rwolson wrote:
Great write up on your website. The moonlight nicely lit the monoliths surface. The question, did the monolith emit a tone? 2001, A Space Odyssey's a great movie needing an update.
There was no moonlight when this image was captured, it was well below the horizon (I specifically waited for these conditions). If you look at the base, you can see how one side has virtually no light being reflected off it (the canyon side, 'behind' me), while the side facing the slot reflected light from the sky.
The shots I took with the moon still up are rough, except one. We'll see if I can make something of the data.
It's amazing how much light the stars alone provide; when I'm out shooting at night, I often don't even use my 1 Lumen headlamp to do pedestrian things between shots.
juststeve wrote:
Do you think the monolith could have been placed by helicopter? A thousand DJI Mavic Pros, perhaps?
Possible, but I doubt it. I think it was the Diesel Bros dude from TV, although its hard for me to imagine someone like that waiting 4 years for the 'bang for the buck', especially in this age of internet attention deficit disorder.
Also, after the helicopter crew found it, someone went out and cleaned the surface of it, no question. When I was there it was spotless, save for the myriad finger, hand and boot prints all over it.
dbehrens wrote:
Wonderful comp and vision! The only small nit, and I really am struggling how to solve this, is that its difficult to ascertain the size of monolith. From this pic I would guess 5 maybe 6 feet tall but from other pics I would guess between 10-12 feet tall. In any case I love your capture! Dave
Hey thanks! Apparently it was 9.5' tall, but I didn't measure it. Feature or Bug, only you can decide. I think it adds to the wonder of it, but having been there I have a reference. I guess I could have put my rock hammer in the image for scale (old geologist joke)?
dmcphoto wrote:
Crowds would have ruined the whole area if it stayed there.
Maybe, it certainly would have become a boondocks campsite for sure, but I'm sure the novelty would have worn off for most, especially given that you need a high-clearance vehicle to get back there. A tow company could have made some money over the long term... lol
Jeff wrote:
Maybe, it certainly would have become a boondocks campsite for sure, but I'm sure the novelty would have worn off for most, especially given that you need a high-clearance vehicle to get back there. A tow company could have made some money over the long term... lol
True enough. Years ago I drove that road from 211 all the way to Moab numerous times. The northern end, before it intersects another 4WD road, is a whole lot worse.
newphoto wrote:
Apparently it has been removed as of Sunday November 29th. Creepy. Aliens?
Yep. It went to Jupiter. Pretty soon it will multiply and turn it into a second sun. If you thought climate change is bad now just wait 😀 Those aliens didn’t really think things over.
But I hope you dont mind a few comments. First off, there is some weird pattern in the recovered shadows (left hand side) like a cross stitch. Maybe the NR software adding something? And second, although this is very subjective, the foreground is not quite exposed in balance with the sky where they join. It is standing out as a blend. Maybe a little vignette or a softer transition at the join?
That being said, I am super jealous of this shot - I aspire to get this sort of comp, truly stunning.
Miko_Skye wrote:
The composition is amazing - very powerful.
But I hope you dont mind a few comments. First off, there is some weird pattern in the recovered shadows (left hand side) like a cross stitch. Maybe the NR software adding something? And second, although this is very subjective, the foreground is not quite exposed in balance with the sky where they join. It is standing out as a blend. Maybe a little vignette or a softer transition at the join?
That being said, I am super jealous of this shot - I aspire to get this sort of comp, truly stunning.
Thanks Mike, I like comments!
Not seeing what you're seeing in left shadows; there is no NR, and no sharpening of this image. Canon 5Ds shadows in night shots contain lots of... er, garbage, so perhaps I'm just so used to it that I don't notice it. lol
As far as the horizon line 'matching' the exposure of the sky, that is obviously an impossibility with composite images, and I constantly struggle trying to make that interface look good. I assume you are talking mostly about the right side, so I'll take a look and see if I can tweak it. There is no errant halo there, I think it is the difference in brightness at the top edge (versus beneath the roller of the cliff, which is obviously much darker) that I think you are reacting to.
Very much appreciate the input, and glad you enjoyed!
Apparently around 8:40 PM on the 27th four guys came in and pushed it over, then rolled it away. Presumably locals tired of the hubbub, but I most certainly don't put it past the builder to have a few buddies come in and get rid of it (great internet fodder).
It's been very interesting to watch this all play out, knowing how much of the info out there is misinformation, having been there. I'm an outdoors guy and have always been ultimately respectful of all lands, public or private, but I have to admit I'm a bit annoyed by the faction of people grousing about 'ruining the environment'. I spend a great, great deal of my time photographing BLM lands, and there is a tremendous amount of it that is absolutely trashed by dirt bikes, ATVs, campers, off-roaders, etc. But, that being said, BLM lands do serve a purpose, and people do need to get out and enjoy the landscape, whatever that may be for them. Prior to this, Lockhart Basin Road was little-travelled, especially northbound of this location.
Would leaving the object there have resulted in thrashing that square mile or so of land? Almost certainly. But, the novelty would have worn off at some point, and it would have been just another BLM 'crook in the road' where a handful of people camped every week. Little different than any other BLM site where people go to boondock. Would people have gotten lost, etc.? Almost certainly, considering how many people tried to get to it not from the road, which was all of 500 meters as the crow flies (not that crows tend to fly straight, by any means).
That thing was a photographic treasure, and I'm thrilled I got to spend 7+ hours photographing it. I'm glad I got the shot, and it was worth being away from home most of Thanksgiving Day to get it.
Here is one more, taken just before the sun started to impact the sky, and shows the wedge of Zodiacal Light, e.g. sunlight reflected back off of interplanetary dust in our solar system. This is the first time I've captured fall ZL; in the spring it is in the west, and basically 'pops out' after the sun has gotten low enough beneath the horizon. It's quite bright to see in person in a dark location!
More info about the Monolith and the image here if you are interested.
