Desert Garden

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 11, 20112,272 views57 comments

I've been chasing light for many, many years but there have been rare few times I've ever seen it like this. A window opened up in the distance and Arizon's Kofa Mountains were illuminated for five solid minutes until the sun disappeared below the horizon. Some impressive clouds from a passing front caught the color above. Claret Cup Cactus and Brittlebrush complimented the foreground, which was a result of spending several days in the area scouting around. Almost stepped on a rattle snake 50ft away....

Thanks for any comments.

1Ds III, Nikon 14-24 at 14mm, no filters, 1.5 seconds at f/18, double-processed for sky and landscape exposure.

Comments

57 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 11, 2011 at 9:03 PM

Wonderful foreground Marc.... but that is just the start. The mid ground Alpen glow is wonderful as is the sky. Gorgeous color and light.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 11, 2011 at 9:42 PM

This is sweet! I can appreciate your appreciation for this light. I have seen more wild light before, and in some of your images. But that doesn't make it better. The foreground is great too. This is the complete package! So do you think it was a western diamondback? Was it big?

Chris

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

Comment posted by Mark Hespenheide on May 11, 2011 at 9:46 PM

How can you beat natural spotlighting with clouds to boot? And wildflower blooms as well. Very tasty.

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

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on May 11, 2011 at 9:51 PM

That's pretty epic Marc. The yellow flowers seem a tad bright in relation to the rest of the foliage...small critique though. Great photograph.

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

Comment posted by Scott Miller on May 11, 2011 at 9:56 PM

Love the image Marc, glad you didn't get bit :)

Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 11, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Oh.my.

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

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on May 11, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Marc, I would suggest a 4x5 crop with some off of the top. Like the compostion and the foreground cacti. Thanks Joe.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on May 11, 2011 at 10:06 PM

Wow, what a sky. Love the entire comp. The blooming cacti are a great bonus feature.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on May 11, 2011 at 10:47 PM

You found a great foreground that does a great job complimenting the sun-lit rocks and that great sky. I just get the feeling that this is a bit too much 50/50 though. Although the sky and the amount of foreground are both very vital for the composition, I feel like you could lose a bit of the sky to place more emphasis on the foreground and mid-ground. As is, my eye gets whipped right out the top of the composition. I'd be curious how you would have composed this scene if you were forced to use a 4:5 aspect ratio. As always, your work is fantastic, so I really have to work hard to find something to critique when you post a shot. :-)

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 11, 2011 at 10:48 PM

Your imagery never ceases to amaze, Marc. The light on the mountains and those clouds.... phenomenal.

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

Comment posted by Jesse Estes on May 11, 2011 at 11:16 PM

I saw this one on your website the other day. Very top work for sure, and I'm diggin the yellows and purples in the foreground; it surely sets this one apart from the norm. Hope you didn't take any if those spikes in the leg :)

Registered on April 13, 2011, 20 Posts, 174 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 11, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Sweet, Marc. Please don't take this wrong, but Arizona Highways might like what you're doing here.

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 11, 2011 at 11:24 PM

Hey guys, I love the 4x5 crop idea. I'll definitely keep that in mind. One thing I consider though, is this image (or another similar, not sure yet) is slated for the cover of a magazine you all know in a couple months. Need that extra space there for text

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

Comment posted by Nick Diggins on May 11, 2011 at 11:36 PM

Great light Marc and great shot.

Registered on May 8, 2010, 4 Posts, 83 Comments

Comment posted by Vijay Raj on May 11, 2011 at 11:43 PM

Great light on the mountain and an interesting foreground.

Registered on November 22, 2010, 29 Posts, 100 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Miller on May 11, 2011 at 11:51 PM

Haha, congrats on the cover. I wish every time someone suggests that I crop out a sky in my photos I could respond, 'Sorry I need that for the text on the magazine cover". Awesome.

Registered on May 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on May 11, 2011 at 11:55 PM

Damn, this is sick. This is one of my recent fav's of yours. It has a bit of Three Fingered Jack feel to it. Nice work.

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on May 12, 2011 at 12:08 AM

This is my favorite images of your posts, everything is right about this image

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on May 12, 2011 at 12:19 AM

Beautiful! I like how the clouds have an impressionist feel to them.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 12, 2011 at 12:47 AM

That is impressive

Amazing window of light!!

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

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on May 12, 2011 at 1:00 AM

Absolutely incredible light and processing Marc. The sky is just exploding with interesting light.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on May 12, 2011 at 1:34 AM

Excellent one, Marc. I like the comp even if it's a bit 50/50 as the sky is an artwork by itself. As usual you found the right place for your viewpoint with a great alignment of foreground and background. My only suggestion would be to lessen the vignetting at the bottom just a bit to increase the visual flow that's nicely prepared by the needles of the cacti down there.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on May 12, 2011 at 1:55 AM

A moment from the wonder Marc :)

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Stefan Gimpl on May 12, 2011 at 3:07 AM

awesome image Marc! I really like how the cloud builds up right above the peak and creates a line. I wouldn't crop it therefore.

Registered on May 12, 2007, 26 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Sebastian Kraus on May 12, 2011 at 4:17 AM

Snakes... grrrr... that's why I will never go to desert! However... image is stunning! Greate colours and 50/50 composytion work well here... nice...

Registered on March 17, 2011, 30 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laureys on May 12, 2011 at 4:40 AM

Beautiful, love the colors in this.

Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 12, 2011 at 4:59 AM

works well for me - lovely light. FG, below the cacti, seems a touch too dark (but may just be the monitor?). rest just sings!

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

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on May 12, 2011 at 5:29 AM

Them mountains are a shot in themselves but you dwarfed them, worth it for the comp though.

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 12, 2011 at 7:48 AM

The positioning of elements throughout the image is the work of a master. I find the sky utterly amazing. The cirrocumulus clouds and the palette present looks like a renaissance painting. Stupendous.

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

Comment posted by Joseph Balcken on May 12, 2011 at 8:01 AM

Ooooo

That is a painter's sky. Love the color of the fg blooms and the alpenglow. Well-balanced as well. One of my favorites from you, Marc.

Registered on November 29, 2009, 48 Posts, 249 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on May 12, 2011 at 8:18 AM

Great comp Marc. The bottom half is perfect, not sure about the clouds. Might be my monitor but the magentas look way too purple. Could just be my hazy eyes in the morning or my monitor.
Great all around though

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 12, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Beautiful image Marc. I love the fully saturated flowers and the light on the peak. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on May 12, 2011 at 9:52 AM

wonderful image Marc, I especially like the lighting on the cactus.

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Lars Lentz on May 12, 2011 at 10:14 AM

A great photo! Nothing is blown out or blocked up so you've captured the most EV range possible in my opinion. Just great photography and processing - excellent!

Registered on March 26, 2011, 42 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on May 12, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Love this one, the soft glow on the fg cacti is amazing!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 12, 2011 at 10:52 AM

Some pretty wild lighting here. I like the radiating composition which IMO works without cropping. Stupendous image!

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

Comment posted by Sean Bagshaw on May 12, 2011 at 11:28 AM

That's a serious light show. The layers of light in the clouds is a bit different from anything I have seen/photographed. Well done Marc!

Registered on February 14, 2007, 99 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on May 12, 2011 at 12:15 PM

A gorgeous image, Marc. This appears to be a rugged location and you have done a stepper job in depicting it's unique beauty.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on May 12, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Awesome light , the cloud over the peak resembles the smokes from a volcano ...

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 12, 2011 at 12:34 PM

Awesome glow here Marc! No flaws here with the comp. I like how the cactii add some direction and dynamics.

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 12, 2011 at 12:43 PM

Sean, Thanks. The light in the clouds is simply the result of some clouds catching slightly diffused light and others direct light. My processing included increases in the blacks which accentuated this.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 12, 2011 at 1:34 PM

Nice interesting foreground, mid ground, background, awesome (crazy) light, great sky interest, everything cohesive, very dramatic, great processing, a hint of dodging in the right areas, a subtle vignette feel...

Great image, and it shows your great skills and attention to detail!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on May 12, 2011 at 3:46 PM

I think this is my favorite of your recent posts, Marc. The colors are beautiful throughout and the scene holds so many little details that add a lot of interest. The bottom, especially the right corner, seems a tiny bit too dark to me.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Ropelato on May 12, 2011 at 4:15 PM

it's all here. Amazing in your face fg, killer light glow on the rocks in the midground and fantastic sky color and light. Gorgeous shot.

Registered on March 1, 2011, 25 Posts, 204 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Woerly on May 12, 2011 at 4:43 PM

That is some seriously intense light. The composition is terrific, the time spent scouting the location certainly paid off.
Pretty sure those are pink hedgehog cacti not claret cups though.

Registered on May 4, 2006, 8 Posts, 101 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 12, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Jason, thanks. I'm pretty sure the Hedgehog and Claret Cup names are used interchangeably, but maybe not. Can't look it up right now.

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

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on May 12, 2011 at 9:05 PM

Beautiful, as always. Where'd you focus here Mark?

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 13, 2011 at 12:06 AM

This is one of your best IMO. All of the compositional elements work together in harmony and the lighting is simply amazing.

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

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on May 13, 2011 at 12:25 AM

Beautiful sky...almost looks airbrushed.

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on May 13, 2011 at 12:45 AM

Mark, you processed those clouds perfectly! Ken S

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on May 13, 2011 at 2:21 AM

All of the above Marc.... plus amazing DOF

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on May 13, 2011 at 8:50 AM

This is certainly up there as one of my all time favorites from you, Marc, and that's saying something. Just incredible!

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

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on May 13, 2011 at 10:34 AM

This is a great desert image with the red light on the peak and the clouds with the painted look. The subtle light on the hedgehog and the dark bottom edge do not detract attention away from the peaks. Well done Marc.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 13, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Barry, I focused at 2ft. Jeremy - USM at 200 radius, 50 amount, no threshold followed by another USM at 6 radius, 100 amount, no threshold all mixed with a noise layer and painted in at varying opacity.

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

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on May 13, 2011 at 3:33 PM

Damn! That is some sick light. Loving the foreground choice, too.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 13, 2011 at 7:06 PM

Incredible! What amazing light.. and killer comp of course. I do wonder how it would compare with a slightly less wide version taken from a little farther back - to give the peak more prominence and reduce the ultra distortion on the cactus?

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 14, 2011 at 9:59 AM

Floris, I actually shot many company here between 14 and 24 and it was the sky that really made this my favorite. For some reason, that cacti was naturally distorted - it was falling over to one side. Thanks!

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