Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => Landscape Showcase => Topic started by: maddogmurph on June 16, 2018, 01:32:38 pm

Title: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: maddogmurph on June 16, 2018, 01:32:38 pm
Life seems to sometimes take me for a ride and really the best I can do is try not to panic, remember that the answer is 42, and hold on while powers greater than myself dictate the future. I can't imagine that this place was planned, but to me this place became a work of art through thousands of years of monsoons, rain & wind storms. It's a barren an inhospitable place that becomes impassible when wet. On this trip I gained a new found respect for the mud in the southwest. In fact, an understanding, because the night before is when I got my jeep stuck in the mud 11 miles from the freeway as a thunder & lightning storm was rolling around on the horizon.

It was one of those moments where you're driving along on the dirt road and you see some mud and you think, oh there's a little water, but it should be fine. Well, in most cases, yes. In this particular place in the Southwest, you're going to get stuck.

I watched the sunset burn while I tried to frantically dig out praying that the looming thunderclouds didn't come my direction. As I night hiked out the lightning started illuminating the sky with bright flashes. If you've ever been out hiking alone in the dessert with lightning you fell like it's on top of you no matter how far away it is. The primal fear eventually subsided, and acceptance set in. I decided to sleep a few hours on this spot to capture this astronomical twilight scene. Alex Noriega was an inspiration here and deserves acknowledgement. 
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on June 16, 2018, 03:41:43 pm
A fine shot.
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 16, 2018, 04:54:21 pm
A fine shot.
+1.
And quintessentially southwestern. I love it.
Glad you made it out OK. Did you remember to go back for the jeep?   ;)
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: MattBurt on June 16, 2018, 05:05:46 pm
Great story, nice shot!
I know that mud all to well.
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Peter McLennan on June 16, 2018, 05:18:52 pm
Hmm. A difficult situation Mother Nature has given us: superb images like this must be made in remote desert locations at night in monsoon season. :(
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Dave (Isle of Skye) on June 21, 2018, 07:31:19 pm
...remember that the answer is 42...

But unfortunately, no one knows what the question is.

Excellent shot BTW  :)

Dave
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: JNB_Rare on June 21, 2018, 09:07:58 pm
Love the story, love the image. Though clearly a different part of the country, your shot brought to mind Wynn Bullock's "Erosion" (http://www.wynnbullockphotography.com/featured/2013-05/featured-1305large.html) from 1959.
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on June 22, 2018, 12:43:10 am
Excellent image. (quibble: the top left corner is a trifle weak, but I shall desist from using the c-word.)
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: maddogmurph on June 22, 2018, 01:40:48 am
Excellent image. (quibble: the top left corner is a trifle weak, but I shall desist from using the c-word.)

Where were you like a week ago ;) agreed. Already released it. And you could still use the W word... an easy warp frankly. I'm no purist, if it makes the comp come together, why not?!
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: francois on June 22, 2018, 03:21:45 am
Excellent shot. I love the textures, the lines and the general composition. It's a mineral beauty, no doubt.
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on June 22, 2018, 05:00:28 am
Excellent photo.
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: stamper on June 22, 2018, 07:09:47 am
Everything about the image is first class. Well done!
Title: Re: Moments of Dissolve
Post by: Chris Calohan on June 27, 2018, 10:15:21 am
Where, pray tell was this shot?