Sunrise, Grand Canyon, 3/26/2011

Camped the night before and woke up a couple of times through the night with heavy winds and the distinctive hissing sound of snow falling on the tent. Almost didn't make it out to the rim in time, since the NPS concessionaires didn't feel like driving the Hermit's Rest busses in the snow. Made it out just in time...

Which do you prefer? I can't decide whether I like the first better, with the visual contrast between the snow/blue shadows and the beams, or the simpler warmth of the second, closer-in.

Multi-image stitches.

#2.

Each shot with a Sony 850 and the 70-300G, if it makes any difference to anyone. Feisol 3342, Acratech Leveling Head, Acratech Ultimate Ballhead. GoLite down jacket.

Mark, my vote goes to the 1st image. Glad you were able to get it.

Hi Mark - I reckon #2 works better at this size on a web page - there's more to catch the eye at this scale. However, I can imagine #1 making more impact printed large and hung on a wall. The layering effect is there in both images - just a little small in #1 at web scale. Looks like it could have been a chilly night, but worth it!

Nice job on braving the elements for a some great photography, Mark. Both are great shots. I slightly prefer #2 for its simplicity.

Both are nice, but I like the second one about 1% more than the first.

I'd give the nod to the 2nd as well. First has the seasonal element with the snow, but the second one seems to encompass Grand Canyon Sunrise more to me.

Nice images Mark!
I think my vote goes to #2
Nice layering both in the center and RH forground.
I might remove a little off the LH side as it's a little static.

I like the 2nd one best because of the light rays being more visible, but I think I would add a little contrast to those canyon walls to make it pop a bit more. Good equipment call, but I think a North Face or Marmot down jacket would have resulted in a warmer tone overall

#2 has a "grander" feeling for me...but both are very fine. Nice job!

Tough call, as they're both spectacular! I reckon I have to give a slight edge to #2, as well.
The lit up layering there is real sweet. These are conditions that photographers pray for while there.
Glad you were the Chosen One!
I think that you could crop significant portions from the left on both to create a better 'balance', remove superfluous real estate and to emphasize those remarkable light rays even more.

I am going with #2 also. I think the light is slightly better and layers add more visual interest. Sweet shots!

A slight edge to #2. I like seeing the sun rays continue across the image. Beautiful.

The winner is the Go-Lite down jacket!!!!!



I really like them both-they are winners.

I prefer #1--its more identifiable as the Grand Canyon as opposed to just a layers shot of a canyon.

Thank you guys. I hear what you're saying about the imbalance left and right and recognize it, but I'm hesitant to crop off the left side as I like the implied diagonal of the beams heading down to the lower left corner. The original stitches actually extended farther to the left and I took them out where they are now. These are both just first drafts, though; basic stitch with photomerge and an hour or so with curve layers in photoshop.

Seems like the votes are pretty evenly split. At this exact moment, I think I prefer #2 because the visual interest of the snow in #1, as cool as it is, adds to the left-right imbalance. That said, I'm so grateful to have gotten either... Been out plenty of times when it hasn't happened. Every once in a while I get something that lets me be content for a few months before I get neurotic again, when I figure that anything more would just be icing on the cake.

Darren, yeah -- a good down jacket is just about mandatory photo gear for me at this point.

Stan -- that's a little odd to me. The shapes of the silhouettes seem very indicative of the Grand Canyon to me, but I guess I was just there...

Thanks again, everyone, for the comments and the congratulations.

I'd pick number 2 because I like the added layering.

Mark, I like the clouds from #1 and the lighter layers in the mountains in #2. I would go with #2 and just darken your clouds a bit more to bring out the texture and contrast there. Nice shots!

I like #2. Nice shots!

Really large would be the best way to view both of these. I will go with #2 barely over #1. Excellent light beams. The brightest parts seem blown just a bit.

#2 is prefered to #1, imo. A litle increase in contrast might be tried to help show the layers and beams.