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White Sublime
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White Sublime

by Stan Rose

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 17, 2012335 views23 comments
Interesting light as sunset approached in White Sands Ntl Monument last week. With all the haze it reminded me of scenes i've seen in the Himalayas. Thanks for all the comments on my previous posts!
5Dmkii; 24mm TS-E at f/11
C&C Welcome!

Comments

23 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on November 17, 2012 at 7:37 AM
Excellent, Stan. I like the layers and light. The color is an unusual but nice taupe gray, and the orange grasses add interest and a nice punch of color. You could consider a crop off the shaded bottom to put the orange grasses more into the foreground and make them more prominent.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on November 17, 2012 at 7:40 AM
Hey Stan, the light is incredible. The composition works for me as presented, I thought about taking a sliver off the top as the sky is not really interesting but I did a browser crop and that didn't work (its a matter of balance I guess), actually the hint of color in the sky is pretty cool. The image is all about the light and shadows anyway and that is awesome! TFS
Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on November 17, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Stan, this is quite nice, and very interesting, love the soft light and colors, cant stop looking, and that's a good thing. Beautiful.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on November 17, 2012 at 9:14 AM
Subtle and tactual. Very nice capture :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 17, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Amazing light! Not sure if the sky really adds something here, but the rest is absolutely convincing.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on November 17, 2012 at 9:57 AM
I think it can go without saying that the light is absolutely incredible, but I said it anyway. I think the amount of sky works well because it isn't all one tone or color, therefore it adds interest to me. Also considered taking some off the bottom but those lines leading in from the LR corner are definitely adding to the scene. So, looks to me like you thought this through thoroughly and the final product is perfect as is. Nice shot! And now I have to add this location to my wish list, thanks for that by the way.
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Wow! The light here is awesome! A beautiful feel with wonderful shapes and textures. This is really nice Stan! :smile:
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 17, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Thanks, folks!

So, looks to me like you thought this through

Yep, and i really considered all those crop options but this i think this is the best option. The sky is actually more important to me here than the dunes, i guess cause im used to seeing warm light on dunes, but not used to seeing that kind of sky color--i wish i had a bit more of the gradient on top if anything...i might consider a slight bottom crop if Scott's suggestion takes off...
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on November 17, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Another nice one Stan. The midground looks a little over sharpened, but that's pretty minor. I could also see a slight crop from the bottom, but it's fine as is. Definitely interesting light!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on November 17, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Excellent light and good use of the deep shadows, as well. I'm kinda on the fence about the grass but I guess a touch of color never hurts. Nice job
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Adrian Klein on November 17, 2012 at 1:26 PM
This is fantastic light Stan. The haze definitely adds to the image. I don't see what I would change here.
BTW if you did not see my reply on my recent post I replied to your comment. Thanks.
Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on November 17, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Spectacular, Stan. I can just imagine how great it would be blown large.
Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on November 17, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Stan, this is an overwhelming image for me, one of my top favorites so far. I almost cannot believe all the delightful textures and details even in the small version! The interplay of light and shadows, diagonals and curves and the accents set by the glowing grasses work together perfectly to me. Congrats on this.

Peter

PS: I got my first 24mm TS-E yesterday and can hardly wait for the first shot with this lens
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on November 17, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Stunning image, especially with the interesting atmosphere. The lighting on the dunes is incredible, and the actual capture+processing is great...
Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 17, 2012 at 5:07 PM
Beautiful light on those dunes Stan. I also like the warmly lit grasses in the foreground. Sky is interesting too.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 17, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Stan,

First I gotta say, you've captured some stunning light and I agree with you about the importance and different light/color of the sky. I think this is a unique and beautiful image.

With that, there's a but. And I hope I don't ruin this for you or anyone else. If this doesn't bother anyone else, I'm quite content to live with my own thoughts. Here it is. The lines at the bottom come across to me as tire tracks - ATV, dunebuggies, whatever. Now I know they're not and I know you wouldn't have crafted this image if they were - it just looks that way to me. I really wish I didn't have that thought in my head, but now it just diminishes the pristiness of the dunes. I know, I know, call me whatever, but I just had to get it off my chest. And I still don't feel any better. Is there ever a point when honesty isn't the best policy?

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 18, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Ha, Lon it's funny you say that cause when i first saw those lines that's exactly what i thought (they look like ATV tracks) i even paused a second to remind myself that those patterns are interspersed all over the dunes and they are definitely 100% natural. Knowing that, they don't bother me one bit. And you can figure that out by the way they lead right into the big dune--if they were tracks that would be impossible, unless they were petrified. So, it just takes a little thought, Lon--not much to ask from the viewer, right? :biggrin: :wink:
But it's a valid point, and one i would have made if the tables were turned, so no harm no foul!
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Pelton on November 18, 2012 at 6:16 PM
One of your best IMHO. lots of neat elements in fabulous lighting.
Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on November 18, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Very nicely done, Stan. The shadow and light values across the dunes make this a real standout. Would love to see it large.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 19, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Another fine image from your trip there, Stan. Great light, subdued color (except for the nice pop from the grasses), and a comp showing the great expanse there. And, I like the different strata of the dunes showing in the foreground. Excellent work.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on November 19, 2012 at 9:04 PM
Beautiful light Stan, the brush glow with it.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on November 20, 2012 at 9:05 AM
gorgeous light and odd effect that the haze has. black dot on the top of one of the dunes - candidate for cleaning up? FG appear to be car tracks and hence a little disturbing!!
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 20, 2012 at 1:23 PM
you didnt read the previous comments, Stuart!
Thanks, folks!
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments