Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Landscape Posting Guidelines

FM Forums | Landscape Photographer | Join Upload & Sell

Archive 2016 · Mesquite Light

Jeffrey
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Mesquite Light

The Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley, CA.

They are constantly rebuilding themselves in a different configuration, though you can never see it taking place simply by watching. Every time I go there to photograph it is a different experience. It creates a magic, always renewing the anticipation of arrival. Sure, not every visit is excellent, with the visitors and footprints. Fortunately, they are easy to get to, once you're in Death Valley, that is. Just earlier this month I shot some scenes there in late afternoon light for the first time. I will be doing it again.

Feb 18, 2016 at 12:06 AM

dswiger
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Mesquite Light

Very nice use of a telephoto for the contrasting textures/patterns
Since my visit last week was my 1st, much to learn about DV

Thanks for posting

Dan

Feb 18, 2016 at 01:15 AM

Zeph
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Mesquite Light

Scrolling through this, I thought you had posted two separate images. Lots here to keep my eye interested. Seems the contrast could be pushed a bit more overall. Trackless dunes are attainable with the reach of a telephoto...

Feb 18, 2016 at 10:28 AM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Mesquite Light

Very nice compression Jeffrey. It's so nice to see the dunes without any tracks.
Question, how are you mitigating diffraction blur shooting at f/25?
Take care,
Fred

Feb 18, 2016 at 10:44 AM

AMaji
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Mesquite Light

Great composition and nice use of long lens to capture the contrast between the ripples in soft sand and erosion marks in hard rock.

Maji

Feb 18, 2016 at 11:55 AM

Jeffrey
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Mesquite Light

Thanks, everyone.

Zeph, I have already pushed the contrast as far as I'm willing to go here. Any more would lose detail and become unnatural to me.

Fred, since this lens goes to f32, I often use it at f20 to f25 and get acceptable results. This is a single exposure, but I really should have blended two, for better focus on the near and far. I'm not sure I would recognize diffraction blur specifically versus OOF, but there are some areas in this one that could have been sharper. Can't tell in this small version.

Feb 18, 2016 at 11:57 AM

John Beasley
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Mesquite Light

At the res you have uploaded, I would struggle to see issue with sharpness. Personally, I think it looks fantastic.
Have you printed it at any scale to see how it stacks up in the real world?

Feb 18, 2016 at 04:34 PM

Timmeh
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Mesquite Light

Hi Jeffrey,

The layers in this are outstanding! I really like the 90 TS-E for the dunes for emphasizing the mountains and achieving sharp focus at wider apertures. Then again, I don't have anything close to this level from the dunes.

Tim

Feb 18, 2016 at 11:39 PM

Mark Metternich
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Mesquite Light

Very nice black and white Jeffrey. Love the layering.

Feb 19, 2016 at 09:57 AM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Mesquite Light

Jeffrey wrote:
Thanks, everyone.

Zeph, I have already pushed the contrast as far as I'm willing to go here. Any more would lose detail and become unnatural to me.

Fred, since this lens goes to f32, I often use it at f20 to f25 and get acceptable results. This is a single exposure, but I really should have blended two, for better focus on the near and far. I'm not sure I would recognize diffraction blur specifically versus OOF, but there are some areas in this one that could have been sharper. Can't tell in this small version.

Yes, two images is always better but it takes a little more work. Like shooting at f/8 and f/25 and stacking them in post.
I was asking about diffraction blur since at f/25 you would have to mitigate with it. I found that the Lightroom "Detail" slider is very powerful for this. On your original image, try bringing detail all the way up to 100 and it should help recover detail from the diffracted image.
Take care,
Fred

Feb 19, 2016 at 10:10 AM

kellyakinsart
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Mesquite Light

The layers and patterns are great. Wonderful design.

Kelly

Feb 19, 2016 at 01:02 PM

Chuck D
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Mesquite Light

Beautiful layers!

Chuck

Feb 19, 2016 at 07:32 PM

Brad Williams
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Mesquite Light

Beautiful photo Jeffery! Love the composition and black and white conversion. Nice Work!

Feb 22, 2016 at 12:30 PM

Devon Spencer
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Mesquite Light

Love this shot. It actually reminds me of one done by Ansel Adams that I just recently saw in his National Parks book. Funny because the quote on the shot was that the dunes are always changing every visit, lol. Great minds think alike!

Feb 22, 2016 at 12:59 PM


FM Forums \| Landscape Photographer \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.