Probably my last image to share from my trip to Yosemite Last month. One of my favorite from the trip too.
Our first night in the park we planned to go up to Artist's Point for sunset. Similar to Tunnel View, but a lot less people...a lot less, as in, just the three of us! The hike up wasn't too bad, the two guys I was with were sure I was leading them off into the wilderness and then we came to the opening and they realized I had not lead them wrong. It was well worth the hike to escape the insanity of Tunnel View at sunset. We didn't think we would get much color, the skies were changing and clouds were rolling in, we got some nice golden light on El Capitan and then we thought it was done...then the real color hit and it was really special to see. So, rather than show the build up and the end...I decided to share just the best part.
Thanks for checking it out, if you feel inclined, comments or crits are more than welcomed.
It is sure cool when the setting sun lights up El Capitan like that. The only distraction is that hillside on the left side being lit up also. Still a very cool shot.
It is sure cool when the setting sun lights up El Capitan like that. The only distraction is that hillside on the left side being lit up also. Still a very cool shot.
Jim
Thanks Jim, it was really cool in person...I am sure it does that more often than I realized...in fact, I learned after this that Apple has a similar shot with snow on the mountains as a wallpaper...not being a Mac guy I had no idea...
Funny, I never thought about that color on the left being a distraction, being a little more muted I felt like it kinda brought the eye in from frame left and also gave some context as to the shadow on El Capitan. I added a crop based on your input and that from skibum5...
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skibum5 wrote:
pretty nice, I might crop 1/3 off the top
thanks skibum5. I added a crop with that in mind. For me, it takes away some of the grandness of the space, while it is more intimate...and I can see why it would appeal more to some, this time...maybe not for me, but I do appreciate the feedback.
A very nice scene. I like the contrast between the sunlight and the sky. I have the opposite view of Jim; If I were going to crop, I would get rid of some of the right side (perhaps just to the right of the small lighted area). The left has more color, both in the lighting and the trees.
All that being said, it is a very nice image as is. I would love to see it in person...Kevin
quickking wrote:
A very nice scene. I like the contrast between the sunlight and the sky. I have the opposite view of Jim; If I were going to crop, I would get rid of some of the right side (perhaps just to the right of the small lighted area). The left has more color, both in the lighting and the trees.
All that being said, it is a very nice image as is. I would love to see it in person...Kevin
using my hand as a rough cropper and cutting off the right side just past the tip of the little peak just past the tiny lighted area and then chopping a tone more off the top does leave a really tight and magical valley shot cropping.
quickking wrote:
A very nice scene. I like the contrast between the sunlight and the sky. I have the opposite view of Jim; If I were going to crop, I would get rid of some of the right side (perhaps just to the right of the small lighted area). The left has more color, both in the lighting and the trees.
All that being said, it is a very nice image as is. I would love to see it in person...Kevin
Hi Kevin, thanks for the comments, the contrast between the sky and the sun on El Capitan was pretty cool, and was the highlight of the night for sure. I see your point about cropping from the right, I think I like that idea.
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skibum5 wrote:
using my hand as a rough cropper and cutting off the right side just past the tip of the little peak just past the tiny lighted area and then chopping a tone more off the top does leave a really tight and magical valley shot cropping.
Thanks for the additional feedback, I am in agreement that the right side is probably the best place to crop. I am going to look back and see if I shot anything tighter...so as not to lose resolution...but the light was fleeting so fast, I doubt I had time to change the comp.
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Scott Kroeker wrote:
Very nice Travis. I prefer the cropped version.
Thanks for the crit and kind words Scott.
dgdg wrote:
Very nice Travis. Looks like a great hike.
I'd like to see a pano crop instead. Less sky, keep all the foreground.
David
Hi David. Thanks. It was a great hike, well worth it.
I am a big fan of panoramas, both as shot and cropped to that type of aspect ratio...too much sometimes and I was resisting the urge with this one. I really wish I had been shooting with the TSE during this brief moment but I didn't have time to get changed to it...it would have been a great scene for the 24TSE.
Another beauty Travis! Love that golden light! I do agree on the right side and a little sky crop suggestion. This would make it more dynamic rather than the static centered valley and put more emphasis on the golden goodness you captured.
lighthound wrote:
Another beauty Travis! Love that golden light! I do agree on the right side and a little sky crop suggestion. This would make it more dynamic rather than the static centered valley and put more emphasis on the golden goodness you captured.
Hang this puppy BIG!
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for taking the time and the kind words. I do like making the image more dynamic, so I will be having a look at the crop. And yes...it is going to be in the que for printing...
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DSC01 wrote:
Travis,
Beautiful shot, I like the crop version better, makes the most interesting part of the image more prominent.
Regards,
Dean
Thanks for the feedback Dean, much appreciated.
Yeah the crop you posted is pretty nice, more intimate, but for me I do like the crop better.
The better shots of this (not saying yours isn't good) are usually taken in late Dec into January where the angle of sun shifts so the light hits more towards the right and less on the left but El Capitan is still lit of course. And my favorites of it are the ones shot down from Gates of the Valley with rocks in the Merced being snow capped and all. I have shot that quite a few times, and as you must have felt from up above the Valley, a very enchanting experience. So hopefully we will get some snow fall during that time period as I will be up there in s heart beat!
Yeah the crop you posted is pretty nice, more intimate, but for me I do like the crop better.
The better shots of this (not saying yours isn't good) are usually taken in late Dec into January where the angle of sun shifts so the light hits more towards the right and less on the left but El Capitan is still lit of course. And my favorites of it are the ones shot down from Gates of the Valley with rocks in the Merced being snow capped and all. I have shot that quite a few times, and as you must have felt from up above the Valley, a very enchanting experience. So hopefully we will get some snow fall during that time period as I will be up there in s heart beat!
Jim...Show more →
I have learned...that I might not be able to capture the all time best image of a place...but I try to capture the best image I can for when I am there and what I am presented with...I would love to be able to jump in the car and drive to the park for those optimal conditions...but it would be a reaaaaaaaaalllllly long drive from Georgia... . I will keep my eyes out for when you get to go to capture it at its best.
and cutting off the right side just past the tip of the little peak just past the tiny lighted area and then chopping a tone more off the top does leave a really tight and magical valley shot cropping.