DSC_1730
Jul, 2016Views
99
Likes
Awards
Editor's Choice
Member Selection Award
Summer Selection
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Top 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Top 20 rank
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Big Bend National Park. This was the first National Park I visited on my summer road trip which I am still on. Big Bend had quite an impact on me. Even after visiting 12 other National Parks this summer, it stands out as one of my favorites.Time
This was late afternoon about 3 hours before sunset.Lighting
The sun was already behind the mountains in the distance. That is what creates the cascading silhouette effect.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7200 and a Nikkor 55-300. No tripod, no flash. Just the right place at the right time.Inspiration
I had been keeping an eye out for a sensual curve in the road since I arrived at Big Bend. This was taken from a hill at the entrance to the primitive road that led to my backcountry campsite. Not only did I find that sensual road I was looking for, but it led right into some of the loveliest desert mountains I have seen to date.Editing
Didn't get too crazy with the post processing on this one. A little dehazing, highlight reduction, and shadow boosting brought out the details I was looking for.In my camera bag
I'm still just getting into photography so my bag is fairly basic. I have my primary body which is a Nikon D7200. I have a D3200 which is a secondary body for emergencies or locations that are too dusty or windy to swap lenses. As far as lenses go I have a Tokina 11-18mm 2.8 which is just fantastic. Takes absolutely crisp photos for an off brand lens. I have the Nikon 35mm 1.8 which is a very versatile prime lens that performs wonderfully in low light conditions. This image was taken with the zoom lens, the Nikkor 55-300mm 4.8. That lens performs very well up to 200mm, beyond that I am rarely pleased with the edges that are captured. It has come in handy when I am trying to compress great distances as I did in the selected photo.Feedback
This type of image is going to need a fairly narrow perspective. You've got to bring the background as close as you can to the foreground elements. When I am exploring in a vehicle I always keep my eyes open for beautiful curves. In this case I was able to find a higher vantage point which really allowed me to capture the curvature of the terrain as well as the road going across it. This image wouldn't be as powerful if the sun was behind me in the shot. The mountains would have had too much detail and the simplicity of the shot would have been compromised. Finally, location is key here. Get out in the world and try to find some wilderness. Every part of the US has something truly wild and stunning within a few hours drive. Go see if you can find it!
