Superstition Mountain Sunset
The Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, Arizona, are forbidding, foreboding and occasionally deadly. They are the home of the fabled 'Lost Dutchman Go...
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The Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, Arizona, are forbidding, foreboding and occasionally deadly. They are the home of the fabled 'Lost Dutchman Gold Mine'. But they are incredibly beautiful, particularly at sunset.
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Apr, 2020Views
5359
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 22
People's Choice in High Dynamic Range image Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 10 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
April 24, 2020
Thank you, Richard. This photo is the result of a good photo to start, then much editing with three different pieces of software. I took the photo on a car trip my wife and I took 2 days ago to get away from home. I am staying away from all people: I was diagnosed with prostate cancer two weeks ago, and I am scheduled for surgery on May 20. So staying healthy right now is a top priority. Stay safe, my friend.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
April 27, 2020
Thank you. This was my first outing with a new lens. I think it's a keeper.
PRO+
nancycqutub
May 04, 2020
What a fantastic photo! A joy to view. Reading above, I hope your surgery goes well and in the near future, you will be posting many more wonderful photographs.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 04, 2020
Thank you. Fortunately, Arizona does not lock us down as much as some other states. We are free to take a drive into the mountains without attracting the local SWAT team. We took a drive last week and produced our latest postings.
PRO+
Platinum
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 09, 2020
Thank you. This was my first outing with a new lens. I think it's a keeper.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 09, 2020
I finally got a chance to spend some time in your gallery. You have so many wonderful photos! I love both the quality and the variety of your subjects. Thank you for sharing your work.
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
May 09, 2020
Thank you. This was my first outing with a new lens: a Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L. It is a fantastic lens.
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
June 30, 2020
My apologies: I forgot to compliment you on your impeccable work. I was totally blown away by your gallery. Thank you for sharing such amazing work.
Platinum
PRO+
PRO+
Ultimate
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
August 30, 2020
Thank you. It was fun playing with in-camera HDR. After 30+ years in Arizona, this was the first time I took the drive to Tortilla Flat at sunset. Quite a reward!
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
November 04, 2020
Thank you. It was fun playing with in-camera HDR. After 30+ years in Arizona, this was the first time I took the drive to Tortilla Flat at sunset. Quite a reward!
vsoare2001
November 13, 2020
Congratulations, Steven, on winning this contest! You deserve it! I hope you are better!
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
November 13, 2020
Thank you. I hate to plead ignorance, but did I win any contest other than the HDR Challenge? I haven't heard of any others. I do appreciate your kind words. Hopefully, I am on the way to beating my cancer. I just completed my first week of radiation treatments. - Steve
Platinum
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
November 14, 2020
Thanks. However, I haven't won yet. There are still 13 days of voting, then the top 50 go to the editors' committee. So there are lots of ways to still lose. I am thrilled to be where I am, but Viewbug refused to award a #1 photo in a contest last April, so who knows what will happen. Plus, there still are 23 days of voting. But I'm thrilled to be #1, even if it doesn't hold.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
November 18, 2020
Thank you. It was fun playing with in-camera HDR. After 30+ years in Arizona, this was the first time I took the drive to Tortilla Flat at sunset. Quite a reward!
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
PRO+
Forrest_Imagery
February 01, 2021
An outstanding image !
Excellent, composition, light and color palette.
The Superstitions are gorgeous most any time of year.
- Spring and Monsoon seasons are favorites; The rare sight of snow is spectacular though!
Congratulations on the many, well-deserved likes and awards!!!
Keep shooting and sharing. Enjoy retirement, stay healthy and safe!
- Forrest
Excellent, composition, light and color palette.
The Superstitions are gorgeous most any time of year.
- Spring and Monsoon seasons are favorites; The rare sight of snow is spectacular though!
Congratulations on the many, well-deserved likes and awards!!!
Keep shooting and sharing. Enjoy retirement, stay healthy and safe!
- Forrest
PRO+
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
April 29, 2021
Thank you. The Superstition Mountains, plus shooting time at sunset, plus in-camera HDR, yielded a pleasing shot. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
March 22, 2023
Thank you. It was a magical moment, but with my butt almost hanging in traffic cuz of only a small space just off the pavement. One to tell the grandkids about.
Platinum
PRO+
Steve-n-Ning
Jan 17
Thank you. This was my first experience with in-camera HDR, and I was pleased with the results.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken along Apache Trail, SR 88, that winds from the Phoenix East Valley and the town of Apache Junction, past Goldfield Ghost Town and the Lost Dutchman State Park, and ends at Tortilla Flat. I was standing just off the roadway and took the photo pointing the camera uphill toward the Superstition Mountains.Time
This photo was taken just as the sun was setting.Lighting
All natural light was used. At sunset, the colors become muted and move toward golden and pastels. The use of HDR allowed both highlights and shadows to show.Equipment
I used a Canon EOS 5D Mk IV camera and a Canon EF 35MM f/1.4L II USM lens. The lens was shot wide open at f/1.4 to achieve some bokeh on the foreground plant life. ISO was 100 and shutter speed was 1/640th second. Three f-stop in-camera HDR was utilized. All exposures were shot in RAW.Inspiration
The Superstition Mountains are mountains of legend. They reportedly contain the famous Lost Dutchman gold mine. Many people have sought the mine, a number of whom have lost their lives in the pursuit. The Superstitions are forbidding, foreboding and beautiful. They also are unforgiving with many ways to die for the unprepared and unwary who venture into the wilderness.Editing
The HDR photos were merged in Adobe Lightroom. Cropping, shadows and highlights were adjusted in Lightroom. Some additional highlights were added using Skylum Luminar 4.In my camera bag
My Canon EOS 5D Mark IV always has my Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens mounted on it. That is my go-to lens for the majority of my photos and was used for this shot. I also carry several lenses: Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, and a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. I try to shoot with natural light all the time, but on those occasions where I need an external light source, I use either a Neewer CN-216 LED panel or a Canon Speedlite 580EX. I have tripods by Slik, 3Pod and Manfrotto.Feedback
Mountains at sunset always are spectacular. I prefer to shoot with the sunset behind me, instead of shooting into the sun. The resulting highlights and shadows are magnificent.
