, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Number 1 and 3 are fantastic. Have you ever thought of writing western novels?
Posted by Paul Wegemann on January 8, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Do you have any photos to go with, "It was a dark and stormy night..."
1 and 3 are fabulous, Morris. Great work as always. I do like John's idea about making the yellows in #3 pop a bit more. Sorry you're not out shooting, but from the looks of these, you don't need to be!
Posted by Stan Rose on January 8, 2011 at 12:12 PM
I love the last one (seen the first one maybe one too many times ).
Posted by Todd Caudle on January 8, 2011 at 12:18 PM
That third one is really, really nice, Morris. I like the first a lot, too, and even though it's been seen before, the light is really sweet and brings it way beyond ordinary and into oh-mommy range..
Posted by Bob Falcone on January 8, 2011 at 12:35 PM
They're all very fine, but I'm going to go against the grain here and say that the second is my favorite. Maybe I'm just a sucker for that incredibly warm glow that it has...
Thanks everyone!
Art, I can't even begin to describe how hard it was to try and salvage that first shot. I used 800 iso to get a higher shutter speed because of the telephoto lens and the wind, and just the noise reduction had me about to cry. Then there was the whole botched first attempt to get detail in the back mountains.
Jared, this is before the start of the gorge, I believe. It's in Conejos County along Hwy. 142 and near the bridge over the Rio Grande there.
Thanks John, and Paul, I will work on the yellows more. And you're right, John, Zane Grey I ain't.
What the others said! The first is my fave though because of that light! Great job.
Posted by Lynn Scott on January 10, 2011 at 2:58 AM
These three images are just awesome!! I like all three equally!!
Posted by Doug Koepsel on January 10, 2011 at 1:56 PM
How did the first manage to hide on the harddrive? I like the lighting as it changes from near to far. I think the lower amount of detail and contrast in the distant mountans makes the dunes stand out better.
Posted by Rohn B. McKee on January 10, 2011 at 7:02 PM
I like 2 and 3 the best. composition and color. I guess we all get to have our own vision. #1 & 2 says BIG WEST to me. Thanks for inviting us to comment. I learn much from all the comments.
Discussion
26 repliesI liked the light on the dunes in this first one.
Number 2 works well for it's stated purpose
Number 3 is AWESOME...great comp...good color
NUMBER TWO..I'm with Bret..if that was on my HD I'd call myself a landscape photographer, what great light
The inclusion of the river makes #3 sing. See if you can't make the yellows of the rabbitbrush 'pop' a bit more by removing a bit of the blue color cast in the foreground.
Heh heh...Zane Grey you ain't, but I can certainly see some kind of narrative to complement this beautiful scene.
Fine representation of the great San Luis Valley, Morris!
1 and 3 are fabulous, Morris. Great work as always. I do like John's idea about making the yellows in #3 pop a bit more. Sorry you're not out shooting, but from the looks of these, you don't need to be!
Art, I can't even begin to describe how hard it was to try and salvage that first shot. I used 800 iso to get a higher shutter speed because of the telephoto lens and the wind, and just the noise reduction had me about to cry.
Jared, this is before the start of the gorge, I believe. It's in Conejos County along Hwy. 142 and near the bridge over the Rio Grande there.
Thanks John, and Paul, I will work on the yellows more. And you're right, John, Zane Grey I ain't.