John you are an amazing photographer and explorer. Your images are very unique and your processing skills are exceptional.
This reminds me of a scene that should be in an Indiana Jones movie. Great job!
Posted by Paul DeCesare on June 23, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Posted by Doug Koepsel on June 23, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Great idea to add yourself to the image and the pose/head tilted back adds to the sense of wonderment. The scalloped back wall makes a nice contrast to the smoother left. Maybe burn or paint the brighter edges would be my only suggestion. I really like how the light is brighter at the base, like a fire from below, contrary to the normal slot images. Sehr gut!
Posted by Monika Chace on June 23, 2013 at 12:54 PM
John, that looks like the chambers of a heart! Is that some haloing around you? I mean, you're really good, but...... :-) Some of the highlights look awfully bright. I think putting yourself in the shot is great.
Posted by Howard Cihak on June 23, 2013 at 12:55 PM
John, I'll echo what the others said. I'm glad you posed yourself; it would've been too distracting if you had brought along a shapely young lady.
John, this is AMAZING!!! It is magical and almost unbelievable. It excites the imagination and fills the viewer with a desire to get out and explore. I think this image has tons of potential for magazines, brochures, ads, etc. I personally would love to have a huge version of this on my wall. Bravo John! This is one of the best images I've seen in a very long time!
Thanks for the kind words and suggestions, folks! I really appreciate it.
Monika,
The halo along my arm holding the walking stick comes from direct sunlight hitting my arm, as do the specular highlights that are here and there. A few minutes after this, sunlight poured into the chamber.
I echo all the praise for this image that has been posted. It is indeed one of the most unique images I have seen anywhere. Should and could be the cover shot of many magazines. John, you should be extremely proud of this.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Peter Coskun on June 23, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Looks like one hell of a canyon to explore! Love the light and sense of scale here.
Aaaaamaaaazing image John!! I would be submitting this to Nat Geo and Backpacker for sure!
I love the amazing light and shadows you've captured!
Well done Oh Great and Powerful photographer!!
Posted by Jack Garrett on June 23, 2013 at 10:01 PM
They're's gold in them thar hills!!!! Wow, just fantastic!
I hope you post this in man and nature...a weekly winner for sure and maybe photo of the year candidate!
Agreed. Amazing sense of scale. Perfect comp, love the pose; "forward staff!" I used to giggle when I viewed photographers posing, but now I get it, because it’s very appropriate for this kind of scene.
I'll go out on an island and nitpick about the already good processing. I have a feeling you had some trouble interpreting the light in this scene and keeping the "less processing" integrity with just two exposures. I'm wondering if three, maybe four would do the trick with my eye.
Overall I feel an even bigger image would show the meager slights in processing. Above your head and beyond the dynamic transitions seem more abrupt/sudden. This ones hard to describe but its the A shaped section of rock wall above your head in the image that seems like it may need a slight midtone increase to better blend with the bordering perfectly processed walls. Lastly, to the bottom left (in the shadows) of your right heel there appears to be two blown pixels.
Oh Mommy! Flat out amazing, John! What a glow from inside this chamber. And, another teardrop shape for you. Seems to be a pattern. I also like that you added yourself to the photo for the scale.
Posted by Jared Warren on June 24, 2013 at 2:36 PM
I'm speechless. Congrats on this truly outstanding image.
Yea, I have a suggestion for ya. Enter every photo contest you can with this beauty! Not only having yourself in the images adds so much, but your walking stick suggests an explorer and not just a tourist. Just curious considering the gorgeous light; had you scoped this slot out in prior vistis to get the perfect time for light?
Ken,
I've been here several times and the light changes depending upon the time of day and the time of year. I knew I wanted to be here just before noon, but the day chosen was a pure (and lucky) guess.
I usually only lurk on this forum, but I cannot keep quiet about this one. John, your images of slot canyons are always beautifully composed and perfectly processed. This one is all of that as well. The exceptional beauty of this chamber is stunning, your processing amazing and then there's that pose - it looks as if a director in a movie dressed you up and then said "now stand with your feet two feet part, hold your hiking stick out in front of you and by the way, look up"! What a terrific vision you had for this image.
I have no idea how i missed this post John, but sure glad I found it. The light in this is simply fantastic. processing looks spot on to me and love the comp. Glad you added yourself to give a sense of scale. I think it makes this even more impressive. The shape the light forms looks like a burning flame of fire. Great work.
Discussion
37 repliesI thought this place needed a sense of scale. Any suggestions appreciated!
Canon 5DII w/ 24-105 lens @ 24mm
1/4 sec. & 1 sec. @ f16
2 exposures blended for optimum dynamic range.
Tip o' the hat to Neil Young & the Bluenotes for the title.
I agree, it does require you for scale.
This reminds me of a scene that should be in an Indiana Jones movie. Great job!
Monika,
The halo along my arm holding the walking stick comes from direct sunlight hitting my arm, as do the specular highlights that are here and there. A few minutes after this, sunlight poured into the chamber.
Joe Rogers
I love the amazing light and shadows you've captured!
Well done Oh Great and Powerful photographer!!
I hope you post this in man and nature...a weekly winner for sure and maybe photo of the year candidate!
I'll go out on an island and nitpick about the already good processing. I have a feeling you had some trouble interpreting the light in this scene and keeping the "less processing" integrity with just two exposures. I'm wondering if three, maybe four would do the trick with my eye.
Overall I feel an even bigger image would show the meager slights in processing. Above your head and beyond the dynamic transitions seem more abrupt/sudden. This ones hard to describe but its the A shaped section of rock wall above your head in the image that seems like it may need a slight midtone increase to better blend with the bordering perfectly processed walls. Lastly, to the bottom left (in the shadows) of your right heel there appears to be two blown pixels.
Tough image to critique.
And thanks for the eagle eye there, Kane. I'll look closely at what you spotted.
I've been here several times and the light changes depending upon the time of day and the time of year. I knew I wanted to be here just before noon, but the day chosen was a pure (and lucky) guess.
Beautifully done. That's amazing texture in the rock walls, and very nicely exposed to capture both you and the walls.
Well deserved praise and attention. I agree with the others, get this image some exposure and leverage it!