More from the road: Monument Valley, Canyonlands, ...

[GB1]

A few more from my road adventures this holiday season. Taken today, the first is an HDR of Monument Valley which is on the Arizona-Utah border. Very chilly this morning while shooting this, but a lot of photographers there before sunrise. The next is a road-side stand shut down for the winter. The other two are on the edge of Canyonlands NP; very cloudy, but the sun peaked out at the end, illuminating the mountain.

They're a little softer than they should be, as I used a tripod and timer release on most. Maybe the lenses are getting condensated?

Gb

[n8]

(new pair of undies please)
I love this part of the country. The scenery...the mystery...
Seriously though, no critique to give. Wonderful shots.

[GB1]

Thanks N8. I think with certain types of photography, such as scene/landscape, much of it is simply getting there and at the right time. Sunrise and sunset seem to be the rule here in the West... you get little sleep, but it's all worth it

[armando_m]

Gorgeous shots !!

also I do not have suggestions for improvements

[llewpics]

I was really taken by number 3 ...I think the composition and the reflection - adding the water element ...was/is great.

[ksbryan0]

I agree on #3, it is really a great composition.

[GB1]

thanks fellows, I also think that # 3 is the best, prob due to the water and reflection. There's also something nice about catching clouds out there. It makes the shots more interesting.

G

[Greg McCary]

Well the first one could use a little more exposure in the foreground maybe waiting just as the sun peaked the horizon and a longer exposure, I really like the second one but feel two steps forward and eliminating the fence post on the left and also panning more to the right and shooting more down the road, also eliminating the blown out sky upper left. I also see a little curvature of the horizon that you could correct with lens correction in PS. On the third, my favorite, if you could have found a way to shoot a little more up river getting the third mound completly in the shot without getting wet could have helped. On the last one I think the shadow of the clouds cutting right though the center of the image hurts that one. The horizon is almost centered on three of the shots also and tilted slightly too. I really like the natural Kodak colors. I hope you are having fun GB, just how cold does it get?

[GB1]

Well the first one could use a little more exposure in the foreground maybe waiting just as the sun peaked the horizon and a longer exposure, I really like the second one but feel two steps forward and eliminating the fence post on the left and also panning more to the right and shooting more down the road, also eliminating the blown out sky upper left. I also see a little curvature of the horizon that you could correct with lens correction in PS. On the third, my favorite, if you could have found a way to shoot a little more up river getting the third mound completly in the shot without getting wet could have helped. On the last one I think the shadow of the clouds cutting right though the center of the image hurts that one. The horizon is almost centered on three of the shots also and tilted slightly too. I really like the natural Kodak colors. I hope you are having fun GB, just how cold does it get?

Thanks for the detailed review Greg. It's a fine line on sunrises: too much light spoils the drama (esp here with those outlines), too light makes the foreground unimportant. I did an HDR on this one (not sure if that was evident?) and I'm sure I can bump up the effect a little. Talk about artistic editing on HDRs btw ... there's a wide range of punch you can or choose not to add. There's really no right or wrong.

You don't like the post eh? I specifically made sure it was in there, but i DO see what you mean ... It would have a more isolated feeling to it w/o the post. The road itself was somewhat uninteresting as it was paved. I also don't like that blown out sky - seems like digital has that issue a lot. The curve I do see.. I need to add curve correction to my mental list of things to clean up in post processing

The third is also my favorite. the light was changing by the minute and you never know if it will be for the better or the worse, but I did quickly maneuver around and this was pretty much the best I could do. I'm just soooooooo happy I have a full frame sensor DSLR now and was able to shoot this in true 24mm ! I missed so many wide angles in the two or so years I was using a 1.5x equiv. sensor .

I agree on the last one. I think it's a great subject and maybe some more creative PP can make it awesome. Gotta think on it.

Regarding the horizon being placed dead center on the three: I did see that and I would say that it bothers me a tad, though I'm not sure why. I experimented with them in PP, trying different crops, and concluded that their equal balance of foreground and sky was just the best way to do it. Maybe we're too conditioned to automatically think that splitting the pic in two like that is a no-no? I guess every rule has its exceptions. One to ponder during the long cold winter ............

G

ps - yeah it was coolish out, especially the last day at Bryce (-2F at sunrise shooting, not counting the wind chill). But I learned a good way to handle it which was to use the REI underpants that I bought a few years ago and have hardly ever used. Those and a slightly large pair of pants, ski socks and hiking boots and I was really good to go. I think the adrenaline of shooting helps too!

[Irie Times]

Great shots, they brought back many memories, i climed and sat on top of the column on the left in picture #1 and watched the sun set. One of the greatest years of my life! It is funny how photo's do that when they bring you back, i felt all of the emotions of that evening when i saw that picture.

Thank you very much for that!

[noflashlight]

Great shots--the last one works best for me. I live on Colorado's Western Slope, and I spent a lot of time running around Utah. Its hard to find the perfect shot. Like all great landscapes, you've got to work on weather time and sunlight time and god-forbid your schedule time. Big state, big views, and not always easy to fully describe with film. Your photos show that you've got the connection. Maybe that's all we can ask for.

Greg

[LeeIs]

All fantastic. I really love the 1st one.

[Didache]

I put my vote in for No 2 - I'm a sucker for 'roads to nowhere' shots. Actually I think the post is necessary in order to give the eye a starting point.

I like No 1 too - but wonder if it needs a little levelling? I know the clouds give a false horizon, but it looks slightly tilted to me.

Cheers
Mike

[GB1]

Wow, didn't think these shots would have such a resurgence of interest! I made this trip in December and it was a lot of fun, though cold. Maybe I'll do something similar this December... we'll see.

Irie, glad you liked the pic and memories. I did drive down there after the sun was up and everyone finished their photography. It's a lot different next to them. That's a heck of a climb!

Thanks Greg. I was pretty happy w/ what I got out there that week. Yeah seems like you're at the mercy of the weather and things, but you can put yourself at the right place at the right time and hope for the best. Regarding the bottom shot, I almost hit a few deer driving out of Canyonlands after the sun set and it got very dark. There were just herds of those animals all around, including on the road I finally slowed down to about 30 mph and took my time.

Thanks too, Liban and Mike. Yes, you're right, that top one does need a little leveling, I didn't even notice that I wish I had an even wider lens on that road to nowhere .. so strange out there, esp on Indian reservations.

g