Posted by Fred Weymouth on July 15, 2013 at 10:02 PM
I visited the San Rafael Valley in southern Arizona Saturday, it's about 1.5 hours from Tucson. Although it is very close to the border (maybe one or two miles) and known for smuggling it's extremely beautiful and enchanting. I only saw one other car over the course of 2 hours while shooting there and near the border. As the sun set, mountains to the east were storming with lots of lightning - then the sky turned pink/red and the whole valley took on that color for a short while. All the while, lightning was flashing behind the pink clouds. It was pretty surreal, and I had the place to myself.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 3:18 PM
I like the way the beautiful sunset light filters over the entire scene. Very nice.
Nice work. Having lived in Arizona for two short but rewarding years, I think the grasslands there are an overlooked and underappreciated aspect of the state. This is an excellent take on them, with some great weather conditions to help show them off.
You didn't ask for critique; would you like some? I think it's good as it is, but I'd change a thing or two here or there to help bring out some of the potential I'm seeing.
It's good like it stands, though. Hope you can get some good monsoon conditions.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on July 17, 2013 at 9:28 AM
The clouds, their colors, and the cast upon the grass is nice. I usually spend several days south of Parker Canyon hunting Mearns quail; good catch of the area. Those oak-lined draws are nice. Above the main cloud, it seems like the transition between lighter/darker dodge/burn areas should be more gradual.
Posted by Fred Weymouth on July 17, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Mark / Doug / Todd - thanks for commenting and yes I would love to hear your suggestions - I should have mentioned that.
I would:
[1] darken the top of the frame to help it match the area near the horizon.
[2] bring up the horizontal line of grasses below the mountains to help the eye stick there a bit more.
[3] add some warmth to the foreground.
[4] pick two or three of the grasses in the immediate foreground and make their brightest sections lighter.
Try that and see what you think. Like I said, it's a good image as it stands.
Posted by Fred Weymouth on July 20, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Discussion
9 repliesNice work. Having lived in Arizona for two short but rewarding years, I think the grasslands there are an overlooked and underappreciated aspect of the state. This is an excellent take on them, with some great weather conditions to help show them off.
You didn't ask for critique; would you like some? I think it's good as it is, but I'd change a thing or two here or there to help bring out some of the potential I'm seeing.
It's good like it stands, though. Hope you can get some good monsoon conditions.
I would:
[1] darken the top of the frame to help it match the area near the horizon.
[2] bring up the horizontal line of grasses below the mountains to help the eye stick there a bit more.
[3] add some warmth to the foreground.
[4] pick two or three of the grasses in the immediate foreground and make their brightest sections lighter.
Try that and see what you think. Like I said, it's a good image as it stands.