Mistakes...I've Made

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 16, 2012217 views8 comments

There wasn't a camping spot anywhere in the park, so I found a secluded picnic area to spend the night. It was only about 10 minutes from where I wanted to do sunrise. All I'd need was about 15 minutes to wash up, change clothes, pour some ready-made iced coffee, and stop at a bathroom. There weren't any clouds and I wasn't expecting much action for sunrise.

Clear skies, the morning was cool, and I only needed a light sweater. I was on my way to the bathroom and from around the boulders in the distance I saw the sky was already bursting with color. Awww, geeeeez! Mistake #1...know thy golden hour for sunrise! I was not going to have time to get to my preferred destination, so I ran back to the car and headed just down the road a bit to get around the boulders and went dashing out into the desert with my gear looking for a nice Joshua tree foreground. Wouldn't you know they all looked dead or scraggly, but I found one I thought would do, after all, the light was beautiful! Mistake #2...have thyself a backup plan!

I bracketed three shots and thought, "OK, got my Joshua Tree sunrise," and saw these yuccas. Good, another comp before the light fades. Took a shot and with sleep still in my eyes, thought it looked a bit soft. Mistake #3...wear thy glasses! I found I was still on manual focus and shooting at f5.6. Mistake #4...check thy frickin' settings! OK, by this time I was totally disillusioned at being a pro landscape photographer. I half-assed one more shot at f8 for the foreground and started to leave.

It was then I realized I was wearing flip-flop sandals and had not taken the time to put my hikers on. I started to think of scorpions, tarantulas, and rattlesnakes nipping at my toes. Mistake #5...dress appropriately for thy surroundings. I walked back to my car with a little dark cloud over my head, taking care to notice my footing this time, but rather quickly because I still needed to get to the bathroom!

Pentax K-5, Pentax 16-50mm, ISO200, two shots-f5.6 @.5 sec. and f8 @3 sec., prepped in Lightroom, hand blended in Photoshop.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on June 16, 2012 at 2:39 AM

Know thy mistakes!

Familiar story. Though usually I don't collect so many.
Otherwise you had a great sunrise, it's a pity that you were in such a rush. What happened to the Joshua tree shot?

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 16, 2012 at 3:51 AM

Great story telling Jean! And it's really only funny because it hits home with each of us... ;-)

Fabulous sky with intense and varied colors. I'm wondering did you capture any images of just the sky? perhaps mountains for an anchor, but mostly sky, no foreground? I know you were scramblin (#2) and we've all been there trying to find the best comp as the light and colors are changing fast - so you chose the best that was available. I guess my thought is that we don't always need a foreground element and unless you've got a great subject like the JT or a saguaro or something. My only other wish here is that there was a little bit more room around the yucca since this isn't quite a silhouette and a bit more room below would be nice.

Great sky!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 16, 2012 at 9:43 AM

Great story! And, words to live by as well. Fantastic sky and you made a very nice image in a rush. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 16, 2012 at 12:30 PM

As Lon said we all do these things~~or we will. Last year I went into Palo Duro Canyon after a year of reading and prep work without enough water (the tep reached 125 degrees according to the Rangers who found and brought me out). a pack with tripod weighing almost 40 pounds, no breakfast for a 6 hour hike, no partner and forgetting that I was 64 years old instead of 21. A gallon of water was too heavy I thought. Stupid is and stupid does.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 16, 2012 at 3:02 PM

That sky is simply gorgeous Jean.... great story. Guess it happens to us all!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 16, 2012 at 4:06 PM

Hi Jean, A very pretty sunrise! I really enjoyed reading your story about this morning. It made me smile ...more than once!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Jean Day on June 16, 2012 at 4:41 PM

Thanks for all your comments and appreciating my story.
@Lon...never think to do just the sky, but should have in this case.
Here's the Joshua tree...just not really happy with the way it looks.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 16, 2012 at 5:51 PM

I can relate to everything 'cept the flip-flops. The good light can make us do crazy things. Regarding the image I like the intensity of color, though it does seem a bit saturated, though there can be some intensity this time of day. The light ground seems a little cluttered. Could almost see cropping this and just going with dark values and the silhouette in the lower part of the frame.

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