I was lucky enough to get the time off from work to attend last weekend's NPN RMNP Spring Fling in Moab, put together by Bret Edge. Leaving Mount Pleasant and driving down through the Swell, it looked like we might get shut out all weekend with heavy overcast clouds. Thankfully the weather decided to cooperate a bit, and we got some great light.
Here's one from Saturday morning at Marlboro Point.
Edit: I'd wanted to include more, but I can't seem to add any more replies. I'll try again later this evening.
Thanks, guys! Good to meet you guys; sadly, I'm moving up to Seattle this summer, so I'm going to be leaving RMNP but getting to explore some new terrain. I'll miss the desert, though.
Here's two that you've seen essentially the same from Josh already -- since we were standing about twenty feet apart...
And this one is eight short minutes later, in the last of the light before the sun faded into some clouds lingering on the western horizon. 8:19pm according to the EXIF data. Both of these are 7-8 vertical shots stitched into a panorama, as I remain addicted to them.
And one more from Marlboro, Sunday morning. Almost no clouds to speak of, just some haze on the southern horizon, so I did what I could with it. Two vertical shots stitched to create a 4x5 aspect ratio.
Angela, Marlboro Point is totally worth checking out. Two points: the last mile or so is quite rough (a true 4wd track in my estimation), but I usually park and walk the last mile. That's not too bad since you can camp quite close by. Also, like many locations in the area with cliffs and canyons, you have to be careful about timing and conditions. You can see in the first (top) image that we were lucky to get some spotlighting thanks to patchy clouds to the East; note the much more subdued lighting on the cliffs to the right and behind. On a more "regular" day, you get something much more like this.
Really nice work in all of them. My preference would be to let the contrast be a little stronger in the Marlboro shots with the brights coming up a little more. But, I just like more contrast, so take it for what it's worth.
Hi Mark! I'm sitting in a stinky hotel in Richfield getting caught up with NPN aftera week in Zion. I agree with Morris, I prefer more contrast with your Marboro images. The first one is beautiful, but needs a little more drama via the curves slider. You know what I like (dark and moody) but its always up to the artist. I'll say this, they look basically spot on and perfect to what your eye saw that morning. I admire images that convey the actual scene, but I also love images that connect with my raw emotions.
The second, and wider image of the Land Behind the Rocks scene is better than the first. That's a big scene. Lots going on in the sky, and foreground; thus I'm happy to see more of both. The mountains get lost in all the other action.
I'll miss you dude, let's keep in touch. Don't be surprised if I call to come visit ya someday.
All wonderful images, Mark. Considering the sky you had at Marlboro Pt, I appreciate your composition to minimize the sky and focus on the foreground detail.
Seattle? Actually, I believe you will find it quite invigorating to switch to rain forests and coastlines.
Morris and Kane, thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to hold off for now given that it's still clear what it was like to me at the time, and I'm looking for a little lighter or more naturalistic touch. I'd like to let SUWA use both images as part of their "Greater Canyonlands" campaign, and as such I want to keep it pretty true-to-life. I will say I've already pushed the skies in the top image pretty far; both mornings were hazier than I'd have liked. I'll try to play with it some and see if I can add some contrast without going too far.
Kane, I've got wider stitches of both of the La Sals shots, but wanted to focus in on the areas with more light. I'm confused, though: did you mean that the second of the La Sals was wider (across left-to-right)? Because it's narrower. Like I said, I can go a bit wider on both; it's more a matter of which light conditions you're going for: the final direct light with yellowish fins or the twilight reddish fins with pinkish clouds. And come on up; we'll climb some of the North Cascades.
Ken, I'm looking forwards to Seattle and already have some trips planned, but the Colorado Plateau region is special to me (and many others, for that matter!...) I know I'll be back. As I'm about to leave, a friend is about to move to Kanab, so even beyond camping I'll have a starting point.
Mark, for preferences, #3 the 2 would be mine. Great light, clouds and vantage. As others have stated, the Marlboro Point images seem to need more contrast/levels adjustments as the lit faces seem washed out. Have a great time in the Seattle area and all the mountains, beaches and greenery it offers.
Since I'm not a landscape guy and a wildlife guy...to me a Marlboro is something that comes in a pack of 20 and is bad for you. , I think they are speaking of the first shot needing more contrast? If so, I'll just agree...:)
Love the color and light on the next two and the comp on all is excellent. Nice work Mark.
Discussion
14 repliesHere's one from Saturday morning at Marlboro Point.
Edit: I'd wanted to include more, but I can't seem to add any more replies. I'll try again later this evening.
Here's two that you've seen essentially the same from Josh already -- since we were standing about twenty feet apart...
This one is 8:11pm according to the EXIF data.
Angela, Marlboro Point is totally worth checking out. Two points: the last mile or so is quite rough (a true 4wd track in my estimation), but I usually park and walk the last mile. That's not too bad since you can camp quite close by. Also, like many locations in the area with cliffs and canyons, you have to be careful about timing and conditions. You can see in the first (top) image that we were lucky to get some spotlighting thanks to patchy clouds to the East; note the much more subdued lighting on the cliffs to the right and behind. On a more "regular" day, you get something much more like this.
The second, and wider image of the Land Behind the Rocks scene is better than the first. That's a big scene. Lots going on in the sky, and foreground; thus I'm happy to see more of both. The mountains get lost in all the other action.
I'll miss you dude, let's keep in touch. Don't be surprised if I call to come visit ya someday.
Seattle? Actually, I believe you will find it quite invigorating to switch to rain forests and coastlines.
Kane, I've got wider stitches of both of the La Sals shots, but wanted to focus in on the areas with more light. I'm confused, though: did you mean that the second of the La Sals was wider (across left-to-right)? Because it's narrower. Like I said, I can go a bit wider on both; it's more a matter of which light conditions you're going for: the final direct light with yellowish fins or the twilight reddish fins with pinkish clouds. And come on up; we'll climb some of the North Cascades.
Ken, I'm looking forwards to Seattle and already have some trips planned, but the Colorado Plateau region is special to me (and many others, for that matter!...) I know I'll be back. As I'm about to leave, a friend is about to move to Kanab, so even beyond camping I'll have a starting point.
Love the color and light on the next two and the comp on all is excellent. Nice work Mark.