Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Rajan Parrikar on January 11, 2014, 05:53:46 pm

Title: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 11, 2014, 05:53:46 pm: More in my blog post (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2014/01/12/death-valley-buttes/).

Death Valley Buttes (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2014/01/12/death-valley-buttes/)

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/Death-Valley-Buttes.jpg)
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Schewe on January 12, 2014, 05:07:57 pm: Not for nothing but I think the color tone/tint distracts...to much color, too red in the center for me. Just my opinion...take it or leave it.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 12, 2014, 05:21:41 pm: Quote from: Schewe on January 12, 2014, 05:07:57 pm
Not for nothing but I think the color tone/tint distracts...to much color, too red in the center for me. Just my opinion...take it or leave it.

Thank you for your feedback. I am still settling on the colour tone (have it set up as a smart filter for that very reason).

Added: Per Jeff's suggestion, the red tone has been significantly reduced.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Les Sparks on January 12, 2014, 05:35:11 pm: I also find the red distracting. Think that there is a good image here once you come up with a color tone that gives you a personal wow response.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 12, 2014, 05:49:53 pm: Reminds me of the German Chocolate brand "Toblerone" - Yummy!
;)
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 12, 2014, 05:53:45 pm: Quote from: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 12, 2014, 05:49:53 pm
Reminds me of the German Chocolate brand "Toblerone" - Yummy!
;)

Funny that you mention that, for the tone I originally had in mind was dark chocolate.

Toblers are good, but much better are those fat Lindt bars sold at FRA or MUC.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 12, 2014, 06:04:27 pm: Lindt "Lindor" is top.
Best Chocolate ever.
:)
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 12, 2014, 11:35:43 pm: Rajan,

I just held a Lindt bar up next to the photo, but it didn't quite match. ;)

I'm usually a fan of monochrome, but I'm so used to vivid (but realistic) colors in your photos that I feel a bit unsettled by this one, perhaps wanting to see it in full color.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on January 13, 2014, 03:59:08 am: I find the light and the bland sky a bit too harsh. There are some interesting textures in the landscape.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: francois on January 13, 2014, 08:14:34 am: Quote from: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 12, 2014, 05:49:53 pm
Reminds me of the German Chocolate brand "Toblerone" - Yummy!
;)

Not that I'm interested in national arguments but isn't Toblerone a swiss brand with production being in or near Bern?

Back to Rajan's photo… I would like to see a more interesting sky.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 13, 2014, 08:59:56 am: Quote from: francois on January 13, 2014, 08:14:34 am
Not that I'm interested in national arguments but isn't Toblerone a swiss brand with production being in or near Bern?

Back to Rajan's photo… I would like to see a more interesting sky.

You are correct - my fault.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: francois on January 13, 2014, 09:06:27 am: Quote from: Christoph C. Feldhaim on January 13, 2014, 08:59:56 am
You are correct - my fault.

No problem, I'm not a Toblerone eater :D
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 13, 2014, 10:58:48 am: I guess if Rajan's intent was to get us all thinking about chocolate, the photo must be considered a success.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: francois on January 13, 2014, 11:10:46 am: Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 13, 2014, 10:58:48 am
I guess if Rajan's intent was to get us all thinking about chocolate, the photo must be considered a success.

He could sell it to Toblerone or Lindt!
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 13, 2014, 11:30:02 am: Quote from: francois on January 13, 2014, 11:10:46 am
He could sell it to Toblerone or Lindt!
Or to my favorite: Michel Cluizel (Paris)
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 13, 2014, 12:53:07 pm: Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 12, 2014, 11:35:43 pm
Rajan,

I just held a Lindt bar up next to the photo, but it didn't quite match. ;)

I'm usually a fan of monochrome, but I'm so used to vivid (but realistic) colors in your photos that I feel a bit unsettled by this one, perhaps wanting to see it in full color.

Thank you, all, for the feedback.

Eric,

I have had my eyes on these Death Valley Buttes for quite a while. When I took this shot I knew that it would be displayed in monochrome. The DV Buttes present a striking visual as you drive in from points east (Beatty, for example) on Daylight Pass. They are also devoid of colour. Every time I have stopped to take a shot here, it has been during mid to late morning when the facets of the peaks facing us are shadowed.

This particular view of Death Valley Buttes, due to their orientation, is not a sunrise or a sunset composition if the first or the last light illuminating the peaks is what we seek. The Amargosa Range obstructs the first rays, the sunset location falls behind them. At sunrise the Panamints in the backdrop catch the first light. What I do have in mind for future shoots is the same framing as this one but with the glow/colour in the sky after sunset.

Attached is another view I took that same morning from a lower vantage point, and per your demand, I have kept the colour, such as it is, in there.
Title: Re: Death Valley Buttes
Post by: sdwilsonsct on January 13, 2014, 01:22:18 pm: A very attractive subject. I think Fike once said here that compositions with two subjects are difficult. He was right in that case, and that might apply here as well. I wonder if there is another angle (a few miles away??) that would make one peak more visually dominant.