Life Experience!

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 29, 2012233 views15 comments

I was talking back and forth with another photog about personal growth. How we evolve as photographers. In the early stages, hungry for finding and capturing images, sometimes at the expense of quality and sometimes at the expense of stopping to just take notice. But if we are lucky, come to realize it's more about the journey/process, and we become more appreciative. He made a statement about becoming a better "liver" of life that really resonated with me. Anyway, I was really feeling a sense of gratitiude to stand there and "experience" this moment. One of those "I'm just happy to be alive" kind of things, ya know?

Eastern California High Desert.

D200,
18-70mm,
Soft Grad,

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on April 29, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Hi Chris, I can most definitely identify with your statement. the grandness expanse of this scene must have surely been awesome. I think the clouds emphasize this point nicely. I personally am a little torn with the comp, as the distant mountains seem to not be the focus of this image. perhaps I might have emphasized the brush more by including as a larger portion of the frame. Just my initial thoughts

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 29, 2012 at 6:14 PM

Thank You, Navin!

The cloud is what I was trying to capture here. The foreground and background just there to complete the comp. I was actually waiting for good light to shine on my composition behind me, when I realized this sight unfolding. I just watched it for a good long while, and eventually swivelled around the tripod and took the image. The image I was there waiting for is actually below this one in my gallery. The one titled "Skeletons".

Thanks again!

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 29, 2012 at 7:20 PM

Nice play of light and shadow on the horizon. There is something very elemental about this image or maybe it just feels that way because gazing into distances is a hobby of mine. Beautiful presentation. Thanks for sharing

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Caldwell on April 29, 2012 at 7:22 PM

Beautiful image, incredible clouds!

Registered on October 10, 2011, 62 Posts, 508 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 29, 2012 at 7:40 PM

Hi Chris, I really enjoy this view, and I love the feel. Wonderful clouds over the High Desert and the light highlighting in the distant looks great. Very much enjoyed your thoughts as well. I too have learned to enjoy the journey, it wasn't always that way.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 29, 2012 at 7:44 PM

The sky is certainly an eye catcher. So is the moment. In times past, you realize, a view like this was available as a life experience only to a man on a horse with a goodly supply of water and the knowledge to get through it. Someone afoot was facing a death sentence. Times change, but it is well to reflect on those who have gone before.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on April 29, 2012 at 8:15 PM

Chris

I totally agree with your comment about appreciating what we photograph. I took far less photo during my recent trip along the silk road than I would have a couple of years ago. Some have called this 'slow photography'

Like the clouds here are very dramatic and is a nice contrast to the landscape. The desert scenery is very similar to what I saw in the Gobi desert; miles and miles of desolate land with scattered hardy desert plants.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 29, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Wonderful, expansive view. The distant hills lit by the sun add so much to the scene. The cloud patterns are very complementary to the wide-open sense of the image as well.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 29, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Gorgeous sky Chris and I know what you are saying.

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

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on April 30, 2012 at 2:47 AM

No wonder you were feeling good, Chris. What an AWEsome view!

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on April 30, 2012 at 11:40 AM

Really pulls you in...enjoyed your thoughts as well. The hint of warm light is great.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on April 30, 2012 at 12:33 PM

It's all too easy to get caught up in the photograph, when what really matters is the experience. That's actually what I'm working on the most for myself. While I still plan my trips to the weather much of the time, now it's more important to me just to get out and be somewhere. The photographs usually seem to happen regardless of the conditions!

A great image to remind yourself of those wise words! For printing I suspect lightening the grasses a little would be a good idea.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 30, 2012 at 12:33 PM

Totally agree with your lead-in comments, Chris. Being out and about like we are doing outdoor photographic work has many moments of wonderment.
This scene looks to be one of those fine events. For me, it's the unending openness to this panoramic view that has the biggest impact. At first view the colors and of course the great cloud formations are the immediate grab, but after viewing the solitude of this vast vista here for a period of time that's what holds my attention the most.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on April 30, 2012 at 1:52 PM

The sky is fantastic. I 100% agree what you're talking about.I love the feeling of the vastness.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 30, 2012 at 5:30 PM

It's nice Chris, i like the clouds but to be honest there isnt a strong enough focus/subject to hold my attention, especially when im sailing through numerous thumbs. I agree with Floris, but to convey the experience is the trick. This isn't quite there IMO. I think mayvbe a near-far comp might have been the way to go--this is mostly 'far'

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