Big Sunset (Point)

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 6, 2011318 views18 comments

I went out to Sunset Point in Capitol Reef Nat Park a couple weeks back, my first time there so wasnt sure what to expect. I foolishly had my 5D sitting on a not-fully-extended tripod as i was fussing with things in my car at the trailhead, and i bumped into it and knocked the camera lens down onto the ground, crushing the CPL so badly i later had to have it cut off my wide angle zoom. So, i was a bit disgusted, but at least i had a sunset to look forward to, so i used 70mm and figured id be doing some stitches...

Anyhow, not a real terrific spot for sunsets (why they call it 'sunset point' is beyond me...) since at least in Winter the canyon is all in shadow, so i had to improvise a bit and use some fg rocks to add some light to the scene. I guess the one advantage of busting my wide angle was that i can print this twice as big now

5Dmkii; 2 exp stitch at f/20, manually focused twice.
C&C Welcome!

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on February 6, 2011 at 5:09 AM

Good the 5D survived this - I had the same thing happening. My 5D "jumped" out of my backpack and landed on the lens - polarizer was crushed, but the 5D keeps performing.

Anyway - pretty impressive view here Stan. A very good fg-composition that takes me into the scene. The snow covered mountain range on the horizon adds a lot to the scene. It appears to be a bit tilted, but I guess that's only pereceived. And there are some dustspots! (I thought the Mark II has sensor cleaning...

)

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on February 6, 2011 at 5:18 AM

Great impression of depth, the texture of the rocks in the foreground really makes the difference!

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 6, 2011 at 7:05 AM

Thanks!
Dietrich--yeah i thought it was tilted even in person, its just the weird way the sedimentary layers are angled, creates an illusion. The MKii does have sensor cleaning, and it worked for about a year, but now im starting to accumulate stuff that's adhered to the sensor--ive been holding off on a wet clean, but it may be time...

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on February 6, 2011 at 7:35 AM

Got my 5D Mk I sensor cleaned after 3 years when the amount of dust was unbearable. Not cheap, but all dustspots were removed. I recommend it!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Neale Dyster on February 6, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Really like this one Stan. The depth, the colour and the diagonals work well here.

Registered on February 19, 2008, 94 Posts, 738 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on February 6, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Great formations, color, and lighting. With the various layers
this really has a feeling of depth for me. I would like to see
the sky darkened a little, but perhaps not having the polarizer
had some affect on it. Nevertheless, this is very pretty.

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

Comment posted by Jason Risinger on February 6, 2011 at 9:13 AM

Stan, your work is consistently some of my favorite on here, and this just continues to highlight why. I love this image and the land that it (that is, you) so beautifully captures. Truly awesome!

Registered on July 13, 2010, 13 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 6, 2011 at 9:22 AM

This is really nice Stan. I like what you did for the foreground and the light is wonderful. The bit of snow mixed in with the color makes for a great look. The detail looks great too, and the mountains in the bg are a nice finishing touch. Very nice!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on February 6, 2011 at 12:56 PM

For me, this is all about the FG, even though the distant BG looks very nice as well. The light on the FG formation is exqusite, as is the detail. I could sit and stare at it for a long time; in fact, I have.

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

Comment posted by James Fougère on February 6, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Nice image Stan

As you said not the best light, but you managed to make something decent with what you had

your story reminds me of when I was in Bryce Canyon 2 years ago, and my camera with the 70-200 f2.8 lens came loose from the tripod head while hiking

The lens broke!! Since it was Sony, it had to be sent back to Japan for repair! $700 later it was working again. I just recently switched to Nikon

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 6, 2011 at 4:19 PM

Great color and light, STan! I also like the way this whole image looks with the blend of the two shots. Hmm, I may have to change my approach now.

Outstanding comp!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 7, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Real nice overlook shot and you handled the light great, Stan. The snow definitely helps the texture in the canyon.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 7, 2011 at 12:11 AM

I like the fact that you were able to get a great shot despite your issues. The light here is wonderful and those distant snow covered peaks are a great compliment to the foreground rocks. I have knocked over my tripod in a similar manner before and crushed the CPL.... lens survived, thank goodness.

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

Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on February 7, 2011 at 12:16 AM

Sadly, most of the places titled "sunset point" in the national parks are for looking at the sunset itself, not for looking at something illuminated by the sunset...

That's a nice shot, Stan, especially for having to improvise.

Registered on August 14, 2010, 3 Posts, 61 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on February 7, 2011 at 12:24 AM

Oh, and I once tipped over a lightweight tripod halfway through a 20-day backpack, crushing the filter and damaging the filter threads to the point of near-unusability. It was a medium-format prime lens and didn't want to change apertures after that, or at least not happily. Thankfully, I was shooting landscapes and was stuck at f/16, so things could have been worse...

Amazingly, the lens itself still gave sharp results over the rest of the trip. Chalk one up to either luck or Mamiya's durability.

Registered on August 14, 2010, 3 Posts, 61 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 7, 2011 at 2:56 AM

Thanks for sharing the war stories, folks!

Yeah, Mark--you're right, you'd think theyd give more consideration to photographers in naming these places!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pederson on February 7, 2011 at 7:38 AM

Quite the vista, Stan, nice job. The FG rocks and slope feels like I'm sliding off the cliff. The odd angles of the MG/BG rock formations add some tension that keeps the eye moving.

Registered on October 19, 2010, 95 Posts, 470 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on February 7, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Sorry to hear about your lens that's too bad. Great SW feel here to this image. Feels a bit tight at the top. Lots of layers, plenty to look at...

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments