Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 12, 2012 at 10:24 PM
Prior to Saturday's Superstition Mountain meeting of AZ RMNP, I spent two days on the Peralta Road focusing on the interesting Three Sisters formation that Peter Coskun has been nicely showcasing. Here are a few from those days, and another to be posted in the Landscape/ESS gallery. Suggestions and preferences are always welcome.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 12, 2012 at 10:28 PM
A second from Friday evening when some light clouds came over. The peaks are unfortunately a little soft.
Nikon D90, Tokina 12-24 @ 20mm f/13
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 12, 2012 at 10:31 PM
#3 A wall to the northeast caught a nice evening glow, that gave a nice backdrop to a saguaro. (a shadow top center was cloned out)
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 12, 2012 at 10:35 PM
#4 Cactus Moon.
While I was hiking up the slope before sunrise, the setting moon caused pause.
Posted by Peter Coskun on March 12, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Some really great stuff here Doug, I really enjoy the comp of #2, I thought you included the barrel cactus, unless your saving that for the landscape gallery. I also like the saguaro against the orange cliffs and the setting moon. Looking forward to some more from this trip. It was great meeting you and looking forward to shooting with you in the future.
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 12, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Quintessentially beautiful, all! That first one is picture perfect. The moon shot kills, too.
Really nice work Doug. Could you guys get out and water those flowers so they'll still be around when I get there Friday? Thanks.
I like all of these but the moon shot is clearly the standout for me.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Thank you for the comments and preferences.
Bill, hopefully you will have some clouds this weekend as a front moves through. Many of the brittlebrush had buds, so they should do OK. Not much in the way of other flowers. I was told that the poppies of Peachville near Superior are over.
I agree that #'s 3 & 4 and the image in the 'landscape' gallery are the best of the lot.
The sunlit area behind the saguaro could use a contrast bump, but otherwise 'development' is spot on.
I assume you used a telephoto lens with #4. How were you able to get everything in focus so well?
It's a great pleasure watching your photography and 'development' skills improve so much.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 13, 2012 at 6:58 PM
I was looking forward to developing #2 the most, until I saw the softness of the mountain. Unfortunately, I do not have an image to blend in with the focal point on the mountain. I did make a focal series for #1 and ESS for future use with HeliconFocus when I purchase it.
John, #4 was shot with the 70-300 @ f/13, 195mm. I did another frame spot-metered and focused on the moon just in case to blend in, but I was surprised at how the moon appeared in this single frame posted here.
Even though I have been focusing on winter shots in Colorado,these shots made me start thinking about spring and summer once again. Living in Arizona many years ago, the images capture the "feel' of the desert quite well. Desert certainly doesn't mean lack of vegetation.
Really thought the exposure was spot on for all images. Interesting though that on images #1 and #2, some of the foreground flowers are a bit out of focus. But others around them appear in focus. Strange. Was wind the culprit I presume?
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 13, 2012 at 9:11 PM
Ken, it was nice to have a taste of spring in the desert. Yes, a slight wind was an affliction and I tried to time the breezes to minimize blur.
Posted by Bob Falcone on March 17, 2012 at 1:05 AM
Very nice set, Doug. I was able to shoot a bit from the Lost Dutchman area over the last 2 days...If I had more time (and no one else on this trip), I'd love to spend some time hiking around the Superstitions.
Posted by Dan Walters on March 18, 2012 at 5:18 PM
Really like that first image with the warm light on the rocks.
Discussion
19 repliesNikon D90, Tokina 12-24 @ 20mm f/13
While I was hiking up the slope before sunrise, the setting moon caused pause.
Looks like AZ is the place to be this time of year.
I like all of these but the moon shot is clearly the standout for me.
Bill, hopefully you will have some clouds this weekend as a front moves through. Many of the brittlebrush had buds, so they should do OK. Not much in the way of other flowers. I was told that the poppies of Peachville near Superior are over.
The sunlit area behind the saguaro could use a contrast bump, but otherwise 'development' is spot on.
I assume you used a telephoto lens with #4. How were you able to get everything in focus so well?
It's a great pleasure watching your photography and 'development' skills improve so much.
John, #4 was shot with the 70-300 @ f/13, 195mm. I did another frame spot-metered and focused on the moon just in case to blend in, but I was surprised at how the moon appeared in this single frame posted here.
Really thought the exposure was spot on for all images. Interesting though that on images #1 and #2, some of the foreground flowers are a bit out of focus. But others around them appear in focus. Strange. Was wind the culprit I presume?