Sonaran Desert
Uploaded: March 08, 2010
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/800 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 40.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300
Teresa H. Hunt March 09, 2010
Wonderful photo Joan! The sky is great. I'm wondering about the funny "discoloration?" in the bush next to and right above the front (on the left) cactus. #1246764Joan E. Hoffman March 09, 2010
If I am understanding where you mean Teresa, that is a little piece of natural garbage....dead cactus paddles recycling themselves back into the land! There is a lot of natural debris in the landscape, and of course since it isn't groomed, so remains until it does it's job, nourishing the environment. #8443791Joan E. Hoffman March 09, 2010
LOL... and sorry thank you! It WAS a great sky day! #8443792Jeff E Jensen March 09, 2010
Very nice Joan! That sky is awesome!If you want to try something, try a 3x5 crop, using the full width, taking off the bottom. #8443984
Rita K. Connell March 09, 2010
great picture the sky is beautiful, I would really like to see the crop that jeff suggested. #8444043Joan E. Hoffman March 10, 2010
Here is your crop Jeff. I like it! Although my focus actually was about how much the desert floor had greened up rather than the sky. However, this composition really does work much better. #8444927Jeff E Jensen March 10, 2010
Exactly as I had envisioned it Joan. Very nice.#8445114
Teresa H. Hunt March 10, 2010
Oh I like the crop much better. And you still get see the green desert floor. :) #8445579Michael Kelly March 10, 2010
I like the new crop also. Still shows the desert but changes the emphasis and is a much better composition. You captured such a great sky here and the new crop shows it off well. Love the color in this. Beautiful shades. #8445621Kathleen Nealon March 11, 2010
Joan, I like the second crop as well. Did you achieve this effect with the use of filters? It is quite interesting. #8447969Dale Hardin March 11, 2010
Joan, I love the desert for photography. So many interesting subjects and variations in color.I understand why you had the original crop and while I like Jeff's suggestion, I think you can have the best of both worlds using a different crop. Try a 5x7 starting in the lower left corner. This will balance the comp better and still retain your foreground interest.
The image appears a bit flat and perhaps manipulated by a filter but can't be sure. If not, try this to clear it up a bit.
Duplicate and apply the shadow/highlights with zero for the shadows and about 15 to 25 for the darken highlights slider. Then merge the result using a 50% soft light blend. Top off by applying the high pass filter using the soft light blend.
You've posted a fine image and expertly included an interesting foreground while including the large cactus in the ROT position for a nice comp. #8448160
Rita K. Connell March 11, 2010
well I like the new crop but I miss the large cactus in the front. I to think it was nice in the picture. I hope that Dale suggestion will bring it back. I love the sky but like all the cactus also. #8448664Ellen H. Robertson March 11, 2010
You are right it was a great sky day. I like the new crop but I also liked the way the cactus on the right in front and the bushes? led your eye to the big cactus. #8448996Anthony L. Mancuso March 11, 2010
Excllent desert image Joan, I do like the new crop but of course WLTSDS. #8449277Joan E. Hoffman March 12, 2010
Sorry... been oot and aboot lately (sans camera). So... Thank you Teresa, Michael, Kathe, Dale, Rita, Ellen, and Tony. Honestly, Kathe, I actually don't remember what editing I did on this shot. I don't think I used topaz... I think I just did a highlight/shadows adjustment, and then messed with the saturation a bit, lowering it slightly, I MAY have used the find edges filter, but just am not sure. Dale I will try the crop and re-adjust the darken highlights as per your suggestions. #8451587Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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