Jeffrey produced a prize-winning color shot of a tree branch that he found on the slickrock of Zion. That image has always stayed with me. When I saw the remains of this bush (sage?) in Valley of Fire, nestled in a small sandstone bowl, that image was the first thing that I thought of. Unlike Jeffrey's prize-winner, I think that this works best as a black and white. The black spots on the sand are not lichen but are the result of rain.
Shortly after I took this shot the heavens opened up. It rained so hard that, from the visitor's center, I saw a very tall waterfall - a bit strange for this location. We were told by the ranger that if we wanted to leave to do so immediately as he was about to close the park because of the flash floods. The flooded road just outside the visitor's center was incentive enough to leave.
Don, I'm honored to be associated with such a fine piece of work. This is a fabulous composition and the tonalities are spot on. Great find! I hope you were as excited as I was to happen upon your subject.
I'm glad that you like it, Jeffrey, and, yes, I was definitely excited to find it.
I would have liked to have had the time to "work it" but didn't as it was beginning to rain. My gear was back in my distant car so I felt that I would only have one chance to capture it handheld with whatever lens was on my camera. As chance would have it that was my 15mm. I suspect that I was dancing around it like you did with that rattler on House Rock when you, too, only had a wide angle lens. Ahh, good times.
Great photo. I love how the tree mimics the curvature of the rocks. Too bad mother nature didn't allow you to explore the scene fully but better safe than sorry. You can away with a winner though.
Jason wrote: Great photo. I love how the tree mimics the curvature of the rocks. Too bad mother nature didn't allow you to explore the scene fully but better safe than sorry. You can away with a winner though.
I like that curvature, as well. As for being driven away prematurely, I certainly would have tried other lenses if I had time but, composition-wise, this is what I would have ended up with.
Dan wrote: I third that motion...incredable!
Thanks, I'm glad that you like it.
Jim wrote: It's always great to be able to inspired by others. Nice job on capturing this and I really like the B&W conversion.
When I see an effective shot I try to file away the vision. I think that it is one way of expanding what you look for while in the field. I never expected to find this nor did I go looking for it. But when I saw it the vision of Jeffrey's work came to mind. I'm glad that you like it.
Ahh, good times.