Towers of the Moon

Exellent Work Ian!!!

Sweeeeet! Great use of the lantern, as the glow is perfect.

This is just stunning, Ian. A very evocative image of a landscape already rich in spirit. I love it.

Guy

Another killer shot Ian, great work handling exposure and blending. Nice light painting as well.

this is marvelous. nice placement of the lantern..

Really nicely done and very well thought out. I like it a lot. I'm glad you went for the natural bright moon instead of the 'fakey' detailed one with a perfectly exposed moon.

Just beautiful Ian, this would sell really well as a print. Wonderful work!

Incredible shot, Ian. The color contrasts are super. The way you constructed this is remarkable. One of the best night/sky shots I've seen.

Nice one Ian a real glow to it.

This is very ethereal and well done Ian. Wonderful color and light, I especially like the sky.

You are a master at creating these shots, Ian. This is one of your best, IMO. I like everything about it.

So let me get this right. The moon and clouds are one shot. You waited for the moon to set and then shot the stars and buttes?

Awesome comp Ian and excellent work with the post processing.

Too cool. You do some really interesting stuff in the night. I really love how natural this feels. I know people are always quick to use the word "primordial" when it comes to outlandish looking images, but I feel like it's a great way to describe this.

BTW, when I saw the thumbnail, I expected a continuation of the alien joke. Oh well.

Brilliant!!! Seriously, the three exposures blended really works well.

Incredible image Ian. Just outstanding. Your technique sounds like it took a lot of planning but with amazing results.

This is what a call a great nightscape, very well done Ian

Nice work. The photograph came over very very well.

-Jay

Hi Tony, thanks for the kind words. The first exposure was for the moon only. The second longer exposure was for the clouds and the stars. The moon was still up in the sky but since it was so close in time to the first exposure it didn't move much, so I was able to blend in the first exposure of the moon over the blown-out moon from the second exposure. Then I took a longer exposure (4 mins I think) for the buttes lit by the lantern. The moon was still in the sky (pretty much in the same spot as before), but since I was pointing the camera into the moon, the buttes themselves were not receiving any direct moonlight and were effectively in "shadow". Hence the need for the lantern to light the buttes. Hope that clears things up!

Alex, you are correct, I should have continued with the alien jokes! But alas I am fresh out of funny this weekend -- to much shooting and traveling in the past two months, my brain has turned to mush. Actually, I feel more tired than I should be -- perhaps during my nights in the field the aliens have been abducting me . . . that might explain why I've been walking around saying "klaatu barada nikto" to everyone . . .

Awesome shot Ian, the sky with the moon, stars and those clouds around the moon there are very dramatic. Great lighting on those Hoodoos also.

This is obe of your best Ian..I love what you have done on this trip. So fresh

great. the sprinkle of stars and the red glow really make this one very appealing. the cloud moving past hurts a tiny bit (although, I must confess, it also gives a bit of mysterious touch to the scene...), with a clear nightsky it would be even more impressive, i believe.
georg

this is one cool image.

Nicely done. The colors are fantastic.

This is fantastic, Ian! Masterful job on the blend, too.

Very lovely, Ian. Having been to the location, it makes it all the more interesting for me.

very creative use of light and blending - great work.

Ian, very interesting, and great technique at getting all the elements together. Very moody, and beautiful image!

Stunning shot Ian!

Wow, cool!

Ian,

I'm going to say.....awesome shot!!!

Ian, you should probably just move out west.

Marc, sounds like a plan to me! Got room in your place for me, my wife, and two cats?

We have a barn and two sheds.

freekish