[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
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5249.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
What is the subject? If we got with just the tree, then how do we arrange the elements in the photograph to support that subject? I moved physically a little close to the Juniper for this shot. When I did that, what happened to the cloud? Look back at the 1st posting if you need to but when I moved closer, I effected that could and that changed the whole image. Can you tell? The cloud is now higher, bigger and bloody white! The eye screams to it and there is stays because there is nothing else in the frame bringing the eye back down to the tree. This is not a workable solution to making the image.
Photo captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5275.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
There’s more to share from our Monument Valley adventure, I want to start with this one pretty picturesque Juniper. This is one old tree in a pretty schweet locale probably been photographed by hundreds of shooters each year. Tucked up against a mesa with this million dollar view in nearly every direction, just how do you make the image? Regrettably on this day, I had a date with a sand dune so the ticking clock was most definitely not my friend. With the gorgeous light and sky though a stop had to be made. This is the view we say when we got out of the truck. The question is, does this tell the story of this tree in this place at this moment in time? Stick around today as I share what I found told the story best for me.
Photo captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4810.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
We came out of Valley of the Gods and the road sign which predicts nothing short of death if you drive it, just begged us to explore. So of we went.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4962.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
After this wicked drive up the side of a mesa, we cruised along this long stretch of Cedar Mesa taking us to Natural Bridges Nat’l Monument.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp5159.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
As the name suggests, the bridges were formed by water erosion creating some really cool formation. Whie Russell huffed it down to the bottom of the canyon for the first bridge, the rest of us just hiked down to the vista point. You climb down a wood ladder (as in tree trunks) at one point but it was well worth the effort. We all walked down to the last bridge and just in time to get some clouds floating by. This is another locale I would love comeback to and camp and do stat trails. Gorgeous place we’d never been to before but need to comeback to!
Photo captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
The Valley of the Gods is an amazing location that I just love to visit. I’m making plans to spend a whole bunch more time there, but that requires different travel plans.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4661.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
This incredibly small slice of UT when the storms are rolling through is simple, without a doubt, hands down one of the most romantic landscapes in the southwest. There’s a ton of red here, not a issue. I wanted to do a little exploring in B&W and was happy with my results. I can do better but that requires days of on foot exploration. I always love having to have to return to a location :)
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF, 16Fish on Lexar UDMA digital film