Devil's Twilight

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 22, 2010754 views40 comments

Dusk at Devil's Garden, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. During the minute-long exposure, I jumped up on some rocks and fired my flash with a peach-colored gel several times to light up the rocks in the background. 45 seconds into the exposure, my tripod slipped on the steep sandy sandstone. Luckily my camera landed lens-first in the sand, cushioning its fall and preventing any exposure during the remaining 15 seconds (otherwise I would have ended up with some random exposure ghosted into the image)! Camera and lens are all ok.

Check out my latest Photo Journal entry discussing my recent backcountry trekking adventure in the Patagonian Andes. Its the first part of a three part series - parts two and three are coming soon!

Next NPN online class Creating Wow! Images - Six Steps to Making Great Nature Photographs starts June 1st.

Online tutorials on my website:
Using Live View for Nature Photography
Preparing Photos for the Web

Comments

40 comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on April 22, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Ian, neat looking photo!
Nice glow!
It wasn't your 14-24 that took the digger was it ?
I use to have that lens on my D3. So much exposed glass ...
I made the digital transition when a gusty wind blast through my gear through the air in Hawaii (on a windy cliff on Maui), landing violently. Film camera died/retired that day. $3,500 loss.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on April 22, 2010 at 5:43 PM

14-24 it was Matt -- lots of exposed glass but built like a tank. Not a sratch on it after it fell!

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

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on April 22, 2010 at 5:50 PM

Nice earned image and close call Ian!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on April 22, 2010 at 5:55 PM

Unique image Ian. I really enjoy the clouds behind the formation, it frames them well.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Veltri on April 22, 2010 at 6:09 PM

Close call Ian, glad it worked out beacause this is a very cool shot. The composition works very well, I love the glow on the rocks and how the motion of the clouds flow right behind it. Nice work.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 51 Posts, 1077 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on April 22, 2010 at 6:20 PM

thanks guys -- it was one of those "oh crap" moments -- although I admit I was more concerned about not getting the shot than the lens!

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

Comment posted by Kenn Leonhardt on April 22, 2010 at 6:54 PM

An excellent example of light painting done right. Great stuff.
Personally, I'd give it a 4x5 crop to eliminate some of the bottom area, as it doesn't hold much interest relative to the lit up areas and sky.

Registered on March 29, 2008, 27 Posts, 1710 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 22, 2010 at 7:01 PM

This i really cool, Ian. I like how you "painted" the subjects. I'm headed out that way the end of next week and will be passing through the area on my way to Bryce. Would be nice if you could give me some tips on the area.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on April 22, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Hey Bill! Check out Devil's Garden (of course!) for sunset. The hoodoos in this shot are in the back of the area and also get some decent light at sunrise. Peek-A-Boo and Spooky slot canyons are right next to each other and are very nice--head there on a sunny day (good light in the slots starts about 9AM and ends about 3PM). Zebra slot is another must see. If you have a day to kill and don't mind gruelling death marches through a hot desert, Neon Canyon is a great destination. Good luck!

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

Comment posted by Kevin Riggins on April 22, 2010 at 10:27 PM

Beautiful lighting and neat idea. I agree that maybe a bit of a crop off the bottom wouldn't hurt, but it works this way too.

Registered on March 22, 2010, 7 Posts, 22 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on April 22, 2010 at 10:29 PM

Very cool image! Awesome colors

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on April 22, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Pretty sweet! Love the range of color and lines. The image looks pretty soft but assume that's just the need of web sharpening...or NPN? Scary w/ the slipping...lens first in the sand and no scratch!?

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 22, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Only you could come up with this, Ian. Fits your dreamscape style perfectly.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on April 23, 2010 at 12:33 AM

Awesome Ian. The lighting could almost be taken for the last touch of sunlight at dusk. Fantastic.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on April 23, 2010 at 1:31 AM

The white cloud is a great addition to an already spectacular image. Glad the equipment survived.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on April 23, 2010 at 4:04 AM

signature plant!

bold and graphic - colours, shadows and forms coming together. excellent!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on April 23, 2010 at 7:53 AM

Magical image. That puff of cloud behind gives it the impression of a genie emerging from a lamp.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 23, 2010 at 9:10 AM

This is perfect Ian - couldn't ask for better cloud placement, and you did a great job of painting the formations. Superb.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on April 23, 2010 at 9:45 AM

This looks great, Ian. Love your composition and light. Very well done.

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on April 23, 2010 at 9:52 AM

Perhaps the best image I've ever seen from this iconic location. Well done, sir!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on April 23, 2010 at 9:53 AM

Excellent, Ian! I'm glad that you're equipment wasn't damaged.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on April 23, 2010 at 9:55 AM

This is super Ian, very clean looking with fantastic colour, especially the sky. I'm glad your gear turned out okay.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on April 23, 2010 at 10:29 AM

the cloud makes it for me Ian. glad that the lens is ok - i am planning to get one of those soon

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on April 23, 2010 at 11:21 AM

Man this is sweet!!! I remember seeing on your LCD and thinking good god that looks nice. Looks even better now! Super great work dude!!

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Zelinka on April 23, 2010 at 3:38 PM

Shots like this put you in the upper echelon.

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

Comment posted by Jay Patel on April 23, 2010 at 4:16 PM

Excellent shot...the colors, composition and exposure are just perfect.

Registered on August 28, 2008, 87 Posts, 566 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 23, 2010 at 5:14 PM

Another marvelous surreal dreamscape from the Dali LLama.

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

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on April 23, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Awesome image and amazing how you pulled it off. I'm also glad to hear your camera is ok, similar thing happened to me a few years ago, except when my tripod fell over my camera landed on sandstone and my lens sheared right off the mount

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Dark on April 23, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Just amazing vision and execution (well, except for the tripod mishap) in capturing this incredible shot. Congratulations, man...

Registered on May 27, 2005, 148 Posts, 1121 Comments

Comment posted by Pavel Cakl on April 24, 2010 at 12:31 AM

Amazing rock formation and capture !

Registered on April 8, 2010, 7 Posts, 178 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on April 24, 2010 at 9:42 AM

Magical is the word I'd use to describe this. The lighting and colors are wonderful. Another Dreamscape for sure.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on April 24, 2010 at 8:09 PM

Creative comp and crystal clear comp. Interesting cloud formation behind the stacks.
Well done Ian

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on April 25, 2010 at 9:39 AM

Very cool, dreamy look to this. Glad you didn't pay attention to the "suggestion of thirds" (I refuse to call it a rule) here, the comp is great with the hoodoos centered.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on April 25, 2010 at 11:08 AM

Another winner! Cool clouds and nice colored flash on the formations. Gotta love those soft landings

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on April 25, 2010 at 11:52 AM

Awesome image Ian. I love the light painting on the hoodoos and the glowing cloud in the sky. Sounds like you got away with one with the camera/lens

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 25, 2010 at 12:46 PM

Ian, I really appreciate the tips on that location. I won't be getting to the area in time for sunrise, but I'll certainly check Devil's Garden out. Glad also you mentioned Peek-a-boo and Spooky. I'll plan to spend some time there as it'll be a good time of day. Thanks again!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on April 25, 2010 at 11:59 PM

Weird, man. Just weird. That's what I like about it!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on April 26, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Very conceptual piece of artwork here. Just love this! Really into my mood, style and the kind of comp. I´m looking for! Flash worked perfectly for rocks illumination. Great!

Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on April 26, 2010 at 5:03 PM

Ian, smashing creative shot. Really first class.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on April 27, 2010 at 6:40 AM

A magic shot, Ian. The warm red of the rock contrasts beautifully against the blue of the sky, the soft cloud in perfect position. Excellent comp, wondeful color. Glad your camera is ok!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments