Super Moon (w/repost)

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 21, 2011176 views6 comments

Super Day!

Had the chance to spend the whole day in Anza Borrego Desert State Park on Saturday (3/19), enjoying the wildflowers and anticipating the Super Moon’s arrival. After a long day of exploring I ended my journey down a long dirt road in Clark Valley sandwiched between the Coyote Mountains to West and the Santa Rosa Mountains to the East. Standing alone on the outer perimeter of Dry Clark Lake composing some sunset pics I could see how little we are, especially with solitude.

As the magic hour came and went I had yet to see the moon. It was a little after 7:00PM when the moon was to be showing itself. However, it does take some time to get over the Santa Rosa Mountains at over 6,000 feet. At about 7:28PM the moon began to show a sliver of light just over the mountain tops. My excitement began to brew, but I wasn’t the only one. At that moment I realized I wasn’t alone as dozens of coyotes began their howl at the moon. I don’t care who you are, that was scary and exciting all at the same time. I have coyotes in my backyard canyon at home, but something about standing in the middle of a dry lake valley surrounded by nothing but mountains and the many howls of coyotes reminded me of how alive I could really feel. Nothing like a few wild canines to put you in the present moment and give you a little perspective on the beauty of life.

With the fear of the unknown still racing through my brain (images of coyotes circling me wondering what the heck I was doing), I was able to compose some images of the moon as it quickly rose into the sky. A super day I will cherish for many years to come. Thanks for looking (and reading).

2 exposure blend for moon against everything else. Fairly dark by the time the moon rose, so a single exposure just wasn’t going to work

Cannon 50D
About 366 mm focal length, no filters, long exposure for shadows and quick exposure for the moon.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 21, 2011 at 8:15 PM

Beautiful image with such simple lines and nice colors... it resembles a painting to me.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on March 21, 2011 at 8:43 PM

I like the tones and mood in this. I'm all for keeping elements in dark shadow or allowing them to block out, but in this case I think the lower half of the image might be too dominant and would benefit from a crop. I think I'd like to see more of that moody sky, at the expense of the dark FG.

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on March 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM

I think it's a beautiful composition just as presented. Very effective use of "negative space."
Great cloud contitions, too -- more interesting than a perfectly clear sky, and that allows you to make the most of the simple, black foreground.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on March 21, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Awesome! I love the narrative and the experience you describe. I would love to have the hair on my neck stand up to the fear and excitement of the unknown. I would agree with Jason's comments for most images similar to this, but not for this one. I think it's about the moon, and the vast nothingness you describe. The large amount of dark negative space really drives that home here. But that's just my opinion.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on March 21, 2011 at 10:08 PM

I love the effect of the clouds with the moon, and the smooth ridge line is beautiful as well. I would consider a pano crop (cropping out the bottom half).

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

Comment posted by David Page on March 21, 2011 at 11:38 PM

I think I could go either way with the crop, but thought I would post one with some of the bottom cropped off for comparison. Thanks all for the comments and suggestions.

Registered on April 15, 2009, 19 Posts, 199 Comments