ArchesMainStreetNG
Feb, 2014Views
5792
Likes
Awards
Contest Finalist in My Ultimate Road Trip Photo Contest
Winner in Roads Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in A Road Trip Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Landscapes With Textures Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Roads Of The World Photo Contest
Judge Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Genius
Superior Skill
Exceptional Contrast
Jaw Dropping
Love it
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
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DuffyDoherty
September 30, 2014
Thank you Brent. I was floored the first time I went. The second time I was merely speechless! :)
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alebalboa
October 30, 2014
WOOOOOW!!!! I felt like grabbing the motorcycle and go there... Great shot!
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UnkleFrank
December 01, 2015
Congratulations on your awards for this excellently composed image. Way to go my friend!!!!
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DuffyDoherty
December 01, 2015
Thank you so much Frank. I think I got lucky with the sky on this one! :))
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donanzinger
October 11, 2020
Duffy, coming across this must have been a Wow MOMENT for you. This image is amazing - flawless in every aspect. The road pulls the viewer's eye right into this incredible landscape. Lighting, texture, composition - PERFECT! Wish I had taken that.
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken in Arches National Park. The road is the main park entrance road, just west of "Park Avenue." The main sandstone formation on the right is called "The Organ," with "The Tower of Babel" beyond it in the distance. Off to the left are "The Three Gossips."Time
I shot this at approximately 7:30 AM. The morning was clear and fresh, sparkling really!Lighting
Very often the sky in the desert Southwest is electric blue and cloudless. This is amazing to see and feel in person, but doesn't add much to a photographic image. On this day however I was exceedingly fortunate. The sky was filled with white wisps of clouds, spread out evenly in all directions!Equipment
I took this handheld with my Nikon D7000. The lens was a Nikon 18-200mm VR, pretty wide open. The light was bright and clear, so I was able to shoot at base ISO (100) and maintain a shutter speed of 100.Inspiration
I grew up on the East coast. The red rock country of the desert Southwest might as well be on a different planet! Arches National Park is one of the most spectacular examples of this landscape. You can literally turn in circles and be facing a mind-blowing vista!Editing
I shoot in RAW, and did my usual developing of an image; lens correction, slight sharpening etc. I added a -15 vignette in ACR and a touch of saturation. The contrast and exposure seemed fine as is.In my camera bag
Today, on a shoot like this I would carry my D810 and my D600 bodies, with my Nikon 16-35mm F/4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8G, Nikon 70-200mm F/4 VR, Sigma Art 50mm F/1.4 and probably Nikon 105mm F/2.8 Micro. I also carry two Nikon SB-700s and a Black Rapid double strap. I know this sounds like a lot of weight, but I don't want to forever wish I had brought the gear I wanted to capture a shot...Feedback
My advice to any photographer (not that my opinion matters!) is to sit on your living room couch and shoot 500-1000 shots of whatever in in the room with you, TV, stereo knobs, nick-nacks with and without flash until you can master your camera settings and get the shot you desire every time. The go out to your deck/porch, yard and do the same thing. Practice all your settings for DOF and fill flash using TTL and manual flash. Get to know your gear! Secondly take a camera with you everywhere, and take lots and lots of bad shots. I believe the more you do these two things, the better and better your photography will get...
