Oregon's high desert makes up about 2/3's of the state. Much of which is relatively high altitude, averaging about 4000ft.
A photographer friend who lives in the area, put this specific spot on the map many years back, photographing it for years.
In October of last year, after my intensive weather research was pointing to this location as the highest chances of great light for the the entire state, we traveled here, got up early and were treated with a double sunrise. In other words, we had great clouds and gloriously colorful pinks in the sky happen not once, but TWICE about 5-10 minutes apart! It came and went, then came again! We were all amazed.
Even though an avid bird photographer in the group told me I was emphatically wrong that there would be bald eagles nesting in the scene, you can see one in the photo if you look carefully (in the main, larger centered tree, near the top). Sadly, I took another group to the area this spring, and the nest was empty.
A tiny crop of the same wide angle image is supplied (below the main image) so you can see the Bald Eagle. 👀
Specs:
Sony A7R2
Canon 11-24@ 11mm
f/8 (at 11mm everything in the scene is sharp, so no focus stacking)
ISO 400
1/13th second exposure
No sky replacement
Processing and Techie stuff:
My full time job when not leading photo groups, is pioneering techniques for radically higher, cutting edge quality files/enlargements (for top class nature photography galleries - under strict confidentiality agreement). Right now, the combination of using truly lossless Raw Layers in Photoshop (as apposed to "adjustment layers", and "smart object layers" - which are lossy) to get all the adjustments done in the highest bit depth editing space, as well as using both a Linear Profile (instead of Adobes quite damaging profiles) with a critical gamma curve and S-curve applied in Adobe Lightroom/Camera Raw (without these two critical adjustments, Linear Raw files will not have that same 3D pop, dimensionality and clarity to them) and also the use of the Adobe "Enhance - Raw Details" option (NOT "Super resolution") and shooting to the right (and even much further) and avoiding all damaging adjustments like Lightroom's:
"Sharpening"
"Texture"
"Clarity"
"Auto Mask"
wide sweeping color moves in the HSL panel, imprecise "Sky Masks" and more...
The quality now obtainable to photographers is unprecedented! We can even going back to old legacy files (sometimes taken 10, 15, 20+ years ago) and get top class enlargements with files that we may have even been tempted to delete!
We are currently in a technological revolution of incredible proportions! It is a GREAT time to be a photographer! 😁
High Desert Oasis
Bald Eagle - from a tiny crop of the same image - the main center tree
Great Capture Mark. I am using Linear Profiles and S Curves, but am not familiar with Gamma Curves. Look at your You Tube channel, but did not see anything describing them (or missed it). Can you explain them or point us to a tutorial? thx, Doug
Beautiful composition and colors. A lot going on in that shot with the mountain, the river, clouds, and reflection on the river. You have an uncanny and unique ability to organize the most interesting clouds and waves I know your shots represent patience and planning!
I also appreciate the narrative as I know little about Oregon.
Mark, this is an amazing image. The light is exquisite and I think, after years of viewing your outstanding work, I could now recognize and pick it out from a crowd of beautiful landscapes!
I know your shots represent patience and planning!