[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5357.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I was suckered in, again! Yeap, you can tell from the photo that this over grown “stick” and its shadow made me stop and go click. Why oh why don’t I learn?!
Photo by suckered, again
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5347.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
When you’re in the backcountry of Monument Valley, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the mesas that make the valley. they tower into the blue sky and set the stage for the giant Hogan the Navajo call home. To give you a sense of size, that’s Russell Brown walking down the sand dune after checking out Ear of the Wind.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5384.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Wondering just how long, as in centuries it took to eroded such features as Eye of the Sun still makes me ponder. And bless those clouds as they float by!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5334.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
And then there are the ancient Anasazi ruins that remain in the shadow of these massive towering giants. Tucked up into the cliff, just a micro dot in the photo lets you know just how small we are in the scale of things. Wow!
Many have asked who we use for guides. We don’t use guides but this particular day, we went out with our best friend’s cousin who does guide photographers. With his permission, I’m providing your with his information because as you’ll see this week, he delivers! His name is Jerome Richards and you can reach him at 928.429.7653. Tell him Moose sent ya, you won’t regret it!
Photo by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5314.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I’m not sure what it is about rock art, but I really love to find it, look at it and with 21st century eyes, try to read it.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5322.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
At the same time, I try to make art of the art using the 21st century digital camera. The irony of such an act is never lost on me.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5331.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Light is very important. I prefer a soft, diffused light and if I don’t have that, a side light. In this case we were in the shadow of a mesa so had a nice, soft light. Now for the life of me, I couldn’t find my polarizer which I needed to remove the reflection of the blue sky. I didn’t find it until I was back in the truck (wouldn’t you know it) so I knew I would have to do a little extra finishing in post. The Feet (middle image) would have come out better if I had a polarizer from the start. Oh well, a reason to go back!
Photos by D3x, 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film
So moved I did. I ended about doing a 180 from where I first started to make the image I like the best. I still have the drama of the cloud, the shape of the tree and the color of the mesa to tell place. Total shooting time was just six minutes and the distance traveled wasn’t more than 150 yards. Is this the best possible photograph of this Juniper?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5268.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
It was for these six minutes but probably not over the century it has seen photographers come and go. And that’s just the thing when you’re shooting with just a heartbeat of time to make the image. Often, regrettably we have to make the most of the opportunity with just a moment of time.
Photo by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5276.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Moving back and changing the angle of attack to minimize that cloud still isn’t getting it. The tree is now “flat” against the mesa and with that massive rock, it’s just lost in the frame. Like John Shaw once said, “Your tripod has legs, so do you!”
Photo by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5252.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
OK, I move closer to the Juniper and use part of the Juniper to block part of the cloud so now that bright, white mass at the top of the frame isn’t pulling the eye away from the tree. But what has happened to that beautiful shape of the tree when I got closer. To me, it’s lost its drama.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5252bw.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
And in case if you were wondering if there would be any improvement by going to B&W, I don’t really think so. The graceful pose still is lost being so close to the tree.
Photos by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film