wf oak creek canyon-16
Oct, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken along the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona during peak fall colors.Time
This was taken after a good two hours into hiking this incredible trail. It was pretty packed with people, even on a Thursday, so I had to wait for just the right moment to capture this picture with no other people around. It was taken on October 23, 2014 at 1:19 PM.Lighting
The lighting was very tricky in the canyon. The sky was incredibly bright, and the canyon was pretty dark. This stark contrast meant that I had to take the initial photo underexposed so that the sky wouldn't blow out the top half of the picture. I was then able to retrieve the detail "lost" by underexposing the image in post-processing.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D3100 with an 18-200 mm lens. It was handheld.Inspiration
I just recently moved to this state and there is so much to do here. It is pretty much a photographers paradise. Anyway, I had heard that this trail was gorgeous, especially during the fall, so I waited until the reports were coming in of fall colors peaking, and I happened across this spot and knew immediately that it would make for a spectacular photograph.Editing
I do just about all of my post-processing in LightRoom, and this image was no exception. The main part I had to focus on was brightening up the canyon since it was purposely shot underexposed. At the same time, I reduced highlights across the top portion of the picture and added a bit of contrast to the entire image. My goal is always to make the image look exactly as I saw it.In my camera bag
I shoot mostly landscapes, so I usually just have my Nikon D3100, 18-200 mm lens, and my tripod. I will also bring a remote trigger for some long exposure shots. I am saving up for a wide angle lens, and once I am able to afford that, I think it will bring my photography to a whole new level!Feedback
You can travel almost anywhere in Arizona and you will never not find something to photograph. The landscape is so diverse, from desert to forest, and from canyons to mountains. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time in the state if you want to explore - there is so much to see! Whether hiking down canyons, up mountains, or in the desert, you really can't go wrong. I would say the best two times of the year to visit are during the fall months and during the summer monsoon season. The thunderstorms here are incredibly photogenic!
