Ocotillo Stars

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 1, 2009761 views31 comments

A one hour starscape in the wild mountains of Arizona. Used a flash with a red gel to light the ocotillo cacti. Had to negotiate a maze of teddy bear cholla in the dark to get back to my campsite; pulled quite a few cacti spines out of my boots, ankles, and arse!

This image appears in my NPN article this month called Nature's Magical Moments, check it out . . .

Canon 5DII, Nikon 14-24mm lens with adapter.

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Pedro Bento on June 1, 2009 at 1:26 PM

You rock man, never stop inspired me with your nice and creative work. Congratulations on such amazing shot

I'll take a read on your article

Registered on September 2, 2007, 45 Posts, 761 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on June 1, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Wild shot! I love the contrast of the red ocotillo against the blue twilight. It's almost like the ocotillo stalks are brushes painting the star trails on the sky.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Burdick on June 1, 2009 at 1:39 PM

Wow Ian! Saw this image in your article, great to see it on the forums. Really an amazing and creative shot. Your choice to fill the ocotillos with red light really paid off. Excellent placement of polaris. Just awesome!

Registered on May 1, 2009, 31 Posts, 197 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 1, 2009 at 1:39 PM

Very creative Ian! And you're right on with the article.. sometimes I get rather bored with pretty sunsets..

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on June 1, 2009 at 1:44 PM

no pain no gain! Painting with light, very well done.

PS. give to time to choose

is gonna be dificult

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 1, 2009 at 1:47 PM

Great image Ian! Really love the perspective as well as the silhouette and illumination.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Michael E. Gordon on June 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM

A very cool image, Ian. I cannot help but wonder what it would also look like without the rock formation in the background. Excellent choice of gel to compliment the color of the plant's flowers. Creative imagery, Ian.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2482 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM

Very original and cool take on the ocotillo. Most creative and well done!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on June 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM

Very creative. Those branches reaching in look like they're reaching for the stars.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Barclay on June 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM

Oh this is too cool! I love those red squiggly branches- super creative. Great shot!

Registered on November 23, 2008, 17 Posts, 153 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Zelinka on June 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM

A strange and awe inspiring shot!

Registered on August 20, 2007, 206 Posts, 998 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on June 1, 2009 at 5:37 PM

Unique image, those cholla bite

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on June 1, 2009 at 7:01 PM

Thats pretty cool. I'm starting a mini project with Duffus castle painting with light and star trails soon so this is quite inspirational. I thought they were fireworks going up when I saw the thumbnail.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 1, 2009 at 7:02 PM

Very unique image Ian. All the elements work well together.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 1, 2009 at 8:08 PM

Ian,

Wild and creative. The red was a good choice to contrast against the blue of the night sky.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Lewis on June 1, 2009 at 9:36 PM

This is truly magical! Absolutely inspirational. WOW!! Kick ass!

Registered on February 11, 2009, 3 Posts, 15 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 1, 2009 at 9:51 PM

I saw this on your website, Ian. Something only you would come up with. Very graphic and creative.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Younes Bounhar on June 1, 2009 at 10:25 PM

You just keep pulling these awesome shots one after the other! This is spectacular. I love it!

Registered on November 25, 2007, 81 Posts, 1234 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Ward on June 1, 2009 at 10:47 PM

Far Out Man!!! Just a great composition and color study. Looking at the thumbnail, I thought I was viewing an underwater image with that sumptuous red against the blue background. A beautifully conceived image.

Registered on February 26, 2009, 304 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 1, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Too freaky! That ocotillo almost looks like some kind of coral, or sea fan. Nice creativity with this one. SO what do you think of that lens?

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Brian VanDenzen on June 1, 2009 at 11:16 PM

Outrageously superb work of art!

Registered on April 17, 2005, 60 Posts, 1245 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on June 2, 2009 at 12:48 AM

Awesome Ian, another fantastic shot!!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 2, 2009 at 3:31 AM

creative and wonderful! outstanding.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on June 2, 2009 at 8:35 AM

I like that, very artsy - although i believe you're not the first to try this kind...
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on June 2, 2009 at 8:50 AM

well Georg, if being first is important, then we should all give up nature photography, as almost everything out there is derivative . . . someone has always done it before!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on June 2, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Craziness! Those "red" cacti are really wild. Really cool shot!

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 2, 2009 at 8:03 PM

Killer shot, and no one has this particular shot, just Ian. Is the technique original, no. Does he employ it to perfection here, a big YES! Great work and creativity.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on June 2, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Insane, Freaking insane.

Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on June 3, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Very cool!

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on June 3, 2009 at 12:22 PM

thanks all for the comments and critiques!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on June 4, 2009 at 7:08 AM

impressive, imo! amazing image, very effective! insane for me...

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments